Making a basic 1st outworld...

After advice from Full_Frontal_Yeti on the formiculture.com Forums...

I was 1st planning on keeping the new Lasius Niger colony in a small nest until the 1st hybernation period in just a cotainer and tubes nest.
But as he advised he Ants will show much more interesting and natural behaviour when they have a outworld with plenty (not too much) space.

So I bought a small food container to make a simple 1st outworld...
Bigger and later outworlds will be 100% DIY ;)

The food storage container for the outworld:

Sand for bottom substrate thoroughly washed and cooked for 10 minutes to kill all fungii and parasites, now drying in the sun:

Gathered some rocks and dead wood for decoration of the outworld, I disinfected the wood by putting it in the microwave for a minute.

Here is the result for now, when the Ants arrive (Wednesday says the post info) I will put the Lasius Niger colony tube in here once they have settled after the mail journey (a few days after arrival.

0.3 mm holes drilled al along the outer edge of the lid.

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Lasius Niger Nuptual flight was today in Netherlands, Velsen.

Just now an hour ago many Queens landed all over the backyard... I caught 4 in Test-tube setups.

Learning more about ants: Anatomy

A pretty detailed anatomy page can be found here: Mississippi Entomological Museum Below is image with more basic schematic overview: Source: Wikipedia More will be added over time...

The Phenomenon of Ants' Nuptial Flight: Insights into the Fascinating World of Lasius Niger

Understanding Nuptial Flight 'Nuptial flight', also known as the "swarming" or "flying ant day," is an annual event when winged reproductive ants, both males and females, leave their colonies in large numbers to mate and establish new colonies. This behavior is crucial for the survival and expansion of ant populations. The Life of Lasius Niger Lasius niger is one of the most widespread ant species in Europe, known for its characteristic black coloration. These ants build their nests in soil, often under stones or in rotting wood, and are commonly found in gardens, parks, and forests. Lasius niger colonies typically consist of a queen, worker ants, and a few males. The Nuptial Flight Process During nuptial flight, Lasius niger ants engage in a synchronized and spectacular event. It usually occurs during warm, humid summer days. Before the flight, young winged ants, called alates, develop within the colony. When the conditions are favorable, these alates under...

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