Ant Farm as Equipment for an Eco-Lab in School

In this post, we would like to share a photo and information kindly provided by Ms. Barbara Tobik, the Vice Principal of the School Complex in Prudnik.

The photograph shows the Tower ant farm, inhabited by a colony of Messor barbarus ants. The number of ants in the picture, around 500 individuals, was grown over a period of eight months.

Recently, the school purchased an additional arena measuring 20x20 cm, which will allow the creation of an aesthetically pleasing setup connected by tubes.

Ant Breeding in School

Daily care of the ant colony was managed by the biology teacher along with the janitor, who is privately an enthusiast of terrarium keeping. At the beginning of the breeding, the colony consisted of about 30 worker ants plus the Queen.

The Ant Breeding was Conducted with a Great Understanding of the Subject

The T-shaped ant farm, though demanding in maintenance, was chosen for its unique shape and the ability to observe the entire ant colony vertically. The caretakers skillfully moistened the cork, avoiding over-saturation and seed germination. By moderating the water dosage, the cork maintained an aesthetic appearance. The ants were fed not only seeds but also protein in the form of mealworms and cockroaches. As a result, the Queen lays many eggs, visible in the photo. You can also see the characteristic waste area (in the arena), where the ants have created their own dump.