Things You'll Need
- Plexiglas
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Utility knife
- Waterproof adhesive
- Newspaper
- Soil
- Food
- Sponge
- Ants
- Petroleum jelly
- Dark-colored paper
- Glass jar
- Lid
Instructions
Create a Farm for Your Ants
Lay your sheet of Plexiglas on a solid surface. Leave the paper on. Draw straight lines that mark the size of your ant farm. You will need two 9-by-12-inch walls. Measure the two sides and bottom 2 inches wide. Make repeated cuts until you can snap the glass free with a clean edge.
Lay a newspaper on your table so that it also stands against the wall. Stand the wall of your ant farm along the wall. Apply waterproof adhesive to one long edge of the strip for the bottom. Lay the bottom piece on the table touching the wall piece. Apply pressure and keep your pieces at a right angle until they're secure. Glue the next wall panel and do the same for the remainder of the Plexiglas strips.
Fill your ant farm with dry, sandy soil. Wet a small piece of sponge and place it on top of the soil. Add food your ants will love to eat.
Add your ants to your farm. Apply petroleum jelly around the top of the farm to prevent ants from climbing out.
Wrap and cover your tank with dark-colored paper until your ants feel at home on the farm. Remove the paper to view their activities and then cover again.
Make a simple ant farm
Take an empty pickle jar and wash it with soap and water. Rinse it thoroughly with hot water. Be sure soap residue is removed. Punch holes in the lid for ventilation.
Gather your soil from your yard. Add it to the ant farm that you've created. Leave a sponge filled with water on top of the soil. Add food to your farm.
Give your queen ant and her workers a new home on your farm. Apply petroleum jelly around the top and the lid. Wrap the jar in dark-colored paper.