The construction of the formicarium began with the formation of a specialised team dedicated solely to designing and building the ant habitat. This group took the lead in transforming ideas into a functioning habitat in which the ants could live, grow, and be studied.

 

Our first task was to review the materials left behind by the previous class. We sorted through them to identify what could still be used and what needed replacing.

 

Next, we planned a beta version, which is a temporary prototype that would enable us to test our setup before committing to the final version. We opted for a small main chamber connected to a food chamber.

 

Once the plan had been finalised, we thoroughly cleaned the containers that would house the ants, ensuring a safe environment. We then filled them with suitable material and set up a heating system to simulate tropical conditions. Soon after, the ants arrived, and we observed how they interacted with the environment we had created for them.

 

The first few weeks with the colony helped us identify areas for improvement. For instance, we realised the importance of maintaining stable temperature and humidity levels in the main chamber. We used these insights to design the final version, ensuring it would provide more space, digging opportunities and a more stable climate.

 

After cleaning and filling the new main chamber, we connected it to the old one in the hope that the colony would move in. After the ants had accepted their new home and moved the fungus there, we connected a new, larger food chamber to it via a tube. They explored it soon after. We converted the old food chamber into a death chamber, which is a designated area for dead ants to prevent contamination of the living space.

 

One of the biggest issues with the final version was ensuring stable temperature and humidity levels, which are crucial for the health of the colony and their fungus. We also had to decide whether to cover the entire chamber with a lid, which would help to conserve moisture but could reduce airflow. Ultimately, we opted for two plexiglass plates, and this indeed increased the humidity. Furthermore, we suddenly discovered unwanted fruiting bodies of a foreign fungus growing in the main chamber, likely due to hyphae in the substrate that we had used. Fortunately, they weren’t toxic or harmful to the ants. The fruiting bodies died after a few weeks, but we never found out what species of fungus they were.

 

Despite the challenges involved, building the formicarium was a valuable learning experience. It required us to demonstrate problem-solving, teamwork, and adaptability, which are all essential skills in scientific work. Ultimately, we succeeded in creating a stable habitat that supports the ant colony and provides a foundation for further research and observation.