Is Styrofoam safe for ants?

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AntTaco
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Is Styrofoam safe for ants?

Post: # 35133Post AntTaco
Mon Apr 16, 2018 5:57 pm

Just asking because I know that carpenter ants can eat/dig through styrofoam but is it safe for other ants as a set up material?

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antnest8
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Re: Is Styrofoam safe for ants?

Post: # 35135Post antnest8
Mon Apr 16, 2018 7:09 pm

i would not do it for the actual walls because large species can chew through while small species might find a way out. as for just the safety of ants i have no idea
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AntTaco
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Re: Is Styrofoam safe for ants?

Post: # 35159Post AntTaco
Wed Apr 18, 2018 7:05 pm

Ok, thanks antnest8! How is your ant colonies (mainly the restarting one) doing?

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antnest8
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Re: Is Styrofoam safe for ants?

Post: # 35171Post antnest8
Thu Apr 19, 2018 5:51 am

well my camponotus queen just had pupae but then she killed them because my dog destroyed the box they were in and made her really nervous but she is accepting honey and has 3 eggs and 4 small larvae

my crematogaster queen is just chillin' with eggs that seem to never develop

Oh and i searched up that carpenter ants live in Styrofoam in homes. over all i'm not worried that Styrofoam has bad chemicals in it i'm worried small ants will get lost in it or put garbage and brood in it
Some of My Informative Sheets
https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=19099
Includes :
  • Ant Care Sheets
    Queen Hunting
    How To Identify Ants
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AntTaco
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Re: Is Styrofoam safe for ants?

Post: # 35590Post AntTaco
Wed May 02, 2018 7:58 pm

Ah, ok. Sorry about the brood and your queen.

AntAnett
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Re: Is Styrofoam safe for ants?

Post: # 48182Post AntAnett
Tue Aug 21, 2018 2:14 pm

Sorry for writting in a bit older topic, but I am going to make a test tube with more chambers for my small colony of Lasius Niger. I don't have cork, can I use styrofoam just as the walls inside of the test tube? There is no risk of escaping I only worry a bit that it might hurt them anyhow.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmiM_PNwB9wuId1eRfE0WDA/videos

AntAnett
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Re: Is Styrofoam safe for ants?

Post: # 48428Post AntAnett
Fri Aug 24, 2018 2:46 am

This are my ants... 5 workers, and a bit of brood. Those are my first ants, and I thought there were two pupae's, but that was before I bought the 40x loupe... Now I'm not sure, maybe they've eaten them, hid them inside the cotton, I have no idea. But it looks the Queen is doing her job very well. I can't wait for the arrival of my first new settlers :P Those 5 workers were already with the Queen when I've bought her from local ant shop.

I'm not sure if I should change their test tube now, it's small, but the colony also is small, so I see no reason to transfer them now, thougt I don't like that black piece of cotton, I don't know if it's trash, or mold.

https://youtu.be/FDF-imOEkwc
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmiM_PNwB9wuId1eRfE0WDA/videos

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antnest8
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Re: Is Styrofoam safe for ants?

Post: # 48805Post antnest8
Wed Aug 29, 2018 3:35 pm

AntAnett wrote:
Fri Aug 24, 2018 2:46 am
This are my ants... 5 workers, and a bit of brood. Those are my first ants, and I thought there were two pupae's, but that was before I bought the 40x loupe... Now I'm not sure, maybe they've eaten them, hid them inside the cotton, I have no idea. But it looks the Queen is doing her job very well. I can't wait for the arrival of my first new settlers :P Those 5 workers were already with the Queen when I've bought her from local ant shop.

I'm not sure if I should change their test tube now, it's small, but the colony also is small, so I see no reason to transfer them now, thougt I don't like that black piece of cotton, I don't know if it's trash, or mold.

https://youtu.be/FDF-imOEkwc
if you don't like it put a new test tube out for them if it's bad they will know and move. as for the Styrofoam i think it would be fine.
Some of My Informative Sheets
https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=19099
Includes :
  • Ant Care Sheets
    Queen Hunting
    How To Identify Ants
Goal is to become #2 poster on the forum

AntAnett
Posts: 45
Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2018 9:28 am
Location: Poland

Re: Is Styrofoam safe for ants?

Post: # 49048Post AntAnett
Sat Sep 01, 2018 12:22 pm

Thank's :D I've already plugged a fresh test tube to the Out World, they know about it's existance, but they prefer the old one... Right now I have a problem with them, cause they have cut into the water chamber in their old test tube, and they've had a flood. I had to make a hole in the water chamber to get rid of it, cause their brood was in water. They will soon dry out now, but now they are to scared to get out of the test tube... I'm a bit woried... Will they change their home when it is going to gradually dry out..? OK I know I just have to learn patience... :mrgreen: It's not so easy
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmiM_PNwB9wuId1eRfE0WDA/videos

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