.I used about 0.8x3.2x3.2 inch block of compressed wood chips for my little starter nest. I made a shallow pit in that block and covered it with a plastic, transparent plate. I glued it with a non-toxic glue and poked some tiny holes for the air. I drilled a bigger hole for later-needed tubing and a smaller hole for hydration. I placed some soil in for the queen to feel like at home. For hydration i pulled a string through the hole and placed the other end in a water container higher up than the nest. That worked!
I placed the queen in and she seems happy. The next day i checked on her, and she has borrowed a hole in the soil. I checked her after 3 more days and i saw her with eggs. She moved in really close to the string for the hydration. I don't know what to do. She really likes the moistness, so can i hydrate her a little bit more frequently?
My friend, who keeps an ant queen too, placed some pupae from a nearby ant nest with a fertile queen. Is it bad for the queen? She seems caring about the eggs, she borrowed a hole and placed the pupae with her.
Thanks for your responses
