Myrmecocystus Ant Farm MK II

Description

Myrmecocystus MK II Ant Farm – a formicarium designed for honey ants

The MK II Myrmecocystus Ant Farm is a specialist formicarium designed from the outset specifically for honey ants of the genus Myrmecocystus. The tall, honeycomb-shaped chambers, the rough, sandy surface and the top-down watering system ensure that the ant nests can hang securely, whilst giving you full control over the microclimate. The whole unit is built on the basis of the MK II Arena 20×20 cm with MK II series connectors, so you can easily integrate it into the rest of your system.

How it works – a detailed description

The nest takes the form of a mound with hollow chambers resembling a honeycomb. Each chamber is tall, allowing the replets (barrels). The interior of the chambers is filled with sand, making the surface naturally rough – the ants have something to grip onto and can build stable ‘garlands’ of barrels.

One of the chambers contains a plaster filling with a top-down watering system. A small hole has been made in the nest lid – simply use a pipette or syringe to apply water exactly where it is needed. The plaster slowly releases moisture, creating a locally more humid zone, whilst the rest of the nest remains drier – exactly as the desert Myrmecocystus prefer.

The entire nest is mounted on the MK II 20×20 cm Arena, which:

• provides ants with a safe space to feed and explore,

• enables the convenient use of an anti-escape barrier,

• It features standard MK II series connectors, allowing you to connect additional modules, arenas, sockets and tunnels.

The colour of the nest is Desert Sand – not only aesthetically pleasing, but also blending in well with the natural colour palette of desert and semi-desert species.

Advantages of the Myrmecocystus MK II Farm

• A project dedicated to honey harvesters

  High chambers, a rough surface and localised irrigation – all tailored to the needs of Myrmecocystus.

• Safe suspension of barrels

  The sand inside the chambers provides grip, so the pellets don’t ‘slide’ along the smooth walls.

• Precise humidity control

  The top-down irrigation system for the gypsum chamber helps to maintain the dry, desert-like nature of the nest whilst ensuring the ants have access to an area with higher humidity.

• Compatibility with the MK II system

  Standard connections make it easy to expand the farm with further modules, arenas or additional sockets.

• Versatility

  Although designed for Myrmecocystus, the farm is also ideal for other species that require tall chambers and rough surfaces (e.g. tree-dwelling species or those with large workers).

Features – Myrmecocystus Ant Farm MK II

• Intended use: primarily Myrmecocystus (honey ants), but also other species requiring ample nesting space

• Nest structure: mound with chambers shaped like honeycomb

• Interior of the chambers: sand filling, rough surface

• Irrigation system: an opening in the socket cover, irrigation from above into the plaster humidification chamber

• Colour: Desert Sand (the only dedicated colour variant)

• Base: Arena MK II 20×20 cm

• Connections: compatible with the MK II system (easy to expand)

• Materials: ant-safe, designed for desert and semi-desert species

• Uses: breeding, display, educational and photographic observation

How can we make the most of this farm in practice?

• For Myrmecocystus – introduce the colony, wait for them to start exploring the chambers and gradually build their ‘tunnel systems’ of pots. Thanks to the high chambers and rough walls, the workers will have ideal conditions for clinging on.

• Watering – use a pipette or syringe to add water only to the plaster chamber. Avoid overwatering – it’s better to water more often, but in smaller amounts.

• Desert conditions – the arena can be distinctly dry, with sand and stones, which fits perfectly with the nature of Myrmecocystus.

• Expansion – if your colony grows, you can connect additional arenas or nests using MK II connectors without changing the basic setup.

If you want to keep honey ants the way they deserve – in a nest that truly caters to their specific needs – the Myrmecocystus Ant Farm MK II is exactly what you need. Add it to your basket, choose the right colony and accessory set, and in return you’ll receive a formicarium in which the desert world of Myrmecocystus will show itself at its best – with full, suspended barrels and the atmosphere of a real desert enclosed under glass.