The Foundation Pack – Ant Breeding Pack

Description

Dive into an exciting discovery!

This kit was developed by Fourmiculture to allow everyone to successfully establish and raise a colony, a fascinating hobby, with less than 5 minutes of maintenance per week. To achieve this, we have selected a queen and her workers in a rearing tube adapted to ant life, a tube holder, food, and accessories.

Here is your Queen, her name is Messor barbarus and she measures approximately 13mm in your ant pack.

Born in the Hérault region, she flew out to mate in October and founded her colony in a breeding tube designed to recreate the conditions of humidity and limited space that she needs.

The transparent glass tube allows you to monitor all the activities of the queen and the emerging colony by providing suitable conditions. The Tube Holder serves as a support and allows you to feed the worker bees through the designated area.

Already accompanied by several worker ants, the colony is ready to continue its development in the tube as long as there is moisture. It is possible to change the original tube every 6 months and transfer the colony to the new one, or to quickly move it to a larger, optional artificial ant farm in the future once its development is successful.

More information about the ant pack:

Maintenance required: 5 minutes per week (feed approximately once a week + change the tube every 3 to 6 months)

Queen lifespan: up to 15 years (we will take back the colony if you wish to part with it).

Monthly cost: approximately €1 for food and electricity (for heating).

Contents of the ant pack:

1. The colony of Messor barbarus

Delivered in a breeding tube with humidity. A perfect species for excellent observations.

2. The Perfect Antkeeper's Guide.

With its ten or so pages, it is at once a breeding guide, a booklet on the lifestyle of ants and an FAQ to answer your questions such as "How does the colony evolve in the long term? What is the brood? What can I observe in particular? What is the division of labor?" Etc.

3. The Foundation Tube Holder.

Rearing tube support and integrated feeding area for future worker bees.

It allows the workers to be fed from birth and for the rearing to continue up to several dozen workers.

Subsequently, it is possible to change the tube or connect it to a more spacious artificial ant farm.

3. Food :

The ants will feed primarily on seeds for Messor and possibly small insects. A packet of seeds is provided and will last several months from the emergence of the first workers. 4. Heating:

The heating mat will help you maintain the colony at 27°C, the ideal temperature for the queen to lay eggs and for the colony to grow over time. It can be placed on top of the rearing tube, or underneath it (monitor the temperature with a thermometer!).

5. Electronic thermometer for monitoring temperature.

6. Myrmecology magnifying glass

To see every detail of your colony and immerse yourself in their world, including worker communication, egg development, and more. Very powerful magnification! Hold it almost against your eye, like a jeweler's.

7. 3-month Success Guarantee on ants:

Delivery of the healthy queen is guaranteed by courier within 48 hours. Our expert equipment then ensures easy success, and everything is designed to help you successfully cultivate your colony, respecting both the ants and your enjoyment. A 3-month Success Guarantee is included in the Foundation Pack!

This insurance allows you to receive a new colony free of charge upon request, should the queen be lost up to 3 months after delivery, regardless of the reason! Free shipping within mainland France only.

Major worker Messor barbarus

The Perfect Antkeeper's Calendar:

1/ I order today, I receive my package in a few days (orders placed after Thursday noon will be shipped the following week).

2/ I place the tube containing my colony on the tube holder after removing the cotton plug. I gradually position the heating mat under or over the tube, maintaining a distance to prevent overheating. I progressively move the mat closer until the temperature reaches 27°C after a few hours. Note: the colony must undergo a winter rest period between 8 and 17°C from the end of November to the end of January.

4/ I place a pinch of seeds in the feeding section of the tube holder, under the lid. The queen will lay eggs in the following days or weeks. The eggs will hatch into larvae, which will become pupae, and finally workers—the first of a great colony! Allow 1 to 2 months from egg to worker.

5/ As long as the tube is moist, the ants can continue their development! It will then be possible to move them to a new tube, or a more spacious artificial ant farm, or to return the colony to us if you do not wish to continue the experiment.

 

A different perspective on nature and the world of ants.

We have helped nearly 10,000 enthusiasts and hundreds of schools to host an ant farm (we know: children are never the same after such a discovery, ants have a power of attraction that allows you to change your perspective on nature).

Taking care of your ant colony is effortless but very rewarding from the first birth and mesmerizing as the population increases.

Example after approximately 1 year of development and transfer into a Minora ant farm sold separately (species Messor minor).

Don't take any risks with this ant pack!

1/ Unlimited guarantee on the queen: if she does not survive after 3 months of rearing, we will send you another one free of charge.

2/ Thirty days to test the equipment and return it for a refund if you were not convinced.

3/ Colony taken back if you wish to part with it: we pay the return costs up to €5 and take back your colony if you wish to part with it in the future.

The Fourmiculture Charter for our Ants:

1. Approved breeding facility of the Veterinary Services, run by a specialist with a certificate of competence,

2. A free Guide to the Perfect Ant Keeper and a health record form are provided

3. Ants guaranteed parasite-free,

4. Health demonstrated by the queen's egg-laying and the presence of brood at the time of shipment

5. No "boost" (adding brood or external worker bees to sell colonies faster),

6. Guaranteed delivery in good health: partial refund in case of worker loss, full refund in case of queen loss (if delivered within 48 hours),

7. Shipping possible from -12°C to +40°C thanks to our optional insulated packaging

8. Species present in France, non-invasive and not threatened,

9. Colony taken back and costs covered if you wish to part with the ant kit (see conditions).

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Special discount applied to the Foundation Pack for this ant pack:

€69 instead of €88 (products purchased separately)