How to Move a Colony

Moving a colony: there are several ways to transfer collected ants into a plaster nest:

Chilling method: Place the ants in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes until they go dormant, then put them into the nest one by one.

Pros: The most direct method.

Cons: Time-consuming with large numbers, and if chilled too long it may harm the ants, eggs and larvae; the ants also take longer to settle into the new environment.

Light method: Cover the plaster nest to darken it, and shine light on everything else so the ants move house on their own.

Pros: The ants settle in quickly, no harm is done, and it is the cleanest and tidiest method.

Cons: Uses electricity; if the nest conditions are poor, the ants will not move out.

Drying method: Let the soil dry out naturally, so the ants naturally head towards the damp, dark area.

Pros: The ants settle in quickly and no harm is done.

Cons: They will not move out completely, and it takes time.

Forced method: Force the ants into the nest.

Pros: The fastest.

Cons: The most harmful to ants, larvae and eggs, and the ants’ ability to adapt to the new environment drops sharply.

※ With avoiding harm to the ants, eggs and pupae in mind, plus the pressure of time, I use the “light method combined with the drying method.” It is the most natural approach, causes no harm, and the ants settle into the new nest faster.

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