How to Set Up an Ant Home

Harvest some soil near an ant colony from which you plan to collect the ants for your ant home. The ants selected the location for a special reason and will feel "right at home" in the same soil type. Collect slightly more soil than you will need to fill the ant home container so plenty is left after sifting.

Sift the soil through a strainer and catch it in a plastic container. Shake the soil in the strainer vigorously to help air pockets form within the soil particles. Discard the larger soil particles in the strainer by returning this leftover soil outdoors.

Pour the finely-sifted soil into the container which will become the ant home. Use a wide-mouthed funnel to assist in pouring if desired. Allow the soil to fill the container loosely and refrain from packing it down. Fill until the container is 3/4 full.

Dampen the soil in the ant home container with water by adding 2 Tablespoons of water at a time. Allow between 15 and 20 minutes after each water application for the soil to absorb it fully. After each waiting period, observe how deep the water has absorbed and continue this process until the soil has been moistened all the way to the bottom of the container.

Collect ants from the colony where the soil was taken and introduce them into the top of the container of soil. Sprinkle several pinches of sugar into the jar to provide food for the ants. Cover the top of the container with its lid and punch 3 or 4 needle-sized holes in the top of the lid to provide adequate ventilation for the ants.

Wrap black craft paper around the outside of the ant home and use tape to hold it in place. Set the completed ant home in a warm location, but away from direct sunlight. Leave the colony undisturbed for at least one week before opening the top for feeding, or before removing the paper from the exterior to check progress.

Add 1 - 2 Tablespoons of water into the jar each day, after the first week has passed, to keep the soil moist. Always keep the soil moist but never waterlogged or muddy.