Ant World nature kit

Ants are fascinating! Watch the world's tiniest engineers dig tunnels, build roads, and erect bridges. See them plan and construct highways and subways - moving mountains right before your eyes. It's a fascinating peek into the secret world of ants.

Ant World allows a fascinating insight into their world. Observe ants going about their daily business; constructing a new home, making tunnels, feeding each other and communicating. Ants make great pets; they are safe, clean and cost next to nothing to feed! Quality entertainment for budding naturalists both young and old.

Approved by wildlife experts, this award winning nature kit that allows an insight into the amazing world of ants.

  
 
 Good Toy Guide 2008 - Gold Award Winner for Best Science and Nature 
 Range.   



For ages 5 years and over.

Size of Ant World when built: 300mm x 70mm x 200mm

 Download our instruction booklet PDF  

Order spare parts from our customer service website.

Please note: Ants are not included in the kit. Instructions are given on how to find them in the wild; alternatively order ants from our customer service website.

Education

Experiments included support National Curriculum Science KS1 and KS2.

Free Teachers Notes and Lesson Plans are available for this product. 

Contents:
 

 
FAQ's

Q. Where do I get ants from?
A. You can collect your own ants from your back garden, full details are given in the instructions. Alternatively you can order ants from Interplay Direct, or by calling our customer services line on 01628 488 525.

Q. How do I receive my ants from Interplay?
A. Ants are sent by Royal Mail 1st Class post. They are collected in a magnifying box and posted in a padded envelope which is small enough to fit through a letter box. Once received all you need to do is attach the magnifying box to Ant World with the tubing provided.

Q. What species of ant work best in Ant World?
A.  Black ants (Lasius niger) which are commonly found in gardens and parks throughout the British Isles are probably best suited to Ant World. They are also harmless and don't sting, which makes them ideal for children. 

Q. How long do ants live in Ant World?
A. Ants can live in Ant World for up to a year, but you need to keep them fed and watered as per the instructions.

Q. What do ants eat?
A. Ants like to eat sweet things like apples, banana's, jam or honey.  

Q. What happens if some ants die in Ant World?
A. Your ants should stay healthy in Ant World if you follow the instructions carefully. However ants will die from old age and natural causes. Worker ants will remove the dead ants as far from the nest as possible to keep it clean and tidy. If you have a magnifying box attached, they will probably put the ants in there. It is best to clean the box out occasionally. 

Q. Is Ant World cruel to ants?
A. No. If you look after the ants they should live happily in Ant World. They are safe from predators and bad weather conditions. In fact, ants probably live longer in Ant World than they do in the wild. We also believe that encouraging people to discover fascinating world of ants helps to promote environmental awareness and may make people think twice before needlessly destroying their nests.

Q. Can ants escape from Ant World?
A. Ant World is made from break-resistant material and designed to be escape proof. However ants will escape if you leave the lid off, or if the frame is not properly assembled. Very small ants from the Lasius flavus (Yellow Meadow ant) species may be able to squeeze through the air holes in the top frame of Ant World. Should this happen cover the air holes with some sticky tape and then create smaller breather holes by piercing with a pin. 

Q. Can the ants in Ant World breed?
A. No. If you use only worker ants who cannot lay eggs, your ant colony will not increase in size.

Q. Can queen ants be used in Ant World?
A. Yes. But we do not recommend that you use a queen ant until you have first gained experience of keeping worker ants. A queen is the only ant that can lay eggs, which means the colony would grow and take far more care and attention to maintain. Queen ants are also very hard to find except at certain times of the year. Please do not wreck an established colony of ants looking for a queen that you probably will not find. Remember, there are many interesting things to see in Ant World using only worker ants.

Further Information about Ants:

If you would like to find out more about ants, the best two sites we've found are Ant Hill Wood and Myrms' Ant Nest; they are packed full of interesting facts on every aspect of ants and ant keeping. Both websites also have a great forum where you can communicate with fellow ant lovers.

Ants, one of the most successful groups of insects, are of particular interest because they form advanced colonies. They belong to the order Hymenoptera, and are close relatives of the sphecid wasps. The first known ants appeared sometime during the Cretaceous period, and it is believed that they evolved from the wasps that had appeared during the Jurassic period. They are physiologically distinguished mainly by having six legs, sharply elbowed antennae, and by having a bead-like pedicel formed from the first few abdominal segments, which in wasps are joined to the thorax. Ants are mostly wingless, which varies between individuals in a colony rather than between species.