12 



trays (ca 52 x 40 x 7 cm) containing several layers of paper 

 towels on their bottoms. After the wet masses of ants had 

 dried and dispersed, the collections of ants were searched 

 for queens. Those containing queens were transfered to 

 laboratory nests in Fluon-coated trays held in metal racks 

 (Fig 1). 



Newly mated queens were placed in miniature nest cells 

 or in glass culture tubes (150 x 17 mm) containing a mass 

 of wet cotton and held in a Fluon-coated tray. 



Nest cells for large colonies were constructed by pouring 

 liquid Castone (Ransom and Randolph Co., Toledo, Ohio) to 

 a depth of 10-12 mm in 25 x 150 mm disposable plastic petri 

 dishes, allowing the Castone to solidify, and melting four 

 exit ports in the sides of the bottom dish above the surface 

 of the Castone (ports were unnecessary in the loose-fitting 

 tops). Solidified Castone is too hard for the ants to tunnel 

 through, yet remains slightly moist, providing adequate 

 (but not excessive) humidity and substrate moisture within 

 the cells for two to three months. 



When the nest cells became dry and soiled, their tops 

 were removed, and fresh cells were placed in the tray. The 

 ants quickly moved into the new cells, and the abandoned 

 old cells were discarded. Up to four cells were used simul- 

 taneously in each tray, and were replaced on a rotating 

 basis . 



Miniature nests for newly mated queens, very small 

 colonies, or groups of experimental subjects held in isolation 



