The Lubbock Ant Nest Invertebrates 
should be a piece of blotter or of very thin sponge, 
introduced into the nest between the two panes of 
glass, in a position where it may be reached with a 
pipette, without removing the upper glass, for it 
must be kept always damp. 
To establish a colony of ants in this nest we should 
proceed as follows: Take a two quart glass fruit 
jar and a garden trowel. Armed with these we visit 
some pasture or meadow near by, and find under 
some stone, a colony of ants which have plenty of 
eggs and larve. We scoop up carefully eggs, ants. 
dirt and all and place them in the jar, being as careful 
as possible not to injure the little creatures. While 
digging, we must search carefully for the queen, 
which is a larger ant and is sometimes thus found. 
But if we have plenty of eggs, larvee and pupe, the 
ants will become very contented in their new nest 
while taking care of them. After we have taken all 
the ants desirable, we place the cover on the jar, and 
thus carry them to the Lubbock nest and carefully 
empty the contents of the jar on top of the cover of 
the nest. Of course the furrow around the plank has 
been filled with water, so the stragglers cannot escape. 
The ants will soon find the way into the nest through 
the cut corner of the upper pane of glass, and will 
transfer their larve to it because it is dark there. 
After they are in the nest, which should be within 
two or three hours, we remove the dirt on the covers, 
and the nest is ready for observation. But, since 
light disturbs the little prisoners, only one cover 
should be removed at a time and then for short 
periods. 
The Fielde nest is better adapted for a serious study 
of ants, but it is not so well adapted as the Lubbock 
nest for popular use, especially for the use of children. 
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