JP2007267667A - Set for rearing ant - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To bring a set, which is prepared by filling a gel in a transparent vessel instead of soil for ants to live in, to be preserved for a long time. <P>SOLUTION: The set is prepared by filling the gel in the transparent vessel instead of soil for the ants to live in. In the set, a gelling agent 1 which is gelled by heating by adding water, a preservative 2 and a solidification agent 3 are added in separately wrapped states. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ant rearing set comprising members necessary for inhabiting captured ants in a transparent case and rearing them while observing them from the outside.

As a member for rearing the captured ants while observing them from the outside, an ant rearing case (Patent Document 1) in which a transparent ant passage is arranged in the case, for accommodating soil for ants to live inside A container-shaped ant breeding case (Patent Document 2) with a transparent observation wall at the front and rear is known.
JP-A-60-251830 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-661

  In the latter ant breeding case, ants are inhabited in the soil accommodated inside, and the holes dug by the ants for the passage are observed through the transparent observation wall. However, since the soil is easy to collapse and its shape retention is weak, there is a problem that only the hole dug in contact with the observation wall is exposed to the outside. Therefore, in recent years, ant breeding cases filled with gels that can be inhabited by ants instead of soil have been sold. In this case, since the gel has hardness and shape retention, the hole expands to the observation wall even if an ant digs a passage in a place entering the inside from the observation wall.

  However, in the above ant breeding case, since the product is sold in a state filled with the gel in advance, the moisture in the gel evaporates during the long-term inventory, and the total amount of the gel is reduced and the product value is lost. there were.

  In addition, it is essential to add preservatives for gels made with thickening polysaccharides as the main component to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi, but the duration of the preservatives has expired during long-term inventory. In such a case, the gel may rot as soon as the ants are placed in the gel.

  The present invention was created for the purpose of providing a set for raising ants that solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and a gel is filled in a transparent container instead of soil for ants to live. In the set for raising ants, a gelling agent, a solidifying agent, and a preservative which are gelated by adding water and heating are packaged and attached.

The present invention configured as described above has the following specific effects.
(1) The gel is not filled into the breeding container as in the prior art, but is attached as a gelling agent to form the gel, and the product purchaser mixes the water and gels it. As a result, the total amount of gel is not reduced and the commercial value is not lost.
(2) Since the gelling agent which is the main component of the gel is packaged, for example, in a powder state, it can be stored for a long period of time.
(3) Since the product buyer adds the water necessary to make the gel as described above, it is not necessary to put water in the product, the product weight can be reduced, and transportation and storage costs can be reduced.
(4) Since the product purchaser mixes the gelling agent and the preservative when forming the gel, the loss of the preservative duration can be prevented and the effect of the preservative lasts for a long time.
(5) Since the gel is made by the buyer of the product, there is “fun to make”.

  Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, ant rearing case, first sachet containing gelling agent, second sachet containing preservative, third sachet containing solidifying agent, ant rearing set with measuring cup attached Take as an example.

  Reference numeral 1 in the figure denotes a first package containing a gelling agent. The sachet contains a gelling agent that gels when heated by adding water. Here, a gelling agent mainly composed of a thickening polysaccharide is employed. Examples of thickening polysaccharides that can be used in the present invention include carrageenan, agar, xanthan gum, duran gum, and pectin, and the thickening polysaccharide is selected from these, or a combination of any of these. Is selected. Here, saccharides such as sucrose and glucose are added to the thickening polysaccharide. These sugars will function as ant food.

  Reference numeral 2 in the figure denotes a second package containing a preservative. Examples of the preservative include those containing propylene glycol.

  Reference numeral 3 in the figure denotes a third package containing a solidifying agent. Examples of the solidifying agent include those containing calcium lactate.

The above-mentioned sachet is formed into a gel by the product purchaser. In this case, according to the present invention, identification marks A, B, and C are attached to the surface of the package so that the product purchaser can easily distinguish each package. The procedure for forming the gel is as follows.
(1) While measuring using the attached measuring cup 4, put water and the gelling agent as the contents of the sachet 1 in the cup and stir.
(2) After a certain period of time, mix the preservative as the contents of sachet 2 in the cup and stir.
(3) Put the cup in the microwave and heat it.
(4) After heating, mix the solidifying agent as the contents of the sachet 3 in the cup and stir.
(5) Fill the ant rearing case with the contents from the cup and lower the temperature to room temperature to solidify it into a gel.

  Reference numeral 10 in the figure denotes an ant rearing case. This rearing case 10 is made of transparent plastic, and has a container shape with transparent observation walls 12 and 12 on the front and rear sides. Cylindrical support columns 11 and 11 are continuously arranged on the left and right in a communicating state. It has a cross-sectional barbell shape.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an ant breeding case 10 filled with gel G obtained by the ant breeding set having the above-described configuration. The symbol R in the figure is an ant released in the case, and it can be observed from the surface of the transparent case that it enters the gel G and creates a burrow H.

The front view which shows each member of this invention ant rearing set. The AA sectional view taken on the line of the breeding case 10 of FIG. FIG. The front view of the ant breeding case with which the gel obtained by this invention was filled.

Explanation of symbols

1 First sachet (gelling agent)
2 Second sachet (preservative)
3 Third packaging (solidifying agent)
4 Measuring cups 10 Breeding case G Gel H Nest hole R Ant

Claims (4)

  In an ant breeding set filled with gel in a transparent container instead of soil for ants to inhabit, the gelling agent, preservative, and solidifying agent that gel by adding water and heating are packaged An ant rearing set characterized by being attached.   The set for ant rearing according to claim 1, wherein the gelling agent comprises a thickening polysaccharide as a main component.   The ant-breding set according to claim 2, wherein the thickening polysaccharide is selected from carrageenan, agar, xanthan gum, julan gum, or pectin, or a combination of any of these. Container-shaped ant rearing case with transparent observation walls at the front, back, first sachet containing powdered gelling agent and saccharide, second sachet containing preservative, third containing a solidifying agent The ant rearing set according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a measuring cup and a measuring cup.

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