JP2013233106A - Ant rearing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ant rearing apparatus capable of more easily observing the structure of an ant nest and movement in the nest, maintaining a more cleaner habitat environment and rearing the ant for a long period of time.SOLUTION: There is provided an ant rearing apparatus 1 comprising particles having translucency, sand containing the particles at ≥20% of the sand volume and a rearing vessel 2 for filling the sand, wherein the average particle size of the particles is in the range of ≥50 nm and ≤5 mm, the rearing vessel 2 has a floor member 21, a plurality of sidewall members 22 fixed to the floor member 21 and forming a closed walls, a lid member 23 arranged with a distance from the floor member 21, as well as supported by the sidewall members 22 and equipped with an openable/closeable member 231 at least a part of which is openable/closeable, and a partition plate 24 partitioning a space partitioned with the floor member 21, the plurality of sidewall members 22 and the lid member 23 into an upper space 32 and a lower space 31 and in which a through-hole is formed.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ant breeding apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a breeding device for breeding while observing ant nest formation from the outside.

  Breeding a living creature not only learns the ecology of the creature but also heals it. Among them, ants are very small, so they do not take up space, and they are very good at observation because they live in groups and act actively.

  As an apparatus for breeding ants, for example, Patent Document 1 below discloses an ant breeding apparatus in which a transparent passage is arranged in a container. Further, Patent Document 2 below discloses a breeding apparatus including a pair of walls as transparent observation walls and a container for filling soil therein. Patent Document 3 below discloses a container-shaped ant breeding device that uses gel as an ant inhabiting environment in a breeding container.

JP-A-60-251830 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-661 JP 2007-267667 A

However, the breeding device described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that ant nest formation cannot be observed. Further, in the breeding device described in Patent Document 2, since soil is used as a place of ant's habitat, the ant may stick soil to the inner side of the breeding container from the nature of the ant who prefers a dark place, By avoiding the formation of a nest in the vicinity, there is a problem that it is difficult to observe the structure of the ant nest and the behavior in the nest. Furthermore, the breeding device described in Patent Document 3 has a high humidity inside the gel when a gel containing a thickening polysaccharide as a main component is used as an ant's habitat, making it unsuitable as an ant's habitat. Therefore, there are problems that ants cannot be bred for a long period of time, gels rot, cocoons grow, and discoloration.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention can more easily observe the structure of the ant's nest and the behavior in the nest, can maintain a cleaner habitat, and can be bred for a long time. An object is to provide a rearing device.

The ant breeding apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem has particles having translucency, sand containing 20% or more of the volume of the particles, and a breeding container filled with the sand, The average particle size of the particles is in the range of 50 nm to 5 mm.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to more easily observe the structure of the ant nest and the behavior in the nest, maintain a cleaner habitat, and provide an ant breeding apparatus that can be bred for a long period of time. can do. More specifically, it has the following effects.

  (1) Because the soil blocks the light and darkens the ant's habitat environment as in the prior art, the ant sticks the soil on the side of the breeding container or creates a nest on the side of the breeding container. Without unavoidable, the structure of the ant's nest and the behavior in the nest can be observed.

  (2) Since sand having physical properties close to that of soil, which is an environment where ants live, can reduce stress on ants due to breeding.

  (4) As described above, since the risk of ants escaping is reduced, breeders can be reared more easily than conventional methods.

  (5) Since ants have the habit of placing waste and carcasses around the nest, removing waste and carcasses generated in the nest carried around the nest makes it possible to remove waste and carcass in the nest. It can prevent pleasuring.

It is the schematic of the ant breeding apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is the schematic of the longitudinal cross-section of the ant breeding apparatus which concerns on embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along a plane perpendicular to the paper surface. It is a figure which shows the example at the time of providing a projection part in the side wall of the ant breeding apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the other example of installation of the partition plate of the ant breeding apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the other example of installation of the partition plate of the ant breeding apparatus which concerns on embodiment.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention can be implemented in many different forms, and should not be construed as narrowly limited to the following exemplary embodiments.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an ant breeding apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “the present apparatus”) 1 according to the present embodiment as viewed from above. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a cross section when the apparatus 1 is cut vertically.

  This device 1 includes a breeding container 2 and includes sand containing 20% or more of translucent particles in the breeding container 2, and the average particle size of the particles contained therein is 50 nm or more and 5 mm or less. It is characterized by being in the range of.

  Further, in the present apparatus 1, the breeding container 2 is arranged with a floor member 21, a plurality of side wall members 22 fixed to the floor member 21 to form a closed wall, a distance from the floor member 22 and a side wall member. 22, a lid member 23 having an opening / closing member 231 that can be opened / closed at least partially, and a space partitioned by the floor member 21, the plurality of side wall members 22, and the lid member 23, are divided into an upper space 32 and a lower portion. And a partition plate 24 in which a space 31 is partitioned and a through hole 241 is formed. As described above, the sand is put in the breeding container 2, but more specifically, is put in the lower space 31.

  The breeding container 2 in the present embodiment is a main container of the apparatus 1 that houses ants. Ants live in the interior, more specifically, in the lower space 31, acquire food and the like in the upper space 32, and carry them into the lower space 31.

  The breeding container 2 in the present embodiment is filled with sand in the interior, more specifically, the lower space 31, breeds ants, and observes ant nest building and behavior in the nest from the outside. It is intended to be able to. In the present embodiment, the breeding container 2 is preferably composed of at least a part of a transparent member, more preferably at least all of the side wall members, more preferably so that ants can be observed from the outside. Is all members. Although it does not necessarily limit as an example of the material of the breeding container 2, For example, it is preferable to comprise from glass, a styrene, a polystyrene, a polypropylene, an acryl, etc.

  The floor member 21 in the breeding container 2 of the apparatus 1 is a member that serves as a basis for supporting the side wall member, the lid member, and the like, and the materials exemplified above are used without particular limitation as long as this function is provided. it can. In addition, it is preferable that the floor member is sufficiently wider than the area partitioned by the wall member for stable arrangement, and particularly when the floor member shape of the region surrounded by the side wall member is rectangular as described later, One side is preferably not less than twice the length of the long side of the rectangle and the other side is preferably not less than twice and not more than 4 times the length of the short side of the rectangle. By doing in this way, the possibility that the breeding apparatus will fall can be reduced.

  Further, the plurality of side wall members 22 in the present apparatus 1 are used for partitioning the space together with the floor member 21, the partition plate 3 and the lid member 23, and are the main structural members of the breeding container 2. As long as it has this function, the materials exemplified above can be used without any particular limitation. The side wall members are not limited as long as the space can be partitioned, but a plurality of side wall members are necessary, and although not limited, the number is preferably four as shown in FIG. These four sheets are preferably combined into a quadrangle, more preferably a rectangle when viewed from above. In addition, when it is rectangular, it is possible to make ants nests that are long and wide in one direction, while the other side is short and narrow so that it can be easily transmitted through light due to the effect of sand permeability. . As a result, it is possible to make a nest having a sufficiently wide area for the ant, while preventing the ant from forming a nest in the central portion of the region where it is difficult to see the ant. In addition, when the shape of the floor member divided by the plurality of wall members is a rectangle, the length of the short side (distance between the opposing wall members 22) is in the range of 5 mm or more and 7 cm or less, although it is not limited. Preferably there is. By setting the width to 5 mm or more, a width enough to allow the ants to form a nest can be ensured. On the other hand, by setting the width to 7 cm or less, the light cannot pass through and the viewer cannot see the nest. You can prevent it from being made. In this case, the ratio of the sides of the rectangle can be adjusted as appropriate depending on the size of the place to be installed and is not limited. However, when the length of the short side is 1, the length of the long side Is preferably 5 or more and 20 or less.

  Further, the lid member 23 in the breeding container 2 of the present apparatus 1 is a member used for forming a closed space together with the wall member and the floor member, and more specifically, is disposed to face the floor member. Is. The lid member 23 is not particularly limited as long as it has this function, and the materials exemplified above can be used.

  In the present apparatus 1, at least a part of the lid member 23 can be opened and closed. By doing so, it becomes possible to apply ant food, necessary water, etc., and to remove unnecessary dust, and to prevent escape of ants. Although all can be opened and closed (detachable), it is possible to reduce the escape of ants by allowing only a part to be opened and closed. As a method of allowing only a part to be opened / closed, the lid member is separated and one is used as the opening / closing member 231, and one (lid member main body) is fixed to the wall member, while the other (opening / closing member) is hinged to this one, etc. It is preferable to be able to open and close by connecting with a connecting member.

  Further, the breeding container 2 of the present apparatus 1 has a partition plate 24, whereby an internal space partitioned by the floor member 21, the plurality of side wall members 22 and the lid member 23 is further divided into an upper space 32 and a lower space. The space 31 is divided. The partition plate 24 is not particularly limited as long as it has this function, similarly to the side wall member and the like, and the above-exemplified materials can be used.

  In the present embodiment, the partition plate 24 is formed with a through hole 241. By forming the through-hole 241, a space for ants to make a nest and a space for feeding ants can be separated, and a clean environment can be easily maintained. In particular, ants have the habit of placing wastes and carcasses (hereinafter referred to as “wastes and the like”) outside the nest, so that the upper space 32 becomes a place for placing them and the removal of the wastes and the like is easy. The shape and diameter of the through hole are not particularly limited, but for example, a circular shape of 1 mm to 30 mm is preferable, and a range of 1 mm to 10 mm is more preferable. In this apparatus, a plug member corresponding to the diameter of the through hole 241 is provided to plug the through hole so that ants do not come out into the upper space when the upper space 32 is cleaned. This is also a preferable example.

  The method for installing the partition plate 3 in the breeding container 2 of the apparatus 1 is not limited. For example, a step is provided in the thickness of the side wall member, and the partition plate 3 is disposed at the step portion. This is a preferred example. An outline of the cross section of the breeding container 2 in this case is shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. In the example of this figure, the lower part of the side wall member is thick and the upper part is thin. By doing so, it is possible to reliably prevent ants from escaping, while facilitating the attachment and detachment of the partition plate 24, and to facilitate the removal and insertion of sand and the cleaning of the breeding container. In addition to providing a step in thickness, the partition plate 24 can be supported by providing, for example, a protrusion 221 for hooking the partition plate on each side wall member. In this case, since the side wall member is not provided with a step in thickness and only a protrusion is required, there is an effect that the manufacture is facilitated. An example of this is shown in FIG.

  Further, as another method of installing the partition plate 3 in the breeding container 2 of the present apparatus 1, each side wall member is divided into two vertically and a lower space is formed between the lower side wall members and a partition is formed on the upper edge. While the plate is arranged to form the lower space, it is preferable to arrange the upper side wall member and the lid member formed on the upper edge of the lower side wall member to form the upper space. An example of this case is shown in FIG. By doing so, there is an effect that the separation between the upper space 32 and the lower space 31 becomes clearer, and the partition plate can be easily cleaned. In this case, it is also a preferable aspect that a partition plate is further provided on the lower edge of the upper side wall member to form a double partition plate. In this case, it is preferable that the through holes 241 are provided in the respective partition plates so that the through holes 241 overlap each other. By doing in this way, there exists an effect that a partition plate can be moved and cleaning can be performed, without moving a lower side wall member. An example of this is shown in FIG.

  In the breeding container 2 of the present apparatus 1, the height of the partition plate is not particularly limited as long as a suitable growth environment for ants can be provided, but the distance between the floor member and the partition plate is 2 cm or more and 30 cm or less. It is preferable to be in the range.

  In addition, it is preferable that the breeding container 2 has air permeability. Although it is not limited as long as the air permeability can be ensured, for example, a hole that is small enough to prevent ants from escaping, or a hole is provided in a part of the breeding container 2 and ants are formed in this hole. For example, a mesh net or a breathable membrane that does not escape may be used. The diameter of the small hole, the size of the gap, and the roughness of the mesh are preferably 2 mm or less so that the ants do not escape.

  In addition, when employ | adopting a net | network in order to ensure the air permeability of the said breeding apparatus 2, although it does not necessarily limit as a material, nylon, polyester, polyethylene, a polypropylene, stainless steel can be mentioned, for example.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, sand contains 20% or more of the volume which has translucency in which the average particle diameter exists in the range of 50 nm or more and 5 mm or less.

  The particle | grains which concern on this embodiment have translucency. By having translucency, light reaches and brightens even in the central part of the breeding container 2, so that a nest is also formed on the side part of the breeding container 2. Here, “translucency” means a property of transmitting a lot of light, and more specifically, a material that transmits 1% or more of light in the visible region is preferable. The material is not limited, for example, glass, quartz, kyanite, green beryl, fisheye stone, coral, protein stone, calcite, glacial stone, chalcedony, crystal, lithiateite, goshnite, yellow crystal, permeate , Diamond, dumbstone, shinobu, yellow jade, crystal, phantom crystal, crystal, green crystal, meteorite, white butterfly shell, milk quartz, feldspar, yin yang stone, libyan glass, red quartz, indigo stone, adamite, gold Chlorite, ambrigonite, heteropolarite, indicolite, erythrinite, axite, carnite, scheelite, grossularite, wollastonite, apatite, meteorite, limonite, banbanite, olivine , Pyroxene, chlorite, bitter garnet, creedite, anhydrite, columbite, garnet, sapphire, ruby, barite, zircon, hydromagnesite, chalcopyrite, scallopite, scolate, steatite Strontianite, gypsum, xenotime, soda zeolite, feldspar, datolite, tanzanite, danburite, titanite, mesolite, iron agarite, demantoid, tourmaline, red tourmaline, celestite, thomsonite, hyalophene, hydroborasite , White lead ore, parisite, phosgenite, feldspar, brazilian stone, fluorite, benitoite, arsenite, manganese barite, lumbar garnet, mendipite, euclase, sulphateite, rhodolite, rhombocobaltite, Examples include chalcopyrite, chlorite, apatite, ruby spinel, rhodisite.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the average particle diameter of the particle | grains which concern on this embodiment exists in the range of 50 nm or more and 5 mm or less, More preferably, it is 2 mm or less, More preferably, it is 1 mm or less. By setting the thickness to 5 mm or less, ants can form nests, and by setting the thickness to 2 mm or less, more preferably 1 mm or less, it is possible to create an environment similar to the sand surface in nature.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although the said particle | grains which have the said transparency can be suitably adjusted with the width | variety and translucency of a breeding container, they are 20% or more of a volume, Preferably they are 50% or more, More preferably, they are all. . By setting it as this range, the brightness in the breeding container can be sufficiently secured. In addition, although a feed container can be suitably adjusted with thickness, when the thickness of sand is 1 cm, it is preferable to adjust so that 1% or more of incoming visible light may permeate | transmit.

  In addition, as components other than the particle | grains which have the translucency of sand, the particle | grains which do not have transparency are included. In this case, however, the average particle diameter of the particles is preferably in the same range as the average particle diameter of the light-transmitting particles. Moreover, although it does not necessarily limit as particle | grains which do not have this permeability, For example, normal sand can be illustrated.

  In the present apparatus 1, it is also preferable that the breeding container 2 stores a moisturizing material. Thereby, the humidity suitable for ant rearing can be given to the inside of the rearing container 2. The moisturizing material is not limited to this, but water can be exemplified, and in the case of water, it can be realized by impregnating melamine sponge, gypsum and the like. The moisturizing material may be disposed in the lower space where the ant nest is formed, or may be disposed in the upper space on the partition plate.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to more easily observe the structure of the ant nest and the behavior in the nest, maintain a cleaner habitat, and provide an ant breeding apparatus that can be bred for a long period of time. can do.

  Here, the ant breeding apparatus according to the above embodiment was actually produced, and the effect was confirmed. The results are shown below.

  As a rearing device, a set of a pair of wall members made of styrene (material) 7 cm × 10 cm × 1 mm on a floor member made of styrene (material) 6 cm × 10 cm and thickness 1 mm, and 3 cm × 7 cm × 1 mm styrene A pair of wall members made of (material) was combined, and the section of the floor member to be separated was a 3 cm × 10 cm rectangle. And the sand was filled to such an extent that a margin of about 20 mm was left from the end. As this sand, quartz having an average particle diameter of 50 μm as transparent particles and containing 90% quartz by volume ratio was used.

  Next, the partition plate was supported so that the height from the floor member made of styrene (material) was 5 cm, and the lid member made of styrene (material) was placed thereon to complete the breeding apparatus. The lid member is provided with an opening / closing member, which can be opened and closed by a hinge.

  And, from June 2011, a black ant (Camponotos japonicus) was bred in this breeding apparatus, and no occurrence or discoloration of wrinkles was observed within the period up to February 2012. In addition, it was confirmed that the upper space partition plate was used as a place for waste and carcasses, and the breeding container 2 could be kept clean.

  As mentioned above, the usefulness of this ant breeding apparatus was able to be confirmed by the present Example.

  The present invention has industrial applicability as an ant breeding apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Breeding apparatus, 2 ... Breeding container, 21 ... Floor member, 22 ... Wall member, 23 ... Lid member, 24 ... Partition plate, 31 ... Upper space, 32 ... Lower space

Claims (3)

Sand containing translucent particles of 20% or more by volume;
A breeding container filled with the sand,
An ant breeding apparatus in which the average particle size of the particles is in the range of 50 nm to 5 mm. The breeding container is
Floor members;
A plurality of side wall members fixed to the floor member to form a closed wall;
A lid member that is disposed at a distance from the floor member and is supported by the side wall member, and includes an opening / closing member that can be opened / closed at least partially;
The ant of claim 1, further comprising: a partition plate that partitions the space partitioned by the floor member, the plurality of side wall members, and the lid member into an upper space and a lower space and is formed with a through hole. Rearing equipment.   The ant breeding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a shape of a floor surface partitioned by the plurality of side wall members is a rectangle, and a length of a short side of the rectangle is in a range of 5 mm to 7 cm.

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