Uncle Milton Ant Farm Gel Colony - Manual (Page 3)

Note: Never touch ants directly. They can bite or sting to defend
themselves. If you are allergic to insect bites, you might have an
allergic reaction that could require immediate medical attention.
Obtaining Your Ants
You can order ants by mail with the included ant coupon or you can stock your
Gel Colony with ants from your own neighborhood.
To order ants by mail, fill out the ant coupon and send it to us in the included
envelope along with your payment. You will receive by mail a supply of harvester
worker ants. (Note: We cannot supply queens or male ants.)
Normally you can expect to receive your ants in three to six weeks, but shipment
may be postponed for a while if the weather is too hot or too cold for ants to safely
make their long journey in the mail. Your ants will be sent when the temperature in
your area is consistently within a safe range of 34˚ to 85˚F (1˚ to 29˚C). If you have an
outdoor mailbox, watch for the mail and do not let the ants stay long in there. It
may become too hot or too cold for them! Ask your mail carrier to watch for it and
bring it to your front door if that is possible.
You can stock your habitat with ants from your neighborhood, instead of ordering
ants. Look for large ants that cannot escape through the air holes. Try to find ants
that are nesting in the ground – they will be more likely to dig tunnels than ants
that live in trees or elsewhere. Let the ants crawl up onto a stick without touching
them. Remove the habitat lid, carefully shake the ants in, and replace the lid.
Stocking Your Gel Colony
1. When you receive your ants, be sure to read the directions that come
with them. Before you open the tube of ants, put it in the
refrigerator (not the freezer) for about fifteen minutes. This
makes the ants less active and easier to place into the
habitat. If a few ants are dead, don’t worry; there are more
than enough ants. (It is better not to have an over-crowded
habitat.)
2. Remove the habitat lid, carefully
open the plastic tube of ants and
gently shake or tap it to allow
the live ants to fall in. Try not to
let any dead ants fall in. BE VERY
CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH THE
ANTS! Replace the lid tightly.