Buy Online
Ant World
Good Toy Guide 1999 - Gold Award
Winner for Best Science and Nature Toy.
Good Toy Guide 2008 - Gold Award
Winner for Best Science and Nature
Range.
- An award winning nature kit that allows an insight into the amazing world of ants.
- Fun, fascinating and very educational. Promotes awareness of the environment.
- Approved by wildlife experts.
Ants make great pets; they are safe, clean and cost next to nothing to feed! Ant World allows a fascinating insight into their world. Observe ants going about their daily business; constructing a new home, making tunnels, feeding each other and communicating. Quality entertainment for budding naturalists both young and old.
For ages 5 years and over.
Please note: Ants are not included in the kit. Instructions are given on how to find them in the wild; alternatively, order ants from our Customer Service Website, Interplay Direct.
Education:
Experiments included support National Curriculum Science KS1 and KS2.
Free Teachers Notes and Lesson Plans are available for this product.
Download full Instructions for this kit.
Contents:
| Plastic Ant Housing | 2 x Shades |
| Scene stickers | Connectable magnifier bowl |
| Clear tubing | Feeding pipette |
| Tunneling sand | Colour instruction manual |
Size of Ant World when built: 300mm x 70mm x 200mm
Spare parts are also available for Ant World from our Customer Service Website, Interplay Direct
Safety Information
Conforms to EN71 European Toy Safety Standards.
Adult supervision is recommended for young children.
Not suitable for children under 36 months due to small peices that could represent a choking hazard.
FAQ's
Q. Where do I get ants from?
A. You can collect your own ants from your back garden, full details are given in the instructions. Alternatively you can order ants from Interplay Direct, or by calling our customer services line on 01628 488 525.
Q. How do I receive my ants from Interplay?
A. Ants are sent by Royal Mail 1st Class post. They are collected in a magnifying box and posted in a padded envelope which is small enough to fit through a letter box. Once received all you need to do is attach the magnifying box to Ant World with the tubing provided.
Q. What species of ant work best in Ant World?
A. Black ants (Lasius niger) which are commonly found in gardens and parks throughout the British Isles are probably best suited to Ant World. They are also harmless and don't sting, which makes them ideal for children.
Q. How long do ants live in Ant World?
A. Ants can live in Ant World for up to a year, but you need to keep them fed and watered as per the instructions.
Q. What do ants eat?
A. Ants like to eat sweet things like apples, banana's, jam or honey.
Q. What happens if some ants die in Ant World?
A. Your ants should stay healthy in Ant World if you follow the instructions carefully. However ants will die from old age and natural causes. Worker ants will remove the dead ants as far from the nest as possible to keep it clean and tidy. If you have a magnifying box attached, they will probably put the ants in there. It is best to clean the box out occasionally.
Q. Is Ant World cruel to ants?
A. No. If you look after the ants they should live happily in Ant World. They are safe from predators and bad weather conditions. In fact, ants probably live longer in Ant World than they do in the wild. We also believe that encouraging people to discover fascinating world of ants helps to promote environmental awareness and may make people think twice before needlessly destroying their nests.
Q. Can ants escape from Ant World?
A. Ant World is made from break-resistant material and designed to be escape proof. However ants will escape if you leave the lid off, or if the frame is not properly assembled. Very small ants from the Lasius flavus (Yellow Meadow ant) species may be able to squeeze through the air holes in the top frame of Ant World. Should this happen cover the air holes with some sticky tape and then create smaller breather holes by piercing with a pin.
Q. Can the ants in Ant World breed?
A. No. If you use only worker ants who cannot lay eggs, your ant colony will not increase in size.
Q. Can queen ants be used in Ant World?
A. Yes. But we do not recommend that you use a queen ant until you have first gained experience of keeping worker ants. A queen is the only ant that can lay eggs, which means the colony would grow and take far more care and attention to maintain. Queen ants are also very hard to find except at certain times of the year. Please do not wreck an established colony of ants looking for a queen that you probably will not find. Remember, there are many interesting things to see in Ant World using only worker ants.
Further Information about Ants:
If you you want to find out more about ants, the best two sites we have found are Ant Hill Wood and Myrms' Ant Nest; they are full of interesting facts on every aspect of ants and ant keeping. Also, they both have a forum where you comminacate with fellow ant lovers.