Building a Termite Farm

Question

So me and my friend have decided to make a termite farm and with me and him both being in high school, we don't really know the best materials for it. We have looked it up and have only found a small one on kenneth-noll.uconn.edu, but it isn't big enough and will result in a possible outbreak. However, we came up of the smart yet possibly collapsible idea of turning a fish aquarium into a full fledged termite farm. Please tell me if this could result in a disaster.

Answer 1

So I am doing pretty good, I have a theory that I think will work. If you want to build a decent termite farm, Then here are your materials.

A Power Drill

A 1 millimetre drill bit

A mason jar with a metal lid and seal

Clear Boxing Tape

Cardboard

Mulch/Rotting Wood

Dirt/Soil

And last but absolutely not least, Your favorite Termites.

You might want to put enough food in the jar so the termites have enough to eat for a long time.

If you want to make a huge interconnected farm, Then buy alot of jars and one big one. The big one will be "The Feeding Chamber". You will be using tubing to connect the jars to the big jar.

Then connect the The Feeding Chamber" to other areas using tubing.

Answer 2

Subterranean termites are pretty easy to contain. They are unfortunately common in E TX. They build a soil tunnel from the wood/food to the ground, so if you break up any tunnels they will tend to remain in the container. I inadvertently built one; Concrete planter about 18" cube, open on top. I put in a lot of broken twigs and leaves from the yard, then covered with native and potting soils. A few months later , when planting bulbs, I found I had made a termite condo. Because it is on a concrete patio it would be easy to see any tunnels and I could see escapees. So, my experience is they would stay in an aquarium even without a top.