[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":600},["ShallowReactive",2],{"post-\u002Fhow-to-make-a-wooden-nest-en":3,"related-posts-how-to-make-a-wooden-nest-en":555,"related-categories-how-to-make-a-wooden-nest-en":581},{"id":4,"title":5,"audio":6,"author":7,"authorImageUrl":8,"authorUrl":9,"body":10,"categorySlug":479,"categoryText":480,"dateModified":481,"datePublished":482,"description":483,"extension":484,"faqs":485,"howToDescription":483,"howToImage":501,"howToSteps":502,"howToSupply":530,"howToTitle":5,"howToTools":537,"howToTotalTime":546,"image":501,"language":547,"meta":548,"navigation":549,"path":550,"productBrand":6,"productDescription":6,"productImage":6,"productName":6,"reviewDescription":6,"reviewRating":6,"seo":551,"sitemap":552,"stem":553,"youtubeVideoId":6,"__hash__":554},"blog\u002Fhow-to-make-a-wooden-nest.md","How to Make a Wooden Nest - Ant Keeping Tutorial",null,"Bruma","\u002Fimages\u002Fauthors\u002Fbruma.jpg","https:\u002F\u002Fbrumaombra.com",{"type":11,"value":12,"toc":465},"minimark",[13,20,26,31,34,39,46,60,67,82,88,93,95,99,106,108,112,119,125,131,137,147,153,155,159,166,172,178,184,186,190,197,203,209,215,228,230,234,240,246,252,259,261,265,271,277,283,286,291,297,303,309,315,317,321,327,333,340,346,348,352,358,364,370,377,382,388,394,396,400,405,411,417,430,432,437,449],[14,15,16],"p",{},[17,18,19],"strong",{},"Hi guys! I hope you’re doing well!",[14,21,22,25],{},[17,23,24],{},"Today we’re going to learn how to make a wooden nest for your ant colony!"," By the end of the tutorial, you will have all the information you need to build one yourself!",[14,27,28],{},[17,29,30],{},"Let’s get into it!",[32,33],"hr",{},[35,36,38],"h2",{"id":37},"why-a-wooden-nest","Why a Wooden Nest?",[14,40,41,42,45],{},"Around the world, ",[17,43,44],{},"there are more than 12,000 species of ants!"," That’s an outstanding number of species!",[14,47,48,51,52,55,56,59],{},[17,49,50],{},"Some have giant heads",", which they use to break seeds and eat the tasty part inside! ",[17,53,54],{},"Others have the ability to spray a particular type of acid to defend themselves",", and ",[17,57,58],{},"some are actual farmers",", creating tiny farms of aphids, which they milk to obtain their extremely sweet honeydew!",[14,61,62],{},[63,64],"img",{"alt":65,"src":66},"Crematogaster scutellaris workers","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002FCrematogaster_scutellaris_workers_2.jpeg",[14,68,69,72,73,81],{},[17,70,71],{},"Some of these species really love nesting in wood!"," They usually excavate their nests in dead trees, in logs, or in many man-made wooden structures! ",[17,74,75,76],{},"A very popular species that likes to nest in wooden nests is ",[77,78,80],"nuxt-link-locale",{"to":79},"\u002Fhow-to-care-for-crematogaster-scutellaris","Crematogaster scutellaris",", the very cool ant with the heart-shaped abdomen in the picture above!",[14,83,84,85],{},"By providing the ants with the nesting medium they prefer the most, you can be sure that ",[17,86,87],{},"the colony will grow big and healthy!",[14,89,90],{},[17,91,92],{},"Let’s build our own wooden ant nest!",[32,94],{},[35,96,98],{"id":97},"what-you-need","What You Need",[14,100,101,102,105],{},"For this project, we’re going to need ",[17,103,104],{},"a wooden panel, a piece of transparent acrylic, some screws, and some basic tools",".",[32,107],{},[35,109,111],{"id":110},"the-wooden-panel","The Wooden Panel",[14,113,114,115,118],{},"As you probably can imagine, ",[17,116,117],{},"the most important thing we need to make a wooden ant nest is a piece of wood",". This wooden panel will become the main part of the nest, in which the ants will travel through the little passages.",[14,120,121],{},[63,122],{"alt":123,"src":124},"Materials to build a DIY wooden ant nest","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fwooden_ant_nest_tutorial_tools.jpeg",[14,126,127,130],{},[17,128,129],{},"You can find this type of wooden panel in almost every hardware store",". For this project, I will be using this piece of wood, derived from an old shelf I had lying around in the basement.",[14,132,133,136],{},[17,134,135],{},"The first thing we have to do is to decide the dimensions of the nest",". This is completely up to you.",[14,138,139,140,143,144,105],{},"If you already have a large colony that you are planning to put in there, ",[17,141,142],{},"you should probably opt for a relatively large-sized nest",". On the other hand, if you’re just starting out, ",[17,145,146],{},"you can choose a smaller size for this nest",[14,148,149,150,105],{},"In my case, I’ve opted for a size of ",[17,151,152],{},"25 cm x 30 cm",[32,154],{},[35,156,158],{"id":157},"drawing-the-chambers","Drawing the Chambers",[14,160,161,162,165],{},"Now to the fun part! Once we have the piece with the right dimensions, ",[17,163,164],{},"we can start drawing the shape of the chambers",". In this step, you can unleash all your creativity, creating the chambers of the nest as you like them best.",[14,167,168],{},[63,169],{"alt":170,"src":171},"Drawing the chambers of a DIY wooden ant nest","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fwooden_ant_nest_tutorial_drawing_the_chambers.jpeg",[14,173,174,177],{},[17,175,176],{},"Make sure to use a pencil that leaves a strong mark on the wood",", because in the next step, we’re going to need an easy-to-follow reference.",[14,179,180,183],{},[17,181,182],{},"When drawing the shape of the nest, I suggest using a mix of large chambers and tight passages"," in order to better replicate the natural shapes of these types of nests.",[32,185],{},[35,187,189],{"id":188},"engraving-the-wooden-panel","Engraving the Wooden Panel",[14,191,192,193,196],{},"In this step, ",[17,194,195],{},"we’re going to remove the excess material from the wooden panel",", creating the various chambers and passages of the nest.",[14,198,199],{},[63,200],{"alt":201,"src":202},"Engraving a DIY wooden ant nest with a Dremel","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fwooden_ant_nest_tutorial_engraving_the_chambers.jpeg",[14,204,205,208],{},[17,206,207],{},"For this task, you can simply use a Dremel, with the help of a special drill bit made specifically for engraving wood",". If the wood you are using for the nest is somewhat hard, this process could take some time.",[14,210,211],{},[63,212],{"alt":213,"src":214},"A DIY wooden ant nest after engraving","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fwooden_ant_nest_tutorial_engraving_result.jpeg",[14,216,217,218,224,225],{},"By the way... If you, like me, really enjoy these kinds of DIY projects, I'm pretty sure you're going to love ",[17,219,220],{},[77,221,223],{"to":222},"\u002Fhow-to-make-a-ytong-nest","this other guide"," too! ",[17,226,227],{},"In this one, I explain in detail how to make another very popular type of ant nest: a Ytong nest!",[32,229],{},[35,231,233],{"id":232},"sanding-the-nest","Sanding the Nest",[14,235,236,239],{},[17,237,238],{},"After the engraving process is completed, we can start cleaning the nest with some sandpaper",". With this type of sanding, we’re going to remove all the little imperfections caused by the engraving and the cutting phase.",[14,241,242,243,105],{},"In my case, the wooden panel has a thick layer of paint on it. For this reason, I’ve decided to clean all the surfaces of the nest, ",[17,244,245],{},"completely removing the paint layer and uncovering the natural color of the wooden panel",[14,247,248],{},[63,249],{"alt":250,"src":251},"Sanding a DIY wooden ant nest","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fwooden_ant_nest_tutorial_sanding_the_nest.jpeg",[14,253,254,255,258],{},"If you want, ",[17,256,257],{},"you can also sand the inside part of the chambers and the passages"," to create a smoother and more rounded surface.",[32,260],{},[35,262,264],{"id":263},"the-acrylic-front-panel","The Acrylic Front Panel",[14,266,267,270],{},[17,268,269],{},"Now we have to make the acrylic front panel",". This transparent panel will enable us to easily see the ants inside the nest, without the risk of having any escapees.",[14,272,273,276],{},[17,274,275],{},"After we’ve taken the necessary measurements, we can start cutting the piece",". For this panel, I am using plexiglass, a very easy-to-find type of transparent plastic.",[14,278,279],{},[63,280],{"alt":281,"src":282},"Cutting a plexiglass panel for a DIY ant nest","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fytong_ant_nest_tutorial_cutting_the_acrylic_panel.jpeg",[14,284,285],{},"For cutting the plexiglass, you can use a normal saw for metals or a jigsaw. You can choose whichever one you prefer.",[14,287,288,105],{},[17,289,290],{},"Here’s the panel",[14,292,293],{},[63,294],{"alt":295,"src":296},"Plexiglass front panel for a DIY ant nest","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fytong_ant_nest_tutorial_the_acrylic_panel.jpeg",[14,298,299,300,105],{},"Just like the wooden panel, ",[17,301,302],{},"we can remove the little imperfections by using some sandpaper",[14,304,305,308],{},[17,306,307],{},"To attach the plexiglass panel to the nest, we can use some screws made for wood",". By using the screws as the fixing mechanism, we will be able to easily remove the panel for cleaning the nest.",[14,310,311],{},[63,312],{"alt":313,"src":314},"A DIY wooden ant nest after sanding","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fwooden_ant_nest_tutorial_after_sandpaper.jpeg",[32,316],{},[35,318,320],{"id":319},"drilling-the-holes","Drilling the Holes",[14,322,323,324,105],{},"Now we have to drill the holes in the plexiglass panel and in the nest. ",[17,325,326],{},"You can easily do this by using a normal drill with a bit made for wood",[14,328,329,330,105],{},"Keep in mind that the holes in the plexiglass panel should be slightly smaller than the ones in the nest. ",[17,331,332],{},"That’s because the screws that are going to keep together the two parts have to grip only on the wooden panel",[14,334,335,336,339],{},"If you haven't done it yet, ",[17,337,338],{},"during this phase you can also drill the entrance hole",", through which the ants will travel in and out of the nest.",[14,341,342],{},[63,343],{"alt":344,"src":345},"The entrance hole of a DIY wooden ant nest","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fwooden_ant_nest_tutorial_entrance_hole.jpeg",[32,347],{},[35,349,351],{"id":350},"making-the-base","Making the Base",[14,353,354,357],{},[17,355,356],{},"Now we can start making the base of the nest",", the part that will allow the wooden panel to remain in a vertical position. As usual, the first thing we have to do is to take all the necessary measurements.",[14,359,360,363],{},[17,361,362],{},"Once we have the marks on the wood, we can start cutting",". As you can see, I’m using a circular saw to cut the pieces. Alternatively, if you don’t have one of these, you can simply use a jigsaw.",[14,365,366],{},[63,367],{"alt":368,"src":369},"Cutting the base of a DIY wooden ant nest","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fwooden_ant_nest_tutorial_cutting_the_base.jpeg",[14,371,372,373,376],{},"When we have the piece, ",[17,374,375],{},"we can then clean it with some sandpaper",", just like before.",[14,378,379],{},[17,380,381],{},"Here’s the result!",[14,383,384],{},[63,385],{"alt":386,"src":387},"A base for a DIY wooden ant nest","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fwooden_ant_nest_tutorial_the_base.jpeg",[14,389,390,393],{},[17,391,392],{},"Now it’s finally time to join together the two parts: the base and the nest",". To do so, make two holes in the base and two holes in the nest. When the holes are ready, attach the nest to the base using two screws for wood.",[32,395],{},[35,397,399],{"id":398},"the-end-result","The End Result!",[14,401,402],{},[17,403,404],{},"Congratulations! You’ve just made a wooden ant nest all by yourself!",[14,406,407],{},[63,408],{"alt":409,"src":410},"A DIY wooden ant nest","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fwooden_ant_nest_tutorial_final_result.jpeg",[14,412,413,416],{},[17,414,415],{},"Now our little nest is finally ready to house an ant colony!"," I'm pretty sure they will love their new fantastic wooden home!",[14,418,419,420,426,427],{},"If you are a beginner and have no idea how to get your hands on an ant colony, I suggest you check out ",[17,421,422],{},[77,423,425],{"to":424},"\u002Fhow-to-catch-your-first-queen-ant","this other guide!"," ",[17,428,429],{},"In this one, you will learn everything you need to know to catch your very first queen ant, the mother of all members of the colony!",[32,431],{},[14,433,434],{},[17,435,436],{},"I hope you have found this guide helpful!",[14,438,439],{},[440,441,445],"a",{"href":442,"rel":443},"https:\u002F\u002Fbrumaants.com\u002Fhow-to-make-a-tube-spiral-for-your-ants",[444],"nofollow",[63,446],{"alt":447,"src":448},"DIY tube spiral for ants","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Ftube_spiral_tutorial_final_result.jpeg",[14,450,451,454,455,461,462],{},[17,452,453],{},"If you liked this tutorial and love making DIY projects",", I would strongly suggest you check out ",[17,456,457],{},[77,458,460],{"to":459},"\u002Fhow-to-make-a-tube-spiral-for-your-ants","this other tutorial!"," In this one, you will learn ",[17,463,464],{},"how to build a very cool tube spiral for connecting your ant nest to an outworld!",{"title":466,"searchDepth":467,"depth":467,"links":468},"",2,[469,470,471,472,473,474,475,476,477,478],{"id":37,"depth":467,"text":38},{"id":97,"depth":467,"text":98},{"id":110,"depth":467,"text":111},{"id":157,"depth":467,"text":158},{"id":188,"depth":467,"text":189},{"id":232,"depth":467,"text":233},{"id":263,"depth":467,"text":264},{"id":319,"depth":467,"text":320},{"id":350,"depth":467,"text":351},{"id":398,"depth":467,"text":399},"tutorials","Tutorials & D.I.Y.","2025-08-04T00:00:00Z","2022-05-21T00:00:00Z","In this tutorial, you will learn how to make a wooden nest for your ant colonies! This type of nest is perfect for species that love wood!","md",[486,489,492,495,498],{"question":487,"answer":488},"Why should I choose a wooden nest for my ants?","Wooden nests are preferred by certain ant species that naturally nest in wood, providing a more comfortable environment for them.",{"question":490,"answer":491},"What materials do I need to build a wooden ant nest?","You will need a wooden panel, transparent acrylic, screws, and basic tools like a Dremel and drill.",{"question":493,"answer":494},"How do I decide the size of the wooden nest?","The size should depend on the size of your ant colony; larger colonies need bigger nests, while smaller colonies can use smaller ones.",{"question":496,"answer":497},"What tools are recommended for engraving the wooden panel?","A Dremel with a special drill bit made for engraving wood is recommended for creating the chambers and passages.",{"question":499,"answer":500},"How can I ensure my ants don’t escape from the nest?","Using a transparent acrylic front panel securely attached with screws will allow you to observe the ants while preventing escapes.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_wooden_nest_tutorial.png",[503,506,509,512,515,518,521,524,527],{"name":504,"text":505,"image":124},"Decide the dimensions of the nest","Choose the size of the wooden panel based on the size of your ant colony. Mark the dimensions and cut the panel.",{"name":507,"text":508,"image":171},"Draw the chambers","Use a pencil to draw the chambers and passages on the wooden panel. Include a mix of large chambers and tight passages.",{"name":510,"text":511,"image":202},"Engrave the wooden panel","Use a Dremel with an engraving bit to carve out the chambers and passages. Remove excess material carefully.",{"name":513,"text":514,"image":251},"Sand the nest","Smooth out imperfections using sandpaper. Optionally, sand the inside of the chambers for a rounded surface.",{"name":516,"text":517,"image":282},"Cut the acrylic front panel","Measure and cut the transparent acrylic panel to fit the wooden nest. Sand the edges to remove imperfections.",{"name":519,"text":520,"image":345},"Drill holes for screws","Drill holes in the acrylic panel and wooden nest for screws. Ensure the holes in the acrylic are slightly smaller.",{"name":522,"text":523,"image":369},"Make the base","Cut and sand a wooden base to support the nest in a vertical position. Attach the base to the nest using screws.",{"name":525,"text":526,"image":314},"Assemble the nest","Attach the acrylic panel to the wooden nest using screws. Ensure it is secure and escape-proof.",{"name":528,"text":529,"image":410},"Test the nest","Place the nest in your setup and observe the ants to ensure it meets their needs.",[531,533,535],{"name":532},"Wooden panel",{"name":534},"Transparent acrylic (plexiglass)",{"name":536},"Screws",[538,540,542,544],{"name":539},"Dremel with engraving bit",{"name":541},"Drill with wood bits",{"name":543},"Sandpaper",{"name":545},"Circular saw or jigsaw","PT120M","en",{},true,"\u002Fhow-to-make-a-wooden-nest",{"title":5,"description":483},{"loc":550},"how-to-make-a-wooden-nest","J9Br_YaY1Rvh0HlzTRHvoLsWhIel8yuc3eiNWdNpvRk",[556,563,568,574],{"id":557,"title":558,"description":559,"image":560,"categoryText":561,"path":562},"blog\u002Fanthouse-acrylic-naturcolor-10x10x1-review.md","Anthouse Acrylic NaturColor 10x10x1 Nest Review","Today I'm going to make a little review of a really cool ant nest made by Anthouse. In this guide, you will find everything you need to know!","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_anthouse_acrylic_nest_10x10_review.png","Product Reviews","\u002Fanthouse-acrylic-naturcolor-10x10x1-review",{"id":564,"title":565,"description":559,"image":566,"categoryText":561,"path":567},"blog\u002Fanthouse-acrylic-naturcolor-5x5x1-3-review.md","Anthouse Acrylic NaturColor 5x5x1.3 Nest Review","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_anthouse_acrylic_nest_5x5_review.png","\u002Fanthouse-acrylic-naturcolor-5x5x1-3-review",{"id":569,"title":570,"description":571,"image":572,"categoryText":561,"path":573},"blog\u002Fanthouse-jelly-cups-review.md","Anthouse Jelly Cups Review","Today I'm going to make a little review of these cool jelly cups made by Anthouse. In this guide, you will find everything you need to know!","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_anthouse_jelly_cups_review.png","\u002Fanthouse-jelly-cups-review",{"id":575,"title":576,"description":577,"image":578,"categoryText":579,"path":580},"blog\u002Fyou-should-have-a-vivarium-the-ant-pod.md","You Should Have A Vivarium! - The Ant Pod","Listen to the best ant keeping podcast on the Internet: The Ant Pod! In this episode, Ant Holleufer talks about having a vivarium!","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fthe_antpod_vivarium_41.jpg","Podcasts","\u002Fyou-should-have-a-vivarium-the-ant-pod",[582,587,592,596],{"name":583,"slug":584,"count":585,"image":586},"Care Guides","care-guides",7,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_crematogaster_scutellaris_care_guide.png",{"name":588,"slug":589,"count":590,"image":591},"Product Comparisons","product-comparisons",5,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_comparing_4_types_of_ant_nest.png",{"name":561,"slug":593,"count":594,"image":595},"product-reviews",12,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_ant_antics_sugar_snaps_review.png",{"name":597,"slug":598,"count":590,"image":599},"Various","various","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.brumaants.com\u002Fimages\u002Fbruma_ants_thumbnail_mind-blowing_ant_facts.png",1790442919833]