The Substratum Kit

We are excited to share that Stateside Ants is now stocking formicaria and accessories from Trapjaw Science! Founded by longtime hobbyist and ant biologist Miles Maxcer, Trapjaw Science develops live arthropod exhibits for zoos, museums, and science centers, and is also known for its YouTube channel, The Ant Network.

Products will officially launch on Cyber Monday (December 1st) with more information and images added at that time! Please enjoy this preview, and we wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Please note: All products will initially be made-to-order, with the most popular items being selected for on-demand shipping from Stateside Ants starting later in December. Thank you for your interest, support, and patience as we work to deliver the highest quality products and experience we can!

Most of the 15,700+ ant species around the world nest in various substrates – sand, soil, decaying organic matter – and create incredible nest architecture. While the most popular ‘ant farms’ around the world use substrate, very few professional formicaria do. Substratum is designed to change that, unlocking a new view into the complex tunnel networks of ant nests from the comfort of your living room, office, or laboratory. Engineered to balance visibility with the long-term health of your ants, Substratum does not compromise on quality. Sandwiched between two durable cast acrylic panels (clearer than glass!), a variable nest spacer system allows ant keepers to choose the right setup for their species, and cross-compatible parts mean that you can modify the nest according to your needs. The provided substrate is a special blend of triple-washed and disinfected sand with a unique clay powder, allowing for higher moisture retention and structural stability without clouding the viewing window. An elegant connection to the premium outworld provides your ants with a naturalistic nest entrance and foraging arena, giving keepers a nearly uninterrupted view of the ants’ behaviors. With the option to add a second nest component to each outworld, you can expand the system as your colony develops.

Dig in to learn more about our Substratum system:

• Nest 5.75” L x 7.75” H
• Variable nest spacer size (select when ordering): Extra Small (approx. 3 mm; 1/8”), Small (4.5 mm; 3/16”), Medium (6 mm; 1/4”), Large (9.5 mm; 3/8”), Extra Large (12 mm; 1/2”)
  • Spacer selection guide coming soon!
• Outworld 5.75” L x 5.75” W x 4” H
• Optional stand allows Substratum to free-stand with the outworld, or you may choose to use the standard over-shelf design with 3M removable adhesive

• Premium cast acrylic nest assembly with 4 direct-to-substrate watering ports, 2 slow-release humidity sponge chambers
• Premium cast acrylic outworld with rim, gasket, and neodymium magnet closure
• White sand for outworld
• Special formula white sand substrate (for higher moisture retention and stability)
• Syringe with blunt-tip needle
• Feeding dish
• 2 stoppers
• Fluon/oil application tool

• Fluon
• Acrylic red plate w/ integrated magnets

• Compatible with wide variety of ants that nest in substrates, including small fungus growers, seed harvesters, and soil-dwelling carpenter ants
• Developed since October 2024 and successfully tested with 10 genera and 16 species, including Stateside Ants favorites like Dorymyrmex bureni, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis, Pogonomyrmex badius, Camponotus castaneus, and Lasius neoniger
• Not currently recommended for arboreal species or dry-loving species

See guides in photos!

Please note: Small ants may be placed in nests with spacers that are thicker than the recommended size, but visibility of chambers and tunnels may be impacted. Trapjaw’s recommended spacer size for a species is indicated in bold. Recommended spacer sizes balance tunnel/chamber formation with visibility and queen mobility. Larger spacers may allow ants to form more naturalistic nests, at the expense of visibility. We appreciate your feedback and experience in determining and adjusting these recommendations! Example: Florida harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex badius) are compatible with medium, large, and extra large spacers:

• Medium spacers result in a fully-visible nest that the ants may excavate faster, but at the expense of their chamber shape and function
• Large spacers provide the ideal compromise between visibility and chamber function
• Extra large spacers will enable the full formation of granaries and brood chambers (but can lead to hidden nest space in smaller colonies).