[Mass rearing of the Pharoah's ant Monomorium pharaonis].

New techniques for the mass rearing of the Pharaoh's ant (Monomorium pharaonis) are described. The basic idea in doing this is the enlargement of the surface of the rearing containers in order to guarantee the lapse of normal behaviour such as the search for food and recruitment. The rearing container is an aquarium inside of which a great number of levels of glass are located, which are connected with each other. The watering of the colonies is effected by wet cotton wool in petridishes in the lower parts of the rearing devices. A transposition of the colonies in intervals of 6 to 8 months is recommended. A dispersation method of great colonies to small and physiologically equal laboratory colonies is described. A further mass rearing device allowes a strong enlargement of the surface of normal rearing dishes of 20 to 30 cm in diameter. The basic principle consists in the setting into each other of separate dishes. To prevent an outbreak from these rearing containers the walls are prepared with residues of talcum powder. The methods and devices mentioned make it possible to produce great masses of experimental material under constant control of the developmental status at low costs and little need of space.