Ant nest assembly and ant nest capable of being expanded in multiple directions

Abstract

The ant nest comprises a plurality of ant nest assemblies with the side faces tightly attached, each ant nest assembly comprises an ant nest body and a water box, and the upper end and the lower end of each ant nest body are each provided with a transparent cover plate and a bottom plate; a layer plate is horizontally arranged in the middle of the ant nest body and divides the ant nest body into an upper breeding area and a lower water storage area. The water box is arranged in the lower water storage area; the four corners of the outer side of the ant nest body are each provided with an installation notch with the square cross section, and two threaded holes which are distributed up and down and formed in the length direction of the side plate on the corresponding side are formed in each installation notch. A nest body connecting piece is mounted in each mounting notch through a positioning bolt, the nest body connecting piece is rectangular or rounded rectangular, the length of the nest body connecting piece corresponds to the height of the mounting notch, the ratio of the length to the width of the nest body connecting piece is 2: 1, and the outer side face of the nest body connecting piece is flush with the outer side face of the nest body on the corresponding side or is arranged in the mounting notch.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of artificial ant nests, and in particular to an ant nest component and an ant nest capable of multi-directional expansion. Background Art

[0002] The ant nest is mainly composed of a nest body part and an activity area part, wherein the nest body part is for ants to live and reproduce, and the activity area part mainly provides feeding and drinking water functions. As the ants reproduce, the number of colonies will increase. If it is troublesome to replace a larger nest, many nests now provide expansion functions, that is, the nest bodies can be connected to each other through connectors. For example, the Chinese patent application number 2024102908274 discloses an ant nest with a switching function, a detachable water box, and an expandable stackable ant nest. The ant nest is mainly divided into an ant nest, a switching part, an ant nest hole switch pin, an ant nest connecting pin, a water box, a water box connecting part, and a stacking part: the ant nest hole switch pin and the ant nest connecting pin are fixed through the ant nest hole slot; the switching part is fixed in the switching part fixing groove by the switching part screw and the ant nest hexagonal nut; the ant nest and the water box are combined by the ant nest water box connecting screw and the water box hexagonal nut; the water box is combined by the water box connecting part; and the ant nest is stacked with stacking parts. The switching structure design used in the ant nest of the present invention can be switched according to the different humidity requirements of ants of different species and developmental stages. The ant nest holes are designed with slots, switch pins and connecting pins, which can be adjusted and replaced according to the size of the ants being raised. After the ant nest is assembled, the ant nest at any part can be removed for easy disassembly and washing. Although the above-mentioned ant nest can be expanded in multiple directions, the water boxes need to be connected through the water box interconnection building, the ant nest and the water box are fixed by the ant nest water box connecting screws, the two adjacent ant nests in the front, back, left and right are connected by the ant nest connecting pins, and the two adjacent ant nests above and below are connected by stacking parts; that is, the ant nest has many expansion connecting parts, and the installation and connection are time-consuming and labor-intensive, and it is not convenient to store the connecting parts. At the same time, if the upper and lower layers of the ant nest are to be spread out flat, each stacking part needs to be removed one by one, which is extremely inconvenient to use. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the above-mentioned deficiencies in the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an ant nest assembly and an ant nest that can be expanded in multiple directions, so as to solve the problems that the existing artificial ant nest has a complex structure, requires many connecting parts when expanding, and is inconvenient to install and use.

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: The invention relates to an ant nest assembly, comprising an ant nest main body and a water box, wherein the ant nest main body is a rectangular box, with a transparent cover detachably mounted on the upper end of the ant nest main body and a bottom plate detachably mounted on the lower end of the ant nest main body; a layer plate is horizontally mounted in the middle of the ant nest main body, the layer plate dividing the ant nest main body into an upper breeding area and a lower water storage area; the water box is placed in the lower water storage area and is clamped and fixed between the layer plate and the bottom plate, and a moisturizing member is detachably mounted in the middle of the layer plate, which can transfer moisture from the lower water storage area to the upper breeding area; a mounting notch with a square cross section is provided at the four corners of the outer side of the ant nest main body and at the lower end of the ant nest main body, and two threaded holes are distributed vertically and arranged along the length direction of the corresponding side plate in each mounting notch; a nest connecting member is mounted in each mounting notch by a positioning bolt, the nest connecting member being rectangular or rounded rectangular, with a length corresponding to the height of the mounting notch, and a length-to-width ratio of the nest connecting member being 2:1, and an outer side surface of the nest connecting member being flush with an outer side surface of the corresponding side nest, or being positioned in the mounting notch.

[0005] Furthermore, the cross-section of the mounting notch may be L-shaped, and the upper and lower heights of the mounting notch are consistent with the length of the nest connecting piece, the widths of the notches on both sides are consistent with the width of the nest connecting piece, and the thickness of the notch is consistent with the thickness of the nest connecting piece; two threaded holes are provided on the two vertical side surfaces of each mounting notch, which are distributed up and down and perpendicular to the side surface.

[0006] Furthermore; a through hole is provided in the middle of the layer plate, and the moisturizing component is a metal grid or a medium moisturizing component, which is installed at the through hole; when the through hole is installed as a medium moisturizing component, the lower end of the columnar water guide stone or water guide cotton set in the middle of the medium moisturizing component extends into the water box and is inserted into the water in the water box, and the water is introduced into the concrete medium of the medium moisturizing component to provide humidity for the upper breeding area.

[0007] Furthermore, a connecting through hole is provided on the four side panels corresponding to the breeding area on the main body of the ant nest, a card slot connected to the connecting through hole is provided on the upper end of each side panel, an insert is provided in each card slot, and a through hole corresponding to the connecting through hole is provided at one end of the insert; when the insert is inverted in the card slot, the insert can block the connecting through hole.

[0008] Furthermore, the outer side of the upper edge of the ant nest main body extends upward to form a limit frame, and the transparent cover is placed in the limit frame, and the upper end surface is flush with the upper edge of the limit frame; the transparent cover is detachably installed in the limit frame through a magnetic structure, or a threaded vertical hole is provided at at least three corners of the upper end surface of the ant nest main body, and the transparent cover is fixed to the ant nest main body by screws and the threaded vertical holes.

[0009] Furthermore, a reserved hole is provided on the upper side wall of the ant nest body, and a guide cylinder connected to the reserved hole is provided at the lower end of the layer plate; a water guide hose is embedded in the reserved hole, the end of which passes through the guide cylinder and is placed in the water box.

[0010] Furthermore, the upper end of the water-conducting hose is provided with an injection soft needle, and a hole corresponding to the injection port of the injection soft needle is provided on the transparent cover; the upper end of the water-conducting hose is located at any corner of the ant nest body.

[0011] Furthermore, the water box is made of a transparent material, and an observation hole corresponding to the water box is provided at the lower end of each of the four side panels of the ant nest body.

[0012] A multi-directionally expandable ant nest includes multiple ant nest components with tightly attached sides. The ant nest components are as described above. The side panels of two adjacent ant nest components on the same side are connected by a nest body connector. The nest body connector is arranged horizontally, and the two ends are respectively locked and fixed in the installation notches of the corresponding ant nest components by positioning bolts; when three ant nest components with tightly attached sides are provided on adjacent sides of the ant nest components, the nest body connectors are staggered and cross-arranged.

[0013] Furthermore, the ant nest assembly is provided with at least two layers, and the upper and lower layers are connected by at least two adapters, the adapters are placed on two opposite sides of the outer side of each layer of the ant nest assembly, and the adapters are arranged obliquely, and the upper and lower ends are respectively rotatably connected to the upper ant nest assembly and the lower ant nest assembly; when the upper ant nest assembly is pushed under the action of external force, the adapters rotate until the upper ant nest assembly and the lower ant nest assembly are at the same height, and the adapters are in a horizontal state.

[0014] Furthermore, the end of the adapter corresponds to the connecting through hole on the corresponding side of the ant nest assembly, and the adapter is rotatably connected to the side panel through a rotating shaft assembly; the rotating shaft assembly includes a fixed plate detachably mounted on the side panel, and a rotating shaft with one end rotatably mounted on the fixed plate, and the rotating shaft is sleeved and fixed on the end of the adapter.

[0015] Furthermore, an ant colony activity box is provided on either side of the ant nest located in the lower layer, and the ant colony activity box includes a fence and an activity area bottom plate fixed in the fence, and a plurality of mounting holes corresponding to the threaded holes on the lower ant nest are provided at the lower end of the fence, and the fence and each ant nest assembly adjacent to the lower layer are fixedly connected to the nest body connector on the ant nest assembly by screws. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the ant nest assembly in Example 1; Figure 2 This is a front view of the ant nest assembly in Example 1; Figure 3for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the middle BB; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the disassembled structure of the ant nest component in Example 1; Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the ant nest assembly in Example 2; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the ant nest in Example 3; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the double-layer ant nest in Example 4; Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the installation structure of the adapter and the rotating shaft assembly in Example 4; Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the rotating shaft assembly in Example 4; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of a double-layer ant nest with an ant colony activity box in Example 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present invention generally described and shown in the drawings herein can be arranged and designed in various different configurations. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the invention claimed for protection, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0018] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters denote similar items in the following figures. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not require further definition or explanation in subsequent figures. In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the figures, or the orientations or positional relationships in which the inventive product is typically placed when in use. These terms are intended solely to facilitate the description of the present invention and simplify the description. They do not indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation, and are therefore not to be construed as limiting the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., are used solely to distinguish descriptions and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Furthermore, terms such as "horizontal" and "vertical" do not imply that a component must be absolutely horizontal or overhanging, but rather may be slightly tilted. For example, "horizontal" simply refers to a direction that is more horizontal than "vertical," and does not imply that the structure must be completely horizontal, but rather may be slightly tilted. In the description of the present invention, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "disposed," "installed," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they may refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they may refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they may refer to internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0019] Example 1 like Figures 1-4As shown, the ant nest assembly 10 provided in this embodiment includes an ant nest main body 11 and a water box 13. The ant nest main body 11 is a rectangular box. A transparent cover 12 is detachably mounted on the upper end of the ant nest main body 11, and a bottom plate 14 is detachably mounted on the lower end of the ant nest main body 11. A layer 111 is horizontally arranged in the middle of the ant nest main body 11. The layer 111 divides the ant nest main body 11 into an upper breeding area and a lower water storage area. The water box 13 is placed in the lower water storage area and is clamped and fixed between the layer 111 and the bottom plate 14. A layer 111 is detachably mounted in the middle of the layer 111 to transfer water from the lower water storage area to the upper water storage area. The breeding area's moisturizing element 15 is provided with a square-shaped mounting notch 112 at each of the four outer corners and at the lower end of the main ant nest 11. Each mounting notch 112 has two threaded holes 113, distributed vertically and extending along the length of the corresponding side panel. Each mounting notch 112 is secured with a nest connector 16 via positioning bolts. The connector 16 is rectangular with rounded corners, its length corresponding to the height of the notch 112. The length-to-width ratio of the connector 16 is 2:1, and the outer surface of the connector 16 is flush with the outer surface of the corresponding side nest. In this embodiment, the ant nest assembly 10 comprises a one-piece structure, with the main ant nest 11 being separated by a layer 111 to create a partitioned area between the breeding area and the water storage area. The provided mounting notch 112 can be used to accommodate the nest connector 16. When single, the nest connector 16 is vertically positioned and connected to the four corners of the outer side of the ant nest main body 11 via positioning bolts. When expansion is required, the positioning bolts are rotated in the opposite direction, and the end of the nest connector 16 is rounded. When the positioning bolts are not tightened, the nest connector 16 can be rotated to a horizontal position, so that the other end can be extended and fixedly connected to another ant nest main body 11. Because the length-to-width ratio of the nest connector 16 is 2:1, after rotation, the extended portion is consistent with the thickness of the notch, allowing the adjacent sides of the two ant nest assemblies 10 to be tightly connected after installation, with no gaps in between. The nest connector 16 is provided at all four corners, so that it can have connectors for connecting to other ant nest main bodies 11 in all four directions, front, back, left, and right, thus meeting the purpose of multi-directional expansion. The base plate 14 is removably mounted beneath the water box 13 in the ant nest assembly 10, facilitating replacement. The water box 13 is clamped and secured between the layer plates 111 and the base plate 14, ensuring it won't be damaged by shaking during transport. This arrangement, with the nest connector 16 positioned within the mounting notch 112, facilitates transport and prevents the connector from protruding when the nest is expanded, potentially compromising the tightness of the connection between nests. The transparent cover 12 allows the keeper to observe the ants in the upper breeding area.

[0020] In a specific implementation, the nest connecting member 16 can be rectangular. Compared to a nest connecting member 16 with rounded corners, it is not possible to loosen the positioning bolts and then rotate the nest connecting member 16. Instead, the bolts must be removed and the nest connecting member 16 placed horizontally to secure it to the rest of the nest main body 11. In this embodiment, the thickness of the nest connecting member 16 is consistent with the thickness of the mounting notch 112, but in a specific implementation, it can also be less than the thickness of the mounting notch 112.

[0021] To facilitate installation of the moisturizing element 15, a through hole is provided in the center of the layer 111. The moisturizing element 15 can be a metal mesh or a dielectric moisturizing element, installed in the through hole. When the dielectric moisturizing element 15 is installed in the through hole, the lower end of a columnar water guide stone or water guide cotton provided in the middle of the dielectric moisturizing element 15 extends into the water box 13 and is inserted into the water in the water box 13, directing the water to the concrete medium of the dielectric moisturizing element 15, thereby providing humidity for the upper breeding area. During use, the user can choose between dielectric moisturizing or air moisturizing. If air moisturizing is selected, the metal mesh is installed in the through hole. If dielectric moisturizing is selected, the dielectric moisturizing element 15 is selected and installed. During installation, the metal mesh or dielectric moisturizing element 15 can be fixed to the through hole with screws, or fasteners can be used to fasten it. By providing a through hole in the center of the layer 111 and installing the moisturizing element 15 there, multiple options are available to meet the needs of different users.

[0022] To facilitate subsequent expansion and to separate or connect the upper breeding areas of two adjacent ant nests, a connecting hole 117 is provided on each of the four side panels corresponding to the upper breeding area of the ant nest body 11. A slot 116 is provided at the upper end of each side panel, communicating with the connecting hole 117. Each slot 116 contains a plug 17, with a perforation 171 at one end corresponding to the connecting hole 117. When the plug 17 is inverted within the slot 116, it blocks the connecting hole 117. During use, to expand the breeding area and range of the ant colony, the plug 17 is inserted so that its perforation 171 aligns with the connecting hole 117. At this point, the connecting hole 117 serves as a communication channel between the two nests. At the same time, in order to prevent ants from crawling out of the nest from the outermost connecting hole, plan and clean the ant passage path, and reduce the impact of air humidity on the seeds, the end with the perforation 171 is turned upward and inserted into the plug 17 in reverse, so that the plug 17 blocks the connecting hole 117.

[0023] Furthermore, the outer edge of the upper edge of the ant nest main body 11 extends upward to form a retaining frame 114 (the thickness of the retaining frame 114 is less than the thickness of the side panels of the ant nest main body 11). The transparent cover plate 12 is placed within the retaining frame 114, with its upper end surface flush with the upper edge of the retaining frame 114. Three vertical threaded holes 115 are provided at the upper end of the ant nest main body 11. The transparent cover plate 12 is secured to the ant nest main body 11 via screws engaging with the vertical threaded holes 115. This upwardly extending retaining frame 114 allows the transparent cover plate 12 to be snapped into place, providing initial positioning. Furthermore, the use of screws to secure the transparent cover plate 12 facilitates replacement and provides a more stable fixing structure. Of course, in a specific implementation, the transparent cover plate 12 can also be secured using a magnetic attraction mechanism. Specifically, multiple magnets are embedded in the upper edge of the ant nest main body 11, and multiple strong magnetic blocks corresponding to the magnets are embedded in the transparent cover plate 12 to achieve magnetic attachment. This method of using the limiting frame 114 to limit the position and then using screws or magnets to fix it can ensure that the cover will not shift during transportation and use.

[0024] The retaining frame 114 has a notch corresponding to each slot 116. After insertion into a slot 116, the upper end of the insert 17 extends out of the slot 116 and rests in the notch, with its upper end surface flush with the upper end surface of the retaining frame 114. The width of the notch is greater than the left-right width of the slot 116. Insert 17 is provided with at least two insertion holes, located near its outer edge. This allows one end of the insert 17 to extend out of the slot 116 after installation, making it easy to grasp and remove. The insertion holes allow the insert 17 to be inserted using a thin roller, which can then be lifted up by a thin stick to remove it.

[0025] Furthermore, a pre-set hole 119 is provided in the upper sidewall of the ant nest body 11, and a guide cylinder 1191 is provided at the lower end of the layer 111, communicating with the pre-set hole 119. A water hose 18 is embedded within the pre-set hole 119, the end of which passes through the guide cylinder 1191 and is placed within the water box 13. This allows water to be added to the water box 13 directly by introducing water into the water hose 18. The pre-set hole 119 allows for positioning of the water hose 18, which can be arranged in an L-shape or serpentine configuration. The guide cylinder 1191 guides the end of the water hose 18, aligning it with the water box 13. Of course, in practice, the guide cylinder 1191 may be omitted, and the end of the water hose 18 may be placed directly through the pre-set hole 119 and into the water box 13. The reserved hole 119 is provided to assemble the water hose 18 , so that the water hose 18 is not exposed, which is more beautiful and will not affect the subsequent expansion of the nest.

[0026] Furthermore, the upper end of the water hose 18 is provided with an injection needle (not shown in the figure; the diameter of this section of the injection needle is larger than the diameter of the water hose and is compatible with the reserved hole to prevent it from falling off). A hole corresponding to the injection port of the injection needle is provided on the transparent cover 12; the upper end of the water hose 18 is located at a corner outside the three vertical threaded holes 113 of the ant nest main body 11 (during specific implementation, it can also be located on the side of one of the vertical threaded holes 113, so that the thickness of the nest side panel of the ant nest main body 11 is increased after such an arrangement). In this way, the injection needle can be easily connected to the syringe, thereby injecting water into the water hose 18 through the syringe, which is convenient to use. The water hose 18 is provided at one corner, and the thickness at the corner is thicker than at other positions, which is convenient for installation and does not affect the space in the upper breeding area.

[0027] Furthermore, the water box 13 is made of a transparent material, and an observation hole 118 corresponding to the water box 13 is provided at the lower end of each of the four side panels of the ant nest body 11. Thus, after the observation holes 118 are provided, the water level in the water box 13 can be observed through the observation holes 118, so that when the water level is low, water can be promptly injected into the water box 13 through the water hose 18 to prevent the ants from becoming sick or dying due to low humidity.

[0028] Example 2 like Figure 5 As shown, the ant nest assembly 10 provided in this embodiment differs from that in Example 1 only in the mounting structure of the mounting notch 112 and the nest body connector 16. Specifically, the mounting notch 112 in this embodiment may also have an L-shaped cross-section, with the vertical height of the mounting notch 112 being consistent with the length of the nest body connector 16, the width of the notch on both sides being consistent with the width of the nest body connector 16, and the thickness of the notch being consistent with the thickness of the nest body connector 16. Two threaded holes 113 are provided on each vertical side of each mounting notch 112, extending vertically and perpendicular to the side. With this structure, the nest body connector 16 can be stored within the mounting notch 112 without expansion. When expansion is required, the positioning bolts are loosened, and the nest body connector 16 is placed horizontally to connect to the ant nest body 11 of another ant nest assembly 10.

[0029] Example 3 like Figure 6 As shown, the embodiment provides a multi-directionally expandable ant nest, comprising a plurality of ant nest assemblies 10 with closely attached side surfaces. As described above, the ant nest assemblies 10 are connected by nest body connectors 16 on the same side of two adjacent ant nest assemblies 10. The nest body connectors 16 are arranged transversely, and the two ends are respectively fixed in the mounting notches 112 of the corresponding ant nest assemblies 10 by means of positioning bolts. When three ant nest assemblies 10 with closely attached side surfaces are provided on adjacent sides of the ant nest assemblies 10, the nest body connectors 16 are staggered and cross-arranged (e.g., Figure 6 As shown, there are four nest body connectors at the cross intersection. When arranged in pairs, the connection at this location is more secure. The ant nest is formed by connecting multiple ant nest components 10. Multiple independent ant nest breeding areas can be formed between each other through connecting through holes 117. The size of the ant nest breeding area can be controlled by the number of inserts 17 inserted and corresponding to the connecting through holes 117. Each ant nest component 10 has four nest body connectors 16. As needed, the nest body connectors 16 of each ant nest component 10 are arranged horizontally, and then the ends of the nest body connectors 16 are placed in the installation notches 112 of the adjacent side ant nest components 10 and locked and fixed by positioning bolts. After connection, each connection point of the two adjacent ant nest components 10 is provided with two nest body connectors 16. The two nest body connectors 16 are parallel to each other, arranged up and down, and the two ends are fixed in the installation notches 112 of the two adjacent ant nest components 10 by positioning bolts.

[0030] Example 4 like Figure 7-Figure 9 As shown, the multi-directionally expandable ant nest provided in this embodiment is based on Example 3, and the ant nest assembly 10 provided therein is provided with an upper and lower layer, which is connected by at least two adapters 30, and the adapters 30 are placed on two opposite sides of the outer side of each layer of the ant nest assembly 10, and the adapters 30 are arranged obliquely, and the upper and lower ends are respectively rotatably connected to the upper ant nest assembly 10 and the lower ant nest assembly 10; when the upper ant nest assembly 10 is pushed under the action of an external force, the adapter 30 rotates until the upper ant nest assembly 10 and the lower ant nest assembly 10 are at the same height, and then the adapter 30 is in a horizontal state. In this way, in the same spatial area, the ant nest is set as two layers, each layer is connected by multiple ant nest components 10, and the upper and lower ant nests are connected by an adapter 30. The adapter 30 is set obliquely, and the upper and lower ends are respectively connected to one of the ant nest components 10 of the layer, which can ensure the stability between the upper and lower layers. At the same time, the adapter 30 can also rotate under the action of external force, and the upper ant nest component 10 is fixed as a whole by the ant nest connector. When the user pushes the upper ant nest to one side, the ant nest component 10 of the upper layer will drive the adapter 30 to move together and push the adapter to rotate. After the adapter 30 rotates to the horizontal position, it is at the same height as the lower ant nest component 10, which facilitates water injection and management of each ant nest component 10 in the lower layer. The upper and lower layers of the ant nest are connected only by the adapter 30 arranged on the outside, which can reduce the installation amount of connecting parts between the upper and lower layers. At the same time, the interior of each layer of the ant nest is connected and fixed by the adapter 30, and no further fixation is required. The outer connection can meet the connection strength.

[0031] After setting up the two-layer structure, the transparent cover 12 at the upper end of the lower ant nest is blocked. In order to facilitate the observation of the reproduction of the ants in the lower layer, the insert 17 can be made of transparent material, so that the activities and reproduction of the ants in the lower ant nest can be observed from the connecting through hole 117.

[0032] Furthermore, the end of the adapter 30 corresponds to the connecting through-hole 117 on the corresponding side of the ant nest assembly 10, and the adapter 30 is rotatably connected to the side panel via a rotating shaft assembly 20. The rotating shaft assembly 20 includes a fixed plate 201 that is detachably mounted on the side panel, and a rotating shaft 202 with one end rotatably mounted on the fixed plate 201. The rotating shaft 202 is sleeved and fixed to the end of the adapter 30. In this way, the adapter 30 is rotatably connected to the ant nest assembly 10 via the rotating shaft assembly 20. The rotating shaft assembly 20 is flexibly configured, including the fixed plate 201 fixed to the ant nest assembly 10, the rotating shaft 202 capable of self-rotation under the action of external force, and the end of the rotating shaft is fixedly connected to the end of the adapter 30, thereby pushing the ant nest assembly 10. When the upper ant nest moves, the adapter 30 and the rotating shaft 202 can rotate. The rotating shaft assembly 20 is installed outside the connecting through-hole 117 and does not interfere with the insert 17 in the connecting through-hole 117.

[0033] Specifically, the adapter 30 is rectangular in shape with rounded corners and primarily consists of an outer frame 301 and reinforcing ribs 302 located on the inner sides of the two long sides of the outer frame 301. A connecting plate (not shown) is removably mounted within the outer frame, covering the inner side of the outer frame. A circular stepped hole is provided in the center of the fixing plate 201, and a circular ring that mates with the stepped hole is provided at one end of the rotating shaft 202. The rotating shaft is cylindrical, with a notch on the side facing the adapter 30 that abuts against the reinforcing rib. Two threaded holes 113 are provided on the end surface of the rotating shaft. One end of the rotating shaft is embedded in the circular stepped hole. After the rotating shaft body is inserted into the adapter 30, the notch abuts against the inner end of the reinforcing rib, and the end is fixedly connected to the connecting plate via fasteners.

[0034] like Figure 10 As shown, an ant colony activity box 40 is also provided on the left side of the ant nest in this embodiment. The ant colony activity box 40 includes a panel and an activity area base plate fixed within the panel (the activity area base plate is located above the mounting notch of the adjacent lower ant nest). A plurality of mounting holes 401 are provided at the lower end of the panel, corresponding to the threaded holes in the lower ant nest. The panel and each adjacent ant nest assembly 10 are connected by screws (not shown) that pass through the nest connector and then thread into the threaded holes in the mounting notch. The activity area is connected to the ant nest assembly on the side of the ant nest by positioning screws, and the screws are located below the activity area base plate. Compared to screws located inside the activity area, this design can conceal the screws below the activity area base plate, making the interior of the activity area more aesthetically pleasing, reducing the impact of the screws on the ants, and minimizing interference from the ants when disassembling the nest or activity area.

[0035] In practice, the size of the ant colony activity box and the number of mounting holes are adjusted based on the number of ant nests. The ant colony activity box can be installed on one side of an ant nest assembly, or on one or both sides of a layer with multiple ant nest assemblies. The enclosure of the ant colony activity box is provided with an ant colony entrance that corresponds to the connecting holes on the adjacent ant nest assembly.

[0036] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention rather than to limit the technical solutions. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent replacements of the technical solutions of the present invention that do not depart from the purpose and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention should be included in the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ant nest assembly, comprising an ant nest body and a water box, characterized in that: The main body of the ant nest is a rectangular box, with a transparent cover detachably installed on the upper end of the main body and a bottom plate detachably installed on the lower end of the main body; a layer plate is horizontally provided in the middle of the main body of the ant nest, and the layer plate divides the main body of the ant nest into an upper breeding area and a lower water storage area; the water box is placed in the lower water storage area and is clamped and fixed between the layer plate and the bottom plate, and a moisturizing component that can transfer moisture from the lower water storage area to the upper breeding area is detachably installed in the middle of the layer plate; a mounting notch with a square cross-section is provided at the four corners of the outer side of the main body of the ant nest, and two threaded holes are provided in each mounting notch, which are distributed up and down and arranged along the length direction of the corresponding side plate; a nest connecting piece is installed in each mounting notch by a positioning bolt, and the nest connecting piece is rectangular or rounded rectangular, with a length corresponding to the height of the mounting notch, and the length to width ratio of the nest connecting piece is 2:1, and the outer side surface of the nest connecting piece is flush with the outer side surface of the corresponding side nest, or is placed in the mounting notch.

2. The ant nest assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross-section of the mounting notch may also be L-shaped, and the upper and lower heights of the mounting notch are consistent with the length of the nest connecting piece, the widths of the notches on both sides are consistent with the width of the nest connecting piece, and the thickness of the notch is consistent with the thickness of the nest connecting piece; two threaded holes are provided on the two vertical side surfaces of each mounting notch, which are distributed up and down and perpendicular to the side surfaces.

3. The ant nest assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A through hole is provided in the middle of the layer plate, and the moisturizing component is a metal grid or a medium moisturizing component, which is installed at the through hole; when the through hole is installed with the medium moisturizing component, the lower end of the columnar water guide stone or water guide cotton set in the middle of the medium moisturizing component extends into the water box and is inserted into the water in the water box, thereby guiding the water into the concrete medium of the medium moisturizing component to provide humidity for the upper breeding area.

4. The ant nest assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that: A connecting through-hole is provided on the four side panels corresponding to the breeding area on the main body of the ant nest, a card slot connected to the connecting through-hole is provided on the upper end of each side panel, an insert is provided in each card slot, and a through-hole corresponding to the connecting through-hole is provided at one end of the insert; when the insert is inverted in the card slot, the insert can block the connecting through-hole.

5. The ant nest assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 4, characterized in that: The outer side of the upper edge of the ant nest main body extends upward to form a limit frame, and the transparent cover is placed in the limit frame, and the upper end surface is flush with the upper edge of the limit frame; the transparent cover is detachably installed in the limit frame through a magnetic structure, or a threaded vertical hole is provided at at least three corners of the upper end surface of the ant nest main body, and the transparent cover is fixed to the ant nest main body by screws and the threaded vertical holes.

6. The ant nest assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that: A reserved hole is provided on the upper side wall of the ant nest body, and a guide cylinder connected to the reserved hole is provided at the lower end of the layer board; a water guide hose with its end passing through the guide cylinder and placed in the water box is embedded in the reserved hole.

7. The ant nest assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that: The upper end of the water-conducting hose is provided with an injection soft needle, and a hole corresponding to the injection port of the injection soft needle is provided on the transparent cover; the upper end of the water-conducting hose is located at any corner of the ant nest body.

8. The ant nest assembly according to claim 1, 2, 4, 6 or 7, characterized in that: The water box is made of transparent material, and an observation hole corresponding to the water box is provided at the lower end of the four side panels of the ant nest body.

9. An ant nest capable of multi-directional expansion, comprising a plurality of ant nest components with closely attached sides, characterized in that: The ant nest assembly is as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the side panels of two adjacent ant nest assemblies on the same side are connected by a nest body connector, the nest body connector is arranged horizontally, and the two ends are respectively locked and fixed in the installation notch of the corresponding ant nest assembly by positioning bolts; when three ant nest assemblies with closely attached side surfaces are provided on adjacent sides of the ant nest assembly, the nest body connector is staggered and cross-arranged.

10. The multi-directionally expandable ant nest according to claim 9, characterized in that: The ant nest assembly is provided with at least two layers, and the upper and lower layers are connected by at least two adapters. The adapters are placed on two opposite sides of the outer side of each layer of the ant nest assembly, and the adapters are arranged obliquely, with the upper and lower ends respectively connected to the upper ant nest assembly and the lower ant nest assembly for rotation; when the upper ant nest assembly is pushed under the action of an external force, the adapters rotate until the upper ant nest assembly and the lower ant nest assembly are at the same height, and the adapters are in a horizontal state.

11. The multi-directionally expandable ant nest according to claim 10, characterized in that: The end of the adapter corresponds to the connecting through hole on the corresponding side of the ant nest assembly, and the adapter is rotatably connected to the side panel through a rotating shaft assembly; the rotating shaft assembly includes a fixed plate detachably mounted on the side panel, and a rotating shaft with one end rotatably mounted on the fixed plate, and the rotating shaft is sleeved and fixed on the end of the adapter.

12. The multi-directionally expandable ant nest according to claim 9, 10 or 11, characterized in that: An ant colony activity box is also provided on either side of the ant nest located in the lower layer. The ant colony activity box includes a surrounding panel and an activity area bottom plate fixed in the surrounding panel. A plurality of mounting holes corresponding to the threaded holes on the lower ant nest are provided at the lower end of the surrounding panel. The surrounding panel and each ant nest component adjacent to the lower layer are screwed through the nest connector by screws and then threadedly connected to the threaded holes on the mounting notch.

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