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Scout
Plugs onto the tube you already have.
- Size
- About 3 × 1¾ × 1 in, one piece
- Colony size
- Queen + about 20 workers
- Water
- 16 mm test tube, seals on 8 crush ribs
The Scout is a one-piece pocket nest, about 3 × 1¾ × 1 in. A standard 16 mm test tube pushes into one end and seals on eight crush ribs, so the queen has water right beside her chamber. A sliding acrylic lid runs in slots on three sides, and the LockClip drops in behind it so it can't slide open in a bag.
Inside there's a queen chamber at the water end, two smaller chambers and a doorstep foyer at the port: about 1¼ sq in of floor, enough for a queen and about 20 workers.
Scout ships with its sliding acrylic lid, LockClip, front Port Plug, a Tube Plug that closes the tube end until a queen's tube goes in, and a slip-on Cover. It doesn't include a test tube or catching gear: add a Catch Kit ($4 with a Scout) to catch a queen, or the 16 mm Test Tube & Cotton ($2 with a Scout), and, for moving up later, a Scout Riser. When it's time to move up, set Scout on the Riser, Link it to a Founder, remove the Cover and let the tube run dry.
Plug in. Cover on. Workers out.
Three steps from your colony's test tube to a full Scout.
Step 1: Plug in
Once your queen has her first workers, push her 16 mm test tube into the round end. It seals on eight crush ribs, and the tube stays on as the Scout's water, right beside the queen chamber.
No 16 mm tube? Fill a 16 mm Test Tube & Cotton ($2.00 with a Scout
$6.00) right up with water, plug it with cotton and push it in. An 18 or 20 mm colony tube joins at the front port with a Test-Tube Adapter.
Step 2: Cover on
Slide the acrylic lid shut and drop in the LockClip, so the lid can't slide open in a bag. Then slip on the Cover, which comes in the box. The queen stays dark, safe and calm.
Step 3: Workers out
A Scout holds a queen and about 20 workers. When it fills up, set it on a Scout Riser and join its front port to a Founder with the Founder's Link. Take the Cover off and let the tube run dry, and the colony moves into the damp Founder. Or keep the Cover on and leave the Scout linked as the queen's dark chamber.
Scout Riser: $4.00 with a Founder
$10.00
Build your setup
Tick what you need. Prices update as you go, and add-on prices apply automatically.
- ScoutThe nest. Its Cover and a Port Plug come in the box.$24.00
- $4.00
$8.00 - $2.00
$6.00 - $10.00
Your setup · 1 item
$24.00
Pre-orders open November 24 for the December 1 launch.
Or start with two
Scout Basecamp
$42.00
- Save $7.00 on the same pieces bought in one order ($49.00)
Two Scouts, a Link and a Cover: a covered queen home and an open porch. Two Scouts Link directly on the table, so you don't need Risers.
See Scout Basecamp
Next: the Founder
Where the colony goes when the Scout fills up.
01Founder
$42.00
The first real nest after the test tube. Cotton-fed hydration floor, 3 ports.
See the FounderWhat's in the box?
Everything that ships with this item.
- 00Scout nest× 1
- Sliding acrylic lid× 1
- LockClip× 1
- Port PlugFor the front port · Also sold separately× 1
- Tube PlugCloses the tube end until a queen's 16 mm tube goes in · Also sold separately× 1
- CoverKeeps the nest dark× 1
How it connects
AA-01 ports join with a Link. Best matches first; check what you'll also need.
Ways to build
Real connection plans with the pieces to add together. Kits count as one priced item.
Scout Basecamp porch
Best pairingKeep the queen covered while workers explore a second open Scout.
Pieces to add
- The kit includes two Scouts, one Cover for the queen's Scout, and one Link.
- Close the open Scout's test-tube end with its Tube Plug.
- Two Scouts Link directly without Risers.
Setup total: $42.00
Cannot add setup yet: Scout Basecamp: Pre-orders open November 24 for the December 1 launch.
Catch and watch
Catch a queen at the Scout's port, then watch her colony begin.
Pieces to add
- Swap the Catch Cap for the Port Plug included with Scout once she is in. Scout ships with its Cover.
- Scout doesn't include a test tube. The Catch Kit has the Catch Cap, a 16 mm test tube for water and cotton balls, and costs less with a Scout.
Setup total: $28.00
Cannot add setup yet: Scout: Pre-orders open November 24 for the December 1 launch.
Scout to Founder
Raise the Scout to Founder port height and let the colony move across.
Pieces to add
- The Scout Riser is $4 when bought with the Founder. The Founder includes a Link.
Setup total: $70.00
Cannot add setup yet: Scout: Pre-orders open November 24 for the December 1 launch.
Fits its ports
These parts fit this product's AA-01 ports.
Specifications
- Size
- About 3 × 1¾ × 1 in, one piece
- Floor area
- About 1¼ sq in: queen chamber, 2 chambers, port foyer
- Colony size
- Queen + about 20 workers
- Water
- 16 mm test tube, seals on 8 crush ribs
- Lid
- Sliding clear acrylic, locked by the LockClip
- Port
- 1 × AA-01
Related guides
- How to Catch a Queen Ant & Nuptial FlightsWhen queens fly, how to spot a mated one, and two ways to catch her: a test tube with cotton, or a Scout with a Catch Cap.
- Setting upUnboxing, connecting with a Link, plugging unused ports, preparing an outworld and the cotton water cups.
- Watering and cotton careHow to prepare each nest's water source and keep its cotton damp.
- HeatingWhen a colony needs warmth, how to heat each model safely, and when to turn the heat off for winter.
- CleaningEveryday tidying with the colony inside, full cleaning between colonies, and what's safe for PETG and acrylic.
- Moving a colony between nestsConnect the old home to the new one, make the new one more inviting, and let the colony move itself.