Cast #016 - Aluminum Carpenter Ant Colony Casting

Aluminum carpenter ant cast display picture from the front
Ant Type: Carpenter Ants (Camponotus castaneus)

Cast Number: #016
Created: 5/10/2013
Cast Weight: 2.5 lb

Cast Material: Aluminum
Cast Dimensions: 22"x6"x23.5" (HxWxL)

Base: Stained Wood Oval
Base Dimensions: 0.75"x6.5"x8.5" (HxWxL)


Mount: Bolt through base and cast
Orientation: Upside Down
Description
This was the first attempt at casting a carpenter ant colony with aluminum and it turned out great. The cast consists of a single main tunnel with several smaller chambers near the ground surface (the bottom of the display) and a long thin chamber branching off about halfway down. The long chamber is around 13" in length, which is the longest chamber on a carpenter ant colony that I have seen so far. The long chamber varies in width from 3/4" to about 1.5". The main shaft, on average, is about 1/2" in diameter. Other features of this cast that I find interesting are the double entrances that converge near the surface and the curving tunnel near the end.
Base Description
The cast is displayed on an oval wooden base upside down from its natural orientation. The finish is a walnut stain with a satin clear coat. The cast is secured to the base with a bolt that passes through the cast and the base. The bottom of the base has four felt pads to protect the surface it is displayed on. A stainless steel plaque is mounted on the base containing information about the cast display.