Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 5:41:04 GMT 1
So I have built my first basic ant nest using an old jar and small medicine tub. I super glued the tub upside down inside the jar and filled the jar with soil from the back of my garden. In the afternoon I went out and pulled up one of the stone slabs at the end of my garden and found a nest. Unfortunately I didn't find a queen but I did get a large group of lavae and a few workers. I think they are lasius niger but I'm not 100%. Photos Here - imgur.com/a/EWyR8/embedAnywho They seem to be settling in okay (I have left a sugar water coated piece of cotton in the feeding tray along with a small cap filled with peanut butter). I am worried that without a queen they wont last long. If I found another queen for them and threw her in the mix are they just going to kill her or accept her? Or is she going to kill them and raise the lavae as her own? I'm Unsure how to progress. Also I think I read somewhere that the lavae need a queen to feed them. Is this true? I went on amazon today and ordered a few books to better educate myself including "British Ants, Their Life-History and Classification " & "The Lives of Ants". While I was there I also ordered the the antworld ant farm by interplay www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00008OS3A/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i02 I figure it will be a good starter unit.
|
|
|
Post by Myrm on Aug 2, 2012 7:01:48 GMT 1
It is not a good idea to put a queen from another colony in with workers from another, especially Lasius niger as it is highly likely they will kill the queen.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 10:25:52 GMT 1
Damn. Well I should receive the new antfarm early next week so hopefully I will find a queen and some workers then and start a fresh colony. I have also been looking in to building formicariums. Heading to the shops today so Might get some hydro stone and give it a whirl. Like I said in my last post I would really like to build something with a HR Giger pattern. Can the workers look after lavae or do they need a mothers touch?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 10:50:48 GMT 1
In a mature colony the workers do all the brood caring I think, the queen just has to raise the first batch. I could send you a queen? you would have to keep her in the test tube until her first workers arrive
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 10:53:04 GMT 1
I too have queens that I could send, when workers arrive.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 15:17:11 GMT 1
That would be really cool. As long as you don't want them I would gladly take a 1 or 2 queens off your hands. I managed to get the tubing and a glue gun today but alas I couldn't find a place that does Hydrostone! Do any of you guys know any UK supplier or if not a good hydrostone substitute?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 17:36:07 GMT 1
Another question. Why do plaster formicariums need to be constantly hydrated? Is it for the ants benefit or is it to stop the plaster from cracking? If its just to keep the ants hydrated surely you can get the same result by keeping a test tube hydration vessel?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 19:44:46 GMT 1
|
|
|
Post by Myrm on Aug 2, 2012 19:57:17 GMT 1
Hi
I can't see the picture you attached due to my network limitations on the work's computer, however, those clay granules I mention in that guide, the ones I used, would fit inside the ant worlds.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 21:04:50 GMT 1
Are they the same ones you get at the garden centre for potted plants? Spheric in shape.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 22:39:13 GMT 1
Look on antstore.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 23:47:55 GMT 1
I doubt it is the ones in the picture, I agree with Thomas they will be any good suppliers site ;D The hydration thing is for the ants benefit a tube hydration system would just do the same as the water reservoir I believe and it will be harder to use/ setup.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2012 6:28:35 GMT 1
I just want to try and avoid mold build up. Thanks for your help guys I shall post pics as soon as its up and running.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2012 22:59:59 GMT 1
I'd suggest finding the larger cocoons that are darker. these are queens, and sometimes I've had a few mate in the nest. It's strange as this isnt normal, but Maybe as they were queenless they did this. I'd suggest finding queen cocoons and hoping some of the other smaller cocoons have some males. Then they may mate and lay eggs. also keep the glass on the antworld bottom section covered if you want the best results. And they would kill any ant that isnt of their own colony, so it's not a good idea doing that. I've seen queens ripped apart before, So don't go mixing them!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2012 23:02:44 GMT 1
Queens and males mate in the air, so it would be highly unlikely for them to mate while in the nest. Why get queen cocoons when you can just wait for them to hatch and then fly in their wild nests?
|
|