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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2012 11:43:39 GMT 1
Nesting area Attachments:
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2012 11:45:41 GMT 1
Foraging area. Hoping to add a real plant capable of supporting an aphid population. Any advice and criticism would be appreciated, cheers. Attachments:
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Post by Myrm on Oct 26, 2012 12:44:34 GMT 1
Hi tommylo and welcome to the forum.
Thank you for supporting us by joining.
Your set up looks great! Do you plan on covering the sides of the nesting box up with a dark material (ants prefer to nest in darkness) or will you leave it uncovered?
I look forward to hearing how you and your ants get on with this set up.
I assume you will be filling the nesting box up with that loam and not keeping it at its current level? Oh, and irrigation pipes are a nice touch but not honestly needed. Where do the irrigation pipes go to? If they leave outside the whole set up then if the ants find it they will be able to get out of the set up and wandering around your room. Lasius niger are the masters of escape in the ant kingdom; they really do have such naughty bottoms.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2012 19:13:22 GMT 1
Only thing is that you should fill the nesting area to the top with sand and loam as Myrm said.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2012 18:23:43 GMT 1
Thanks for the advice, I am planning on filling it up to just below the tops of the pipes. The pipes just lead to the bottom of the nesting area and I use a pipette to squirt water in. Not exactly a sophisticated system. I put the ants in last Saturday and here is how they are getting on. They've covered up the entrance of the test tube with dirt and seem to be making that their HQ. Is this a good thing? They haven't gone for the water or protein jelly at all. Attachments:
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2012 18:37:53 GMT 1
Woah, I'd be weary about the amount of wood chips you have placed in with them, if they feel comfortable enough they may nest under them. Anyway, the blocking of the tube is natural and at this time of year most species of ants won't be taking in protein due to hibernation. Also, I don't think Lasius niger like jelly foods. Could try feeding them some sort of sweet nutrition?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2012 19:53:23 GMT 1
My lasius niger have been bringing in sand but only to cover the bottom of the test tube. Soi guess this is normal. You have cocoons, no way, I haven't seen a single cocoon.just larvae :-(
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