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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2011 17:24:21 GMT 1
I have been thinking about what I would like for Christmas... Seen as my L.Niger colony has done so well, I would like to try another ant species. I did want something a little more exotic and maybe with different castes (soldiers and the like). After doing some research - both on the forum and from various other sources - I have decided that I like the sound of Messor barbarus. I have a Y-tong nest (picture below) that my L.niger are currently in but I am thinking about moving them into a basin. I heard that M.barbarus do well in Y-tong but will my one be big enough for them? Also I have some other questions... Should I wait untill after winter to order them?
How fast do they grow for 0 workers?
What should I feed them - Just seeds or insects too?
Do I water the nest like with L.niger, or leave it dry?Product Link: Ytongnest - Premium 30x20x5-fraggs ;D
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2011 17:53:46 GMT 1
I am thinking the same things...
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2011 18:19:31 GMT 1
I have been thinking about what I would like for Christmas... Seen as my L.Niger colony has done so well, I would like to try another ant species. I did want something a little more exotic and maybe with different castes (soldiers and the like). After doing some research - both on the forum and from various other sources - I have decided that I like the sound of Messor barbarus. I have a Y-tong nest (picture below) that my L.niger are currently in but I am thinking about moving them into a basin. I heard that M.barbarus do well in Y-tong but will my one be big enough for them? Also I have some other questions... Should I wait untill after winter to order them?
How fast do they grow for 0 workers?
What should I feed them - Just seeds or insects too?
Do I water the nest like with L.niger, or leave it dry?Product Link: Ytongnest - Premium 30x20x5-fraggs ;D I would wait until after winter to order the queen, as it is likely that she is hibernating at their storage facility. Being shipped during hibernation may be even more stressful than normal. Q1 Messor barbarus queens that don't produce workers before winter hibernate, much like my Lasius neoniger, produce eggs right after hibernation. This is a strategy as a queen as well rested as one who has hibernated can produce more eggs thus creating a larger colony faster. Q2 It really depends on the heating, but I would expect between 5 and 15 nantics. Q3 I advise you to feed them seeds often, when their stores are low, and to feed insects every few weeks as the colony starts up. Messor in general are fairly herbivorous, but will occasionally consume dead insects. Messor b, like all ants, require moisture. I advise that you water the nest enough that 2-3 of those chambers are moist. Yes that Y-Tong nest will work, and may even be too big. Your ants won't need a larger nest for a year or two.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2011 19:03:16 GMT 1
Thanks for the advice, I'll have a talk with my mom to see if I can convince her now <exalt+1> Thanks again, -fraggs
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2011 23:26:46 GMT 1
I have another question Is it possiable for Messor Barbarus to have multipul queens? I ask this because on the antstore page (in the reviews) it says from quite a few people that they got 2 queens Thanks, -fraggs
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2011 5:44:55 GMT 1
No, Messor barbarus, to my knowledge, is strictly monogynous.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2011 9:37:53 GMT 1
It may be people thinking that a vary large major is a queen?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2011 11:41:06 GMT 1
I see, thanks for clearing that up! ;D
-fraggs
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2011 18:34:20 GMT 1
They may have also ordered multiple colonies..
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2011 2:00:30 GMT 1
Stuff like this can get you thinking about it for months without actually doing anything like i was. Just go for it and learn from experience, I currently have them when they die out in the distant future and I have my own place ill move a level up to leaf cutters.
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