Post by Myrm on Nov 6, 2011 10:26:58 GMT 1
[bg=a3b44f][atrb=border,0,true] |
[bg=fbd9bd] |
[bg=a3b44f] |
| [bg=fbd9bd] Taxonomy: Formicinae (Lasius) Colony type: Monogynous (Single queen) Color: Dark brown - black Size: Queen 7-9 mm / Workers 3-5 mm Distribution: Europa Nutrition: Honey water, small insects, sometimes seeds Temperature: Room temperature Hibernation: Yes, December till January Air humidity: Moderate climate Nest building: Sand, loam, Ytong Planting: Only necessary when keeping plant a louse culture Class: Easy |
[bg=a3b44f] |
| [bg=fbd9bd] Perhaps the best known ant to the people of England is Lasius niger, the common black garden ant, it certainly is known by our gardeners and household owners due to its tendency to enter houses. It tends to nest under pavements, in soil, along the edges of lawns, in fact almost anywhere. It is a very quick, robust and prolific ant, using formic acid and its jaws as a means of attack/defence. It's colonies can grow up to a size of 15,000 workers, though about 4000 to 7000 is perhaps the average.They eat insects, nectar, and even the bodies of their own dead, or ants from other colonies. They are also very fond of sugary substances. They are perhaps one of the easiest ants to keep in captivity due to the fact that they are harmless and possess no sting. They are a very interesting and active ant. |
[bg=a3b44f] |
| [bg=fbd9bd] <Information> |
[bg=a3b44f] |
| [bg=fbd9bd] These ants start their nests off by single-queen founding, though it is not unknown for 2 or more queens to cooperate in digging a hole in the ground and caring for the brood together. However, once the workers are born the queens will fight to the death to be the only queen present. The workers may also attack all but their favoured one. The mating flights are usually mid to late summer, generally July/August but can start and/or finish a month either side of this. |
[bg=a3b44f] |
| [bg=fbd9bd] Lasius niger are vary easy ants to keep and they seem to not be too fussy about where they live, though, of course, it is always best to mimic their natural habitat as closely as you can, this will give your chances of success with the ants a greater chance. Most people keep their Lasius niger in a slim ant farm or a fish tank, both are just as good as the other. Soil is perhaps the best thing to use but loam and sand are also fine. |
[bg=a3b44f] |
| [bg=fbd9bd] Lasius niger eat insects, fruit kitchen scraps, honey-water, sugar-water, protein jelly, in fact a whole variety of foods and it is well worth experimenting. They will require a fresh water supply where possible. |
[bg=a3b44f] |
| [bg=fbd9bd] As I said above these are vary easy ants to keep and are also safe for young bin lids. They do not sting and rarely bite, and even when they do bite it is rare that you'll feel it, (if you do feel it it doesn't hurt at all). These ants are very fast though and can be masters of escape so make sure you always place the lid on your ant farm/tank properly each time. they are vary naughty when it comes to escaping. |
[bg=a3b44f] |
| [bg=fbd9bd] In the wild, at least in the temperature countries such as the UK and here in Sweden, Lasius niger hibernate from about November to late February/early March. In captivity they may not hibernate if kept indoors but they may go into a state of reduced activity and the queen may stop laying eggs during that period. For those of you living in countries whose ants normally hibernate in the wild, I would recommend allowing your ants to hibernate where possible. To do this you can keep the ant farm in the garden or in a shed or perhaps in a spare room in your house with the heating turned off and the window open at all times. It is best to let them prepare for hibernation from at least September; i.e., don't suddenly put them outside in the middle of winter. If you do keep the ant farm in the grade during the winter, cover it with a blanket to protect from frost. |
[bg=a3b44f] |
| [bg=fbd9bd] |
