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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 22:42:42 GMT 1
You'd think that Rubra is being paid to advertise the species!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 23:31:02 GMT 1
You'd think that Rubra is being paid to advertise the species! It seems like it. I personally would not recommend M. rubra to you at this point. That is a nice Y-tong nest. It seems that most ant stores don't keep large ants in mind. I think it would work alright though.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 23:35:29 GMT 1
No no, Just held hostage. And I see that's VARY shortminded Miles, rubra's are good ANYTIME .
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 23:45:22 GMT 1
No it's not. He wants large ants.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2012 23:56:08 GMT 1
Thanks for all the replies and help! Yes, I do want a largish ant and although I'm no expert I don't really like the idea of a prebuilt nest using ytong. I would genuinely love to watch my ants tunnel and build thier own home. Watching them create something is one of the draws for me - seeing how thier society operates. So, I've done some research and im leaning towards Formica fusca now - the link I posted was more of a forced compromise. So, will Formica fusca tunnel and build? If not - what other species would make a good, largish in size ant that is happy building a house in sand/loam? The starter kits from AntStore seem like a great 'get you up & running' solution - I will be keeping them in a room at about 24c all year round, so - another plus would be a species that doesn't hibernate. Hope my requirements aren't too fussy but I do want to be sure of everything before I spend any cash - plus I wouldn't want to hurt the little fellas by getting it wrong. Easy(ish) to keep, diggers, large(ish) in size, active - open to suggestions!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2012 0:18:33 GMT 1
Sounds like F. fusca is your best bet! They tunnel well and would do great in an Antstore starter kit. Formica fusca will have workers in 4-6 weeks. Check out my caresheet in the Ant Species board.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2012 0:37:19 GMT 1
Thanks ever so much for all your advice - after reading your care sheet Formica fusca are definitely the chaps for me! Large in size, builders and the deal clincher Aphid farmers! That is exactly why I want to keep a colony, to observe that type of behaviour. You know what I'm going to ask next, don't you? What are some good techniques or plants to introduce to encourage an aphid population? Now that I'm aware of that behaviour I am so excited about the prospect of getting a farm up & running! I'm about massively grateful for all of your input & invaluable advice so far! I'll put the carpenters on the back burner for now, Formica fusca are the clear winners.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2012 4:30:02 GMT 1
What are some good techniques or plants to introduce to encourage an aphid population? Now that I'm aware of that behaviour I am so excited about the prospect of getting a farm up & running! Now this is a difficult process. Batspiderfish has talked about doing this, I believe. There are two ways that I'm aware of doing this. I'm not sure what kinds of plants aphids like, as not many species live near me. (I'm in Idaho, rather cold most of the year) You can place clippings of plants that the aphids like in their outworld, and the aphids will live on those for a few days. Then, obviously you would have to place new clippings. The other option that I'd like to try sometime is having a living plant in the tank that the aphids would live on. It would be quite complicated and the outworld would have to be set up so the plants could grow but the ants couldn't hid in the soil. I plan on attempting one of these setups this spring.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2012 7:39:31 GMT 1
You'd think that Rubra is being paid to advertise the species! I bet Asda sell them
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2012 11:46:11 GMT 1
Got you! Aphids are pretty un-popular in this part of the world ;( Most of my gardener chums are constantly trying to rid thier gardens of them. I think I've got enough to think about with starting the colony - let alone complicating things from word go. I'll set my colony up first, hopefully get it established and then see if I can't grow something in my outworld that aphids enjoy? So, one last tiresome question AntStore are only supplying a lone Formica Fusca queen currently. Assuming the environment is healthy, how long would you suggest it will take for her to start laying eggs & producing workers? Will this be a matter of days, months or years? Also - would you recommend I build in some heating technology from the beginning? like a heating cord, mat or lamps - I intend to keep the farm in a room constantly heated to 24c with the nest slightly closer to a radiator than the outworld. Instinctively I think it should be more than warm enough for them?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2012 12:04:11 GMT 1
Looks like, since you checked, antstore have acquired queens with workers. Even if you buy a queen with no workers, I expect at this time of year she will already have eggs at least.
I would not recommend heating the setup. F. fusca is a native species, and they do just fine outside. If you have it close to the radiator, make sure it doesn't dry out!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2012 17:30:36 GMT 1
Heating the setup would increase brood production and growth, but it is unnecessary.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2012 18:22:23 GMT 1
Well I still think Myrmica Rubra are large ant's after a year or so, but Formica fusca Grow Faster but their colonies are limited and are generally VARY small compared with Lasius Niger or Myrmica Rubra But for me, Rule out Niger, They are the smallest english and species I think, but are quite funny to watch and many of us would regard them as cheeky. Myrmica Rubra's personality can Vary, Usually Agressive and ready to bite or they can be nice and placid like mine and sit their. Formica Fusca's Personality is generally Similar throughout every colony, they are very Bold ants and Are Large but they are scaredy-cats, they will usually Rush off or freeze still if they spot movement, but non-theless a queened colony of around 5-10 workers is REALLY fun to watch coming from personal experience so This time and this time only I will let you off with saying no to rubra's XD. Their colonies grow fast so not bad for newbies .
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2012 18:32:55 GMT 1
The plan is coming together - thanks everyone! My first post that doesn't contain a question
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2012 18:37:12 GMT 1
The plan is coming together - thanks everyone! My first post that doesn't contain a question It's good to ask questions, I still do and want to, I need to know why my Myrmica Rubra's Larvae are flat-ish? Weird...I don't know if they are dead .
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