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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2012 17:13:39 GMT 1
Hey all,
I'm new to this forum so I hope this is the right section! But at the moment I have a colony of Pheidologeton Diversus and all seemed to be well four weeks in until earlier I spotted an odd looking soldier. I took the soldier out to get a closer look and it is plastered in parasitic mitess! Every soft part of its body has a mite latched on and i'm just wondering if anyone can give me advice on this. I've been advised on another forum to move the colony but not being prepared for this I don't believe I have a spare tank! An idea I had was Hypoaspis Miles (predatory mites) although this would only be if people were 100% certain my ants wouldn't get attacked aswell. Any advice appreciated!
Again sorry if this is the wrong section!
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2012 17:17:55 GMT 1
I would move them into a test tube(if you have one) setup and clean out her tank.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2012 17:32:35 GMT 1
Thanks for the reply but how can I move them into the test tube? They're living in a 4x2x2 setup in soil substrate and the nest is quite big, I always though to encourage them to move nest the environment had to dry out? Also genuine question, but how will moving the ants sort the mite problem out?
Thanks again
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2012 17:40:42 GMT 1
It wont but it will be easyer to hibernate them, you basically need to put them into hibernation for about 25 min and then take them out for an 25 min and then put back into hibernation for 25 min again.
to move them into the test tube simply make a test tube setup and put it into their out world and wait for their nest to dry.
EDIT: this may not work.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2012 17:57:03 GMT 1
Thanks for the advice but I think it'll take days before the nest dries out, the nest is about 8" deep in the soil. I'm going to try and get a hold of some Hypoaspis in the mean time and try some with this soldier assuming it lives long enough and see what happens. Thanks again.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2012 18:05:23 GMT 1
You can try this. It worked with an Aphaenogaster colony and was good advice from someone who works closely with ants. Try giving them lemons or lemon juice. I have also used oranges. Apparently the ants will use this to get rid of the mites. This helped rid an infested colony of mites this past winter for me.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2012 18:09:00 GMT 1
I read that if the soil goes dry, this species die....
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2012 18:11:45 GMT 1
Thanks for the reply! But will the orange or lemon juice kill the mites? Or just get them off the ant? In the last hour my soldier seems to be more worn down..... Also has anyone used Hypoaspis Miles before?
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2012 18:13:04 GMT 1
Alright, for this mite fix, has anybody considered that Pheidologeton diversus is a tropical species? I wouldn't feel comfortable putting them in refrigeration for any span of time. I've only ever owned temperate ants, so maybe you should wait for somebody with tropical ant experience.
As for the predatory mite idea, remember that they spend the early stages of their life cycle as parasites themselves.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2012 18:27:19 GMT 1
Thanks, I didn't think of that. Also I would not consider dropping the temps low as stated, being a tropical species. I have messaged quite a few Diversus keepers aswell as posting on forums but no one seems to know what to do, the only thing I have been told is to move the colony but even if I did it'll take days to dry the nest out and then the colony would obviously be under more stress. Thanks again for the replies!
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2012 18:35:54 GMT 1
I one day wish to keep Pheidologeton diversus or Pheidologeton Affinis, But Ill stick to Myrmica Rubra
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2012 18:36:03 GMT 1
I agree that moving them is your best option, so do the best you can. If you see any foraging workers which are absolutely covered with mites, you might want to consider removing them from the colony and freezing them. Unlike wild ants, those in captivity cannot dispose of mite-ridden bodies. Mites are frequently introduced into colonies when wild, infested food items are given without an 8 hour freeze period, although it's still possible that the mites were already on your ants (which is why you should try to make sure that none of these mites get out into the wild, either.)
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2012 18:45:11 GMT 1
I really love the species but this just had to happen! Thanks again for your info, the soldier I seperated into a little tub and it has started knocking the mites off but it wont be put back in the tank, I saw aload of soldiers out last night foraging and none of them were covered like this. The workers look ok aswell but i'll have a closer look at them. Thanks again
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2012 18:49:27 GMT 1
If you want to save that beautiful major, you might also try to remove the parasites with a fine brush. Mites are a little like cockroaches; see one, and there are bound to be more. The idea here is just to try and cut their numbers.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2012 21:06:01 GMT 1
The major seems to be doing a good job at getting the mites of its body, I assume the mites feeding off of the ants would basically mean it would get what the ants eat? If that's right is there anything that can be fed to the ants to 'poison' or kill the mites? Without damaging the ants obviously, may sound stupid but just a thought.
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