11 replies to this topic

[micahhauge]

Today I noticed something very interesting behind my piano..

 

Album: MacBook Charger Ant Colony

3 images

0 comments

 

It looks like an ant colony has declared my MacBook charger as their home! How wonderful! After doing a bit of research, these look like they are Tapinoma Sessile, also known as Odorous house ants. If anyone thinks they are another species, please let me know! 

 

I should probably just remove them from my home, but part of me has always wanted to try ant keeping. I'm a huge fan of the AntsCanada YouTube channel. Has anyone had any luck keeping this type of ant? If so what kind of environment/food do they need? 

 

Thanks,

Micah

 

 

 

[TennesseeAnts]

Yep! T. sessile. They like crickets, mealworms, fruit flies and sugar water. I kept a colony for a while, but I moved to Tennessee.

[ANTdrew]

Sorry, but almost nobody has had luck with this strange species. They will take over your kitchen and eat every damn thing, but in captivity they barely touch anything. It’s like they’ve domesticated us. I have them taking over my kitchen now, and my wife blames my ant keeping hobby as if my colonies (from distinct species, mind you) called out to them. The fact that my toddlers throw sugary foods everywhere seems like a much better explanation. Regardless, I low key hate this species.

[Martialis]

Good luck getting rid of them. That's not even a fourth of their actual numbers. 

 

Sorry, but almost nobody has had luck with this strange species. They will take over your kitchen and eat every damn thing, but in captivity they barely touch anything. It’s like they’ve domesticated us. I have them taking over my kitchen now, and my wife blames my ant keeping hobby as if my colonies (from distinct species, mind you) called out to them. The fact that my toddlers throw sugary foods everywhere seems like a much better explanation. Regardless, I low key hate this species.

 

Huh? They'll eat nearly anything I throw at the. If anything, they're one of the easiest species to keep.

 

 

Edited by Martialis, April 15 2019 - 6:32 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Good luck getting rid of them. That's not even a fourth of their actual numbers. 
 

Sorry, but almost nobody has had luck with this strange species. They will take over your kitchen and eat every damn thing, but in captivity they barely touch anything. It’s like they’ve domesticated us. I have them taking over my kitchen now, and my wife blames my ant keeping hobby as if my colonies (from distinct species, mind you) called out to them. The fact that my toddlers throw sugary foods everywhere seems like a much better explanation. Regardless, I low key hate this species.

 
Huh? They'll eat nearly anything I throw at the. If anything, they're one of the easiest species to keep.

Next to Lasius.

[ANTdrew]

Interesting. The only colony I tried wouldn’t eat a thing. I let them go in my yard. I guess I’m just bitter against them because of the aforementioned crap my wife gives me when they invade our home. Lol

[micahhauge]

 

Good luck getting rid of them. That's not even a fourth of their actual numbers. 

 

Sorry, but almost nobody has had luck with this strange species. They will take over your kitchen and eat every damn thing, but in captivity they barely touch anything. It’s like they’ve domesticated us. I have them taking over my kitchen now, and my wife blames my ant keeping hobby as if my colonies (from distinct species, mind you) called out to them. The fact that my toddlers throw sugary foods everywhere seems like a much better explanation. Regardless, I low key hate this species.

 

Huh? They'll eat nearly anything I throw at the. If anything, they're one of the easiest species to keep.

 

 

 

 

Is this species of ants worth keeping? Given their common name I'm slightly concerned that a colony would stink. Also, is it risky to keep these since if they escape they will become a major pest? 

 

If so what kind of environment would be best?

[sirjordanncurtis]

They are fast growers, have multiple queens, and can easily fit through small cracks. Good luck!

 

They are actually a pretty good beginner species, due to their constant foraging habits and fast growth, but they are also pretty small to look at.

[Martialis]

 

 

Good luck getting rid of them. That's not even a fourth of their actual numbers. 

 

Sorry, but almost nobody has had luck with this strange species. They will take over your kitchen and eat every damn thing, but in captivity they barely touch anything. It’s like they’ve domesticated us. I have them taking over my kitchen now, and my wife blames my ant keeping hobby as if my colonies (from distinct species, mind you) called out to them. The fact that my toddlers throw sugary foods everywhere seems like a much better explanation. Regardless, I low key hate this species.

 

Huh? They'll eat nearly anything I throw at the. If anything, they're one of the easiest species to keep.

 

 

 

 

Is this species of ants worth keeping? Given their common name I'm slightly concerned that a colony would stink. Also, is it risky to keep these since if they escape they will become a major pest? 

 

If so what kind of environment would be best?

 

 

Since you found them in your house, they're already "loose" in it.

 

I don't like them. They're a pain to keep contained, the males will fly indoors, (believe me, I've had it happen) and are, in my opinion, the temperate equivalent of the argentine ant. (This metaphor fits fairly well, actually—Tapinoma are closely related to Linepithema, and their behaviors are quite similar, too!)

 

In other words, no. I don't think they're worth it. They will escape and then they won't leave. Ever. (Okay, maybe "ever" is a bit hyperbolic, but still: they will infest your house.)

[TennesseeAnts]

I would recommend Formica or Camponotus for your first colony.

[Manitobant]

If you decide not to keep them you could always sell them to another antkeeper in your state. I’m sure many antkeepers would want an already established tapinoma colony.

[TennesseeAnts]

If you decide not to keep them you could always sell them to another antkeeper in your state. I’m sure many antkeepers would want an already established tapinoma colony.

Unfortunately, in Tennessee these are so common, you can pick up a leaf and there will be an already established colony in the folds. There is a rock in my yard that has an absolutely massive colony of Tapinoma with thousands of workers and dozens of queens. I'm not sure many would buy something that they could pick off the walls.