5 replies to this topic

[Jean]

I have a C. Cerasi colony of about 300 workers. It's grown fast, and live in both a Tar Heels "Piece of Haven" (small) formicarium + outworld (on top) and a larger AC outworld...the TH formicarium and AC outworld are connected with long, clear vinyl tubes. The ants mainly kept their brood in the TH outworld, near the heat source (a heating pad on one side), but lots of workers hang out on top of the TH water tower....and plenty of them hang out in the AC outworld as well.

 

So the Queen, who used to be right by the TH heat source, has now moved into one of the long vinyl tubes (which also sits on top of a piece of heated ceramic tile). It's a much more exposed environment, not dark, and not humid. It's warm, but seems far less desirable than the TH formicarium.

 

She's laying eggs, which the workers are piling in one part of the tubing. She did spend several weeks in the TH formicarium, which is dark, but about a week ago moved into the tubing.

 

The larvae and pupae are still in the TH outworld, near the heat ... the worker ants in the TH formicarium are still hanging out on top of the water tower. So, nothing else has changed.

 

Now I have a tube with tons of new eggs, and a Queen. Should I be worried?

[drtrmiller]

If the setup you provided was smaller, and the ants were suffering or dying as a result of an unsuitable environment, then you should consider changing things.

However, with larger, more complex setups as you described (multiple containers connected by tubing, heat sources, water sources), there will frequently be cases where ants find parts of the formicarium more suitable, and will relocate there if they feel it is safe to do so.  This can include things like placing brood in the foraging area or nesting in tubing.  While it may be frustrating, as long as the ants have an environment in which they are growing at some rate, instead of dying, there is no cause for alarm.

 

If you are determined to have the ants nest where you prefer, you must first ascertain whether the ants are being attracted to where they're currently at, or being repelled by something in the space you'd prefer them to nest.  Once you can determine this, you may be able to take corrective action to influence where they decide to nest.

 

For example, you mentioned that the tubing was in close proximity to a heat source.  What would happen if you move the heat source nearer to the formicarium?  Since it is presumably drier in the tubing, is it possible the formicarium is too wet or humid?  Perhaps they are attracted to the confined space and security the tubing offers?

 

Just keep in mind that the longer nest sites are established with a colony scent, the more difficult it becomes to persuade ants to move.  So you should just be patient so long as the colony remains in good health.

[Jean]

thanks...I'd read somewhere a Queen in the outworld isn't a good sign, but I'd agree this colony is generally happy and healthy. Here's a video of the Queen in her tunnel.

 

Album:

images

comments

 

Haven't posted video before, hope it works! Happy Easter....

well that was a bust ... will try again once I've figured out the right file type ...

[Carpenter]

Hi Jean,

 

Can't see the vid link you posted but I can say Camponotus seem to not care much about light levels but they are sensitive to heat and humidity. Not in the sense that they sicken easily but in the sense that they will seek out the most suitable spots pretty vigorously.

 

It could be there is to much or not enough humidity for the eggs where the queen was previously, I'd recommend keeping heat away from the tubes, since they're meant to be thoroughfares/tunnels, in nature those spots would be relatively cool compared to the nest, Camponotus are use to creating a sort of "heat pile" within their nest using composting of plant matter so if heat is on the tubing, the queen probably considers it to be within the nest  

[Jean]

These are Cerasi, Carpenter BUT I do think your suggestion to remove heat from the tubes is a good one. Thanks! And, still working out how to upload video!

[Lisberg]

Upload the video to youtube - insert link.