160 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

I'm not sure I completely understand your question, but I'll try. Queens eat the same food the workers of the same species eat.

[Trailandstreet]

I'm not sure, that all semiclaustral queens eat too, maybe they only feed their larvae. Of course the claustral don't.

There are a few variations in feeding. Some feed the larvae with insects, some feed them with a special secretion.

Otherwise some queens depend on the the feeding by their workers.

[dspdrew]

I'm pretty sure all living things eat. But yeah, I guess maybe he meant during their founding stage.

[PTAntFan]

Yes, that's what I meant.  Thanks to you both, just what I needed.

[dspdrew]

I think this list needs to be changed a bit. First of all, I don't see any reason to list what ants don't like, since I highly doubt anybody has done extensive research on any species to know that they absolutely won't eat something (assuming we are talking about something of nutritional value). There are quite a few reasons why ants would decide not to eat something at any given time, but there is pretty much only one reason they WOULD eat something, and that is that they like it. So basically, this list should focus solely on what ants LIKE, leaving out the dislike. In addition to that change, I would like to make this list a little bit more informative by giving people some way to vote or "like" the listed foods based on whether or not their ants liked them. This would actually show the popularity of the listed foods, giving a much better idea of what each species really does like.

[Crystals]

Originally, the section for Doesn't Like was to show things that were tried, but refused with people's various colonies. It is true that ants may refuse something at one time, but happily eat it at another time.  This is very common with small colonies.

 

I am not sure how to add the voting system in, but that would be excellent.  If you wish to edit or update the original post, please feel free.  I seem to have been quite slack in updating this list as people keep adding their observations. 

[dspdrew]

I'll have to think of a way to do it. Maybe I will do this once I'm done with the mating flight chart.

[PTAntFan]

If ants are fickle like Crystals states, would the Don't Like system would be effective or useful?  You're contributing so many great things, Drew, I selfishly would prefer that you worked on something better known to bring benefits.    Such as a Flight Notification System.  Won't go further on that and hijack this thread, but that's my $.02

[cpman]

I can say that all my Camponotus (C. cf. sayi, C. cf. sansabeanus, and C. sp. 1) all love wingless fruit flies.

[BrittonLS]

Question, what's with honey water as opposed to just honey? Is it so they are less likely to get stuck in it and out track it around?

[Jonathan21700]

My colonies don't seem to do well with pure honey. Now I feed them only with fruits or occasionally sugarwater.

[dspdrew]

Question, what's with honey water as opposed to just honey? Is it so they are less likely to get stuck in it and out track it around?

 

Yes that is the main reason for it.

[Osimmilimus]

Pheidole megacephala: - Paratrechina longicornis -Odontomachus similimmus -Caramel -Any fruit juice(mostly grape though)

[andSocks]

Good idea. I'll keep this pinned.

Any experience with brachymyrmex diet?

[Solenoqueen]

So helpful! Thanks!

[XZero38]

I can say that my Pogonomyrmex. Occidentalis love the feeder crickets i give them doesnt seem to matter if they are frozen or living.

I prefer to give them living after i put them in the fridge and remove the head right before feeding.

They swarm and start dismantling the cricket shortly after it goes into the outworld.

 

Both P. Occidentalis and M. Mimicus don't seem to really care for superworms at all

 

Both Tetramorium sp. E. and M. Mimicus enjoy thawed frozen flightless fruit flies.

 

M. Mimicus will take bits of cooked scrambled egg as long as its plain.

[AntsBrazil]

Pachycondyla likes mealworms, first time I see my queens eating the stuff that I provide. 2 took 2/2 pieces of mealworm and 1 took 1/2, the queens carried the pieces to the test tube where the eggs are. I hope to help with more info about these ant's in the future.

[AnthonyP163]

What do Invicta eat?

[Alabama Anter]

What do Invicta eat?

My invicta LOVE honey and mealworms

[Enderz]

What about dorymyrmex bicolor. I could help with that, just message me.

Edited by EnderzATwar411, November 27 2016 - 12:41 PM.