160 replies to this topic

[cap_backfire]

Do any of you find that your ants actively hunt pill-bugs/ isopods?  Mine utterly leave them alone unless I specifically kill one for them.  Otherwise they do not care.   They even leave the softer babies alone and I have isopods breeding REALLY well in my discolor setup.   Faster than the ants, actually... HAHAHAHA
The only time they pay any real attention to the isopods is if one wanders into a nest entrance, then it's all hands on deck to repel the invader, but once the isopod scoots off on his merry way, they just leave him alone.   

[ANTS_KL]

Do any of you find that your ants actively hunt pill-bugs/ isopods? Mine utterly leave them alone unless I specifically kill one for them. Otherwise they do not care. They even leave the softer babies alone and I have isopods breeding REALLY well in my discolor setup. Faster than the ants, actually... HAHAHAHA
The only time they pay any real attention to the isopods is if one wanders into a nest entrance, then it's all hands on deck to repel the invader, but once the isopod scoots off on his merry way, they just leave him alone.

Nope. The only ants I know of that do that are Leptogenys. I have kept such ants but failed cuz of insufficient isopods. How do I breed isopods fast?

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[cap_backfire]

There are a few species that breed CRAZY fast.   Pruinosis or "Powder" isopods.  Powder is two of their most prevalent morphs.  They're VERY easy to keep and cheap and breed like crazy.   And you can get at least 3 different colors (orange, blue, white) at those cheap prices so maybe there's some kind of visual appeal to them as well.  

Again, SUPER easy to breed (the easiest I have personally ever kept) and very tolerant of different conditions.   For the purposes you're describing they are basically perfect.   I'd keep multiple bins just in case one crashes or runs out or whatever.   I can point you in the direction of at least a few breeders-
www.supremegecko.com
PodsSolo.com

isopodchick.com (might be THEisopodchick.com)

 

That's just off the top of my head.  VERY good quaity and service from all three of these sellers.   (no, none of them are me...) 

[ANTS_KL]

Is it possible to get wild isopods to breed? i hope so cuz i would rlly like another leptogenys colony    

[Otrebor707]

Is it possible to get wild isopods to breed? i hope so cuz i would rlly like another leptogenys colony 

wondering what nest set up you have for Oecophylla smaragdina ????

[cap_backfire]

Is it possible to get wild isopods to breed? i hope so cuz i would rlly like another leptogenys colony    

Yes, very simple.  

[ANTS_KL]

Is it possible to get wild isopods to breed? i hope so cuz i would rlly like another leptogenys colony

Yes, very simple.

Ahh ok thx.

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[mantisgal]

Update on P. Imparis:
Honey
Sunburst[TM] Nectar
Fruit fly
House fly
Garden slug

[mantisgal]

Update on P. Imparis:
Honey
Sunburst[TM] Nectar
Fruit fly
House fly
Garden slug
Cat food (wet food. Will experiment with damp kibble crumbs), which is super handy

[m99]

Update on P. Imparis:

Cat food (wet food. Will experiment with damp kibble crumbs), which is super handy

 

Well that settles it. Someone else was posting yesterday about how much their pavement ants love cat food, now this, my furball gonna have some competition with tomorrow's can 

[ANTdrew]

I need to pick some up. I read a paper on Crematogaster ashmeadi, and it said the most effective bait they used was cat food puree. I just wonder what is an easy way to offer it to my massive colonies without making a stinky mess.

Edited by ANTdrew, August 19 2021 - 3:14 PM.

[mantisgal]

How massive are we talking, here, Drew?

[futurebird]

I buy the cat treats that come in a squeeze tube (my cat loves them) and put a dollop on a paper, then keep adding more until they stop eating it. Then I remove the paper. 

 

Perhaps you could experiment with putting it in something like a nestmate?

[mantisgal]

I use whatever crumbs I leave in a can or the cats miss in their dishes in an ant-sized dish

Edited by mantisgal, August 19 2021 - 9:57 AM.

[AntBoi3030]

Maybe I should get a cat…

[mantisgal]

Maybe I should get a cat…

Mine just brought me a nice big grasshopper. It's in the freezer now. Handy beasts, cats.

[ANTdrew]

I buy the cat treats that come in a squeeze tube (my cat loves them) and put a dollop on a paper, then keep adding more until they stop eating it. Then I remove the paper.

Perhaps you could experiment with putting it in something like a nestmate?

I’ll pick up a tube today! Mantisgal, my colony is a mature Crematogaster colony with a minimum of 5k workers. It’s impossible to count really.

[mantisgal]

Hmmmm. They might be able to finish off a small can if you go the meat paté route. I would advise going to a pet food store, as in a shop that specifically sells pet foods, and get some of the good stuff. Do not be lured by low prices in grocery stores!

I was twigged to this after seeing piles and piles and piles of Sollies all over an empty can I forgot overnight on the counter. I figured what's good for solenopsis is good for other genera

Edited by mantisgal, August 20 2021 - 6:44 AM.

[futurebird]

This is the product I use. I normally give some to the ants, then feed the rest to my cat. 

 

But it's possible to clip the tube closed with a binder clip.

 

ALL of my ants are crazy for this stuff. lasius, Camponotus, Pogonomyrmex... everyone. 

 

But I use it as kind of a treat, if I don't have insects handy, or if I want to film a group of them eating. 

 

It dries out quickly... but I think it'd also be a good lure while anting. 

 

https://www.amazon.c...y/dp/B01N3QZTMI

[mantisgal]

Yep, that's the kind I get from my local shop.

Also: how long should I freeze the 'hopper for parasites? This will mark a full day of freezing temps.

Edited by mantisgal, August 20 2021 - 9:51 AM.