160 replies to this topic

[m99]

Welp took them a whole four minutes to find this and put three girls on it, which is the most simultaneous foraging I've seen yet! And that was even with my hamfists knocking them around a lot while feeding the crew, so the draw was definitely strong for the tetras.

 

*edit* FIVE girls at once! That's a third or more of the entire colony holy cow 

 

Definitely a ringing endorsement from my crew lol.

 

https://www.amazon.c...a/dp/B0018CJIX4

 

That's what my furball is getting at the moment.

 

*edit edit* Also anybody who's considering buying some canned cat food ONLY for ants, lids like this do well at keeping the food "fresh" for 2-4 days, if you have a colony crew that can polish a can off that quickly (and I suppose ants probably have more tolerance for gone-off food than cats so maybe up to a week or two?):

 

https://www.amazon.c.../dp/B07G84SKTN/

 

That's not the brand I have personally, but they're all pretty interchangeable. Just make sure you get ones with two sealing rings inside, so you can use them for big/small mouth cans as needed.

Edited by m99, August 20 2021 - 3:58 PM.

[mantisgal]

It's hecking easier than catching flies lololol

[drawpositive]

To add to the collective data, I have been keeping ants for one year now.  The end of August 2021 marks the first full summer I have had raising these colonies.  All species seemed to respond the same way to all foods offered.  Here is what I have observed:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Lasius neoniger, and Crematogaster sp.

 

All colonies enjoyed: Honey water, sugar water, filtered pear juice (made from apple juice concentrate)

All colonies ate in entirety: boiled dragonfly thorax, boiled spotted lanternfly, boiled field cricket, boiled fungus gnat, boiled soldier fly

Colonies did not enjoy, but still ate a bit of: canned peaches, crushed unsalted almonds

 

Colonies did not like: boiled leopard slug, grilled chicken

[DarkCerebral]

Has anyone tried canned crickets? How are those received by cricket liking ants?

[cap_backfire]

Has anyone tried canned crickets? How are those received by cricket liking ants?

I was just considering this since they eat mostly dead crickets anyway.  The smell kept me from trying it so far. 

[rptraut]

Any experience with brachymyrmex diet?

 

 

Hoped for a hint on a varied diet for brachynyrmex sp.

 

Been feeding mine sweet liquids and insects

 

Pure honey water, sugar water on rotation. Sugar water is a 1:1 ratio, the honey I just dilute few drops.

 

Insects:

love wingless fruit flies (main food source)

Will take case weaving moths,(the mobile ones) full life cycle (tried farming since available to me but unadvised, long life cycle....also pest)

Will take the occasional wild inch worm, caterpillar like things, found in garden, don't know name.

 

Have had no luck with juices or fruits.

 

Colony is almost 1 year old.

 

Suggestions anyone?

I have one brachymyrmex dipalis colony that I have looked after all summer.  I have found that they like cooked egg yolk and turkey liver.  I also have other ant colonies (lasius, camponotus, etc) and they absolutely love cooked turkey liver.  The liver was roasted in the oven with the bird, I usually keep it in the freezer and slice it thinly for them.  It is very crumbly and easy for them to make into small enough pieces to carry away.  Egg yolk is also readily taken, especially if crumbly.  Lastly, I found that my Componotus colony didn't like egg yolk, but they readily accepted scrambled egg (made with a little cheese for my supper).  I have also found that Brachymyrmex like the egg mass innards in the abdomen of earwigs.  They get right inside and clean it out.   Try turkey liver (I don't know about any other kind) as I have found it a great go to food when I don't have the time or insects to feed them.

[futurebird]

All ants including my Camponotus pennsylvanicus agree

 

[rptraut]

Another food enjoyed by my Brachmyrmex depilis, Lasius niger, Tetramorium immigrans, and Camponotus pennsylvanicus is butter tart filling. It's basically brown sugar, butter and eggs. When cooked it is a gel which is a carbohydrate, fat (carbohydrate), and protein for ants which they take readily.

[rptraut]

My Lasius niger colonies like granulated sugar that I occasionally sprinkle in their outworld. I also take out their sugar water. I think it keeps the ants busier than just going to the feeder. It's more interesting for them and for me. I have only done this with my L niger colonies but it will probably work with others.

[Chickalo]

I don't want to make a new topic and I figured it would kinda fit here, but I think I found the jelly that AC uses with his colonies.  Long story short friend brought small jelly cups, instantly recognized them, asked where.  she's gonna send me the address of the asian market, and I'll try to remake them.  If it goes well and colony accepts it I might make a really dumb ant chief video, but then again I'm lazy.  If it is the one kind I'll send the company name for those of you interested. 

(By the way the jelly is also tastes really good, 10/10 do recommend)

Edited by Chickalo, December 13 2021 - 8:58 AM.

[antsriondel]

I'm interested

[PaigeX]

Same here. +1

[kiddcell]

If this isn't where I can ask, please let me know where and how. I haven't posted in years. I have a rice flour beetle culture and it's annoying trying to filter out larvae and separate them from the adults. What about freezing them and then feeding them to my ants like Odontomachus or Pheidole . I know the scent deters ants when the beetles are alive. That why I'm wondering about frozen beetles. Thank you for your help.

[PaigeX]

If this isn't where I can ask, please let me know where and how. I haven't posted in years. I have a rice flour beetle culture and it's annoying trying to filter out larvae and separate them from the adults. What about freezing them and then feeding them to my ants like Odontomachus or Pheidole. I know the scent deters ants when the beetles are alive. That why I'm wondering about frozen beetles. Thank you for your help.

If they make a smell, well I tried that with super mealworm beetles but it made them stink even more worse. Not sure if the freezing will work for you.

[kiddcell]

I can't delete this lol 🙁

Edited by kiddcell, January 9 2022 - 2:32 PM.

[kiddcell]

If this isn't where I can ask, please let me know where and how. I haven't posted in years. I have a rice flour beetle culture and it's annoying trying to filter out larvae and separate them from the adults. What about freezing them and then feeding them to my ants like Odontomachus or Pheidole. I know the scent deters ants when the beetles are alive. That why I'm wondering about frozen beetles. Thank you for your help.

If they make a smell, well I tried that with super mealworm beetles but it made them stink even more worse. Not sure if the freezing will work for you.

Thank you. I'll give it a try

[FinWins]

What are Stigmatomma preferred foods? I know that Stigmatomma love to eat certain centipedes but what else do they like?  

[Puddingtempest]

Myrmica Rubra

 

Like:  Liver pâté, honey, flies (or any winged insect). chicken

 

 

may like:  Fish flakes

 

If feeding crickets to young colony, it helps to crush or chop them

Edited by Puddingtempest, July 3 2023 - 8:46 AM.

[AntObserver]

My Camponotus Vicinus LOVE insects and have taken Crickets, Mealworms, Fruit Flies, and Roaches. All have been chopped up though so it was more opportunistic scavenger feeding. This is an awesome list, great info 💚🐜🐜🍻

[Puddingtempest]

somewhat surprising but my myrmica rubra  were quite keen on bone marrow (from lamb).  Maybe once in a while they need some fat in the diet.  Or they could be interested in the micronutrients.

Edited by Puddingtempest, July 17 2023 - 2:55 AM.