17 replies to this topic

[AntGeorge]

Sun, 19th April 2015. (I got my ants a couple of months ago of ants UK.) Nothing really happened the queen didn't lay eggs or anything. Anyway, let's go to the good bit ☺
A couple of weeks ago I brought a little ant foraging container and placed some ant jelly witch they seem to not touch😰. As I write this, there is a worker foraging.The ants not liking the protein jelly, so I gave them some cooked chicken. (That better be enough protein for them😊.) They don't forage much though out the day. as you guys can see, the queen seems to be in good health and the workers are pretty fat. So they must be eating stuff I put in there with out me knowing. I forgot to mention that the queen has now got a little batch of brood she layed about 1-2 weeks ago. Hopefully these will develop in to lovely little workers.☺

[Jonathan21700]

It's normal for small colonies not to forage much. Lasius like honey so you can try it out and also it's good to give them small flies and insects. Good luck!

[AntGeorge]

Thanks! I can't really get small insects. But what I can do is buy some maggots maybe?

[AntGeorge]

Thanks! My lasius seem to not be touching the honey that I put down a couple of days ago but they might be when I'm not watching them. ☺

[AntGeorge]

I'm sure there is a few more eggs today. ( should of put this in 1 big one ☝☝)

[drtrmiller]

Thanks! My lasius seem to not be touching the honey that I put down a couple of days ago but they might be when I'm not watching them. ☺

 

When you take honey out of a sealed jar, it attracts moisture from the air and yeast quickly start to ferment it.

 

You will need to add fresh honey, or preferably, honey diluted with water, every 12-24 hours so it remains fresh and appealing to any foraging ants, otherwise they will not want to eat it.

[Crystals]

The Lasius I had enjoyed sugar water, hummingbird nectar, and any chopped up insect.  Freeze a cricket and cut it into 3 pieces and it works fine, same for mealworms or any larger insect.

[AntGeorge]

Ok thanks! I've just ordered some mealworms of edibleunique. 99p bargain.☺ should be here in a few days.

[drtrmiller]

Ok thanks! I've just ordered some mealworms of edibleunique. 99p bargain.☺ should be here in a few days.

 

Most ants, and I can guarantee your Lasius colony, will not eat dried insects, only freshly killed ones.

 

You should cancel your order unless you intend on eating those mealworms, yourself.

[Crystals]

Lasius don't like dried insects.  They really want the juices and occasionally tender insides.

List of preferred foods: http://www.formicult...ood-by-species/

 

You can keep insects alive in a culture: http://www.formicult...ts-and-feeders/

Or you can freeze them and just thaw what you need.  This is what I do.  I buy 50 crickets or so and just freeze them until I need them.  I also have live cultures of mealworms and fruit flies on hand.

[Jonathan21700]

They are not excepting honey maybe because they are fed. When they are full they won't eat anything for days especially small colonies.

[AntGeorge]

I think what I'll do is go to the pet store later and get some sort of bug.

[Trailandstreet]

What nearly all of my ants like is maple syrup. You will not really see how much they eat.

Smaller colonies prefer flies for protein, normal houseflies of course, but you can also feed fruitflies. They love 'em.

[Steveboy777]

Yeah Lasius Niger seem to like fresh insects.

 

I just caught some sort of fly and put it in to mine and right away they grouped up and pulled it in to their test tube...still alive.

 

I also gave another colony mealworms.

 

 

A little tip though, mealworms aren't very good they have solid outer shells and are mostly liquid inside, mine didn't like that.

But they did like them in the pupae stage, for sure.

 

I cut off a pupae's head(they shake around if not) and put it in and they were at it all night, completely hollowed out the insides.

The pupae seem a lot more meaty than the worms anyway so if you get mealworms feed them and let them morph first.

 

Mealworms will eat pretty much any vegetable you give them, chuck a carrot in and watch it disappear over a few days. That way they turn in to pupae faster.

[AntGeorge]

how about a cricket?

[drtrmiller]

What nearly all of my ants like is maple syrup. You will not really see how much they eat.

 

It is best not to recommend undefined carbohydrates like honeys or plant-based syrups, because these can vary considerably in composition and quality depending on the source and time of collection.  

 

Given the number and accuracy of chemical receptors in ants, it's no wonder they can tell the difference between two things we, as humans, may mistake as identical in taste and/or nutrition.

Edited by drtrmiller, April 21 2015 - 9:16 AM.

[AntGeorge]

Hi again! I've ordered some LIVE mealworms last night should be here tomorrow ☺

[AntGeorge]

I looked at my ants today, still waiting for the eggs to develop into larvae. Everyone seems to be fat and healthy. ☺