387 replies to this topic

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Should my Formica pallidefulva lay a second batch of eggs before hibernation, or is it normal to wait till spring? I've also been wondering about how often to feed a Tetramorium colony. Like at what point do they just waste the food rather than eating it? Every day? Every other day? Or do they just eat and eat and eat no matter how much you give them?

Edited by Antennal_Scrobe, September 19 2019 - 3:51 PM.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Just gave em' a massive glob of honey and I think they're gonna eat it all. I got a food coma just looking at the scene.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Tetramorium eating honey:

 

Tetramorium in the nest with their pupa and large larva pile:

 

Formica pallidefulva doing nothing:

 

Crematogaster queens:

 

Myrmica cf. punctiventris sitting around:

 

Camponotus pennsylvanicus in test tube:

 

From left to right, Brachymyrmex depilis, Formica neogagates, Lasius neoniger, Lasius brevicornis, Tetramorium immigrans.

[Kaelwizard]

Wow.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

It occurs to me that this is the first time you guys have ever seen my Tetramorium.

[Kaelwizard]

Just found out what you meant. They don't show up on mobile. Sorry.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

This day has had its ups and downs. My Pogonomyrmex came (Yay!). But my dog almost died (Not yay!). The Pogonomyrmex have 3 workers and some brood. Sadly some of the pupae were apparently killed during shipping, but I put them in the Mini Hearth as well, just in case they were alive, or if the ants wanted to eat them. The watering tube for the formicarium is blocked by some hydrostone (Or whatever that stuff is.), so I had to squirt water ontop of the mesh to actually fill the dish. Will email him about that. They didn't come with any seed packet, just 5 large seeds which I broke up and added in. 

[Kaelwizard]

Good luck! I have had a dog and a cat die this year. Got a new cat two days ago though.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Good luck! I have had a dog and a cat die this year. Got a new cat two days ago though.

Yeah, luckily though, Sunny is fine. She ate some milkweed which is apparently lethal to dogs. Veterinarian family member (Who is actually the president of the Wisconsin Veterinary Association.) said that anything terrible would have happened already at this point.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

They are exploring the nest right now.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Are bunched ironweed seeds safe to feed to them? How about joe pie weed?

Edited by Antennal_Scrobe, September 21 2019 - 1:46 PM.

[ANTdrew]

I’d feed your Tetras protein everyday. Mine don’t waste anything. They are my cleanest ants by far. I love them.

Edited by ANTdrew, September 21 2019 - 1:45 PM.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

One thing I like about these is how stupidly thin their waists are. When seen from above it sometimes looks like the gaster is just floating.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Let me phrase the question better: what seeds should I NOT feed my Pogonomyrmex?

[YsTheAnt]

Anything with pesticides on them.

My Pogonomyrmex love Kentucky bluegrass and crushed freeze-dried mealworms more than any other food so far.

[ANTdrew]

Good shots and nice diversity, by the way.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Anything with pesticides on them.

My Pogonomyrmex love Kentucky bluegrass and crushed freeze-dried mealworms more than any other food so far.

I got a handful of birdseed from my neighbor, is there any chance it could be contaminated with pesticides?

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Gave them a cricket leg. The way they approached it, it reminded me more of the bomb squad coming up on some weird backpack than anything else. I think they are in fact eating it though.

[ANTdrew]

My wife buys these shelled hemp seeds to put in smoothies at Whole Foods. My Tetras love them, and I bet your Pogonomyrmex would, too!
I’m getting intrigued to order one of these colonies. Hmmmm

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Do you know where I might be able to get a general variety of seeds? I'm looking for flax seeds specifically, but I'm not really sure what stores would sell them.