11 replies to this topic

[Elraen]

Hi guys,

 

I split flour worms in to four pieces, ( morio worms too ) however i have never witnessed my ants eating them. Last week i bought little fruit fly colonies and I've been feeding them to my ants. They instantly pick the flies up and carry them to their larvae. It's ok but i have lots of flour worms for my lizards and i would like to feed them to my ants, is it possible ?,  Since I can't manage to raise flour flies. Do I have to stick with the flies?

 

Also : Barbaros Queens don't eat the worms either as far as I observe, I am totally stuck.

[Crystals]

How many workers are in your colony?

Young colonies have inconsistent feeding habits.  With less than 100 workers, they will be picky on what they eat.  Older colonies may be more, and different things, than smaller colonies.

 

Some species just do not like certain foods.

For example: http://www.formicult...ood-by-species/

[Elraen]

My colony consists of 20 workers. ( the other one 6 workers ) 

 

Than i will handle it till i have 100 or + workers. And also in that list, I'm interested in trying out boiled egg to start with at first ( i think egg white right ? ) Would it compensate the protein requirement as the fruit flies did?

[dean_k]

I give my Lasius colony a tiny piece of mealworm everyday. They go nuts over it pretty much everyday. No need to give them more than what they need.

 

Fruit flies would be better than egg white for sure. Boiled egg go dried fast as well.

[Elraen]

I gave a tiny piece of mealworm yesterday. They took it finally. Thanks.

[Elraen]

I have a few questions about the nutrition of the Barbarus queen or colony.

 

First of all, can barbarus species full fill their protein requirements from mealworms or dead flies ? If that so ; what is the reason behind considering the 'most seeds' the primal nutrition. Does this mean that i can only feed them with only seeds or that i should combine seed with mealworms or something like that.

 

Do they fulfill their protein intake from most seeds solely, what do you exactly refer to by saying seeds ? ( for example barley )

[dean_k]

When you say "Barbarus", I assume you mean Messor Barbarus?

 

All ants basically need are two: carbohydrate and protein.

 

Carbohydrate is for energy. Protein is for brood and egg production. Of course, they do need other various vitamins and such but I believe ants are able to produce (nutrition upgrade) on their own. It does take time to produce and is probably better if they could get them via food instead but even without actual intake, they are able to produce what they need on their own as long as they have carb and protein.

 

All harvesters need is really seeds. They don't need anything else. They've evolved to survive with seeds. But they are ants at heart, so they are able to take on insect diet if opportunities arise.

Edited by dean_k, April 1 2015 - 10:09 AM.

[Elraen]

Ok then i will feed them with seed rather than insects.

 

Do you consider barley as a high quality seed?

[dean_k]

I honestly do not know. I do not have any first-hand experience with Messer. But if they take it, then I am going to assume that they will make do with what they have. But I can say this. Ants do not like the same diet over and over. So, my advice is to prepare at least two different kind of seeds that they accept.

 

And giving them occasional insect wouldn't be too bad, either.

 

Note that the more variety they have in their diet will mean more diversity in their nutrition intake.

What I am saying is the more variety, the better.

[Jonathan21700]

Messor I think will take insects and honey or other carbohydrates such as sugar water. I think in nature they will eat other things not only seeds. I don't recommend feeding them only seeds.

[dean_k]

Messor is true harvester ants that chew seeds and reshape them to ant breads which they store in a dry chamber for future consumption. I've done fairly good amount of research on them because I really like them. All they need is seeds but will take insects and sugar water if it's there.

[Crystals]

http://www.formicult...ood-by-species/

You could try the seeds that Pogonomyrmex likes, they are also harvester ants.

 

Or you can try various wild grass seeds and see what they like.  They like a selection.