8 replies to this topic

[Andrewslatter]

Everyone seems to lose this particular spieces at around two years, colonies just die out. My imparis formicarium is going to be constructed in a way that best matches their natural nest. It will be a tall tubular formicarium "4ft" or so and will be heated from the top and blacked out at the bottom. Not sure about substrate if I wanna go like ytong or just plain all natural dirt. I figured during the summer time I will actually increase heat to imitate summer time diapause and the winter time I will cut the heat completely to encourage winter foraging. But first before any of this can happen I have to catch some queens

Edited by Andrewslatter, January 23 2020 - 9:59 PM.

[Ants4fun]

I’m not sure a 4 foot tall formicarium will improve your chances of successfully raising a colony, and will most likely create more problems than solutions: Such as trying to keep 4 feet of dirt hydrated properly.

[Unfrozen]

I’m not sure a 4 foot tall formicarium will improve your chances of successfully raising a colony, and will most likely create more problems than solutions: Such as trying to keep 4 feet of dirt hydrated properly.

^^^^ I'm keeping mine in a large test tube for now

Edited by Unfrozen, January 20 2020 - 1:11 PM.

[TheMicroPlanet]

I’m not sure a 4 foot tall formicarium will improve your chances of successfully raising a colony, and will most likely create more problems than solutions: Such as trying to keep 4 feet of dirt hydrated properly.

Prenolepis imparis nests are found very deep in the soil; chambers are only found 60 cm below ground and lower. Nests have been known to extend down about 3.6 meters. This is, of course, due to the fact that they are a cold loving species and during the summer, the soil around their nests are usually much cooler than the ground above.

[Ants4fun]

I’m not sure a 4 foot tall formicarium will improve your chances of successfully raising a colony, and will most likely create more problems than solutions: Such as trying to keep 4 feet of dirt hydrated properly.

Prenolepis imparis nests are found very deep in the soil; chambers are only found 60 cm below ground and lower. Nests have been known to extend down about 3.6 meters. This is, of course, due to the fact that they are a cold loving species and during the summer, the soil around their nests are usually much cooler than the ground above.

Correct. However, an above ground in a container won’t vary the temperatures or very much anything. So a 4 foot container will be the same as a 6 inch one from the ant’s perspective.. What matters is what temperatures you are keeping them. Having a 4 foot tall container will simply make it much harder to monitor the ants and perform maintainence.

[TheMicroPlanet]

 

 

I’m not sure a 4 foot tall formicarium will improve your chances of successfully raising a colony, and will most likely create more problems than solutions: Such as trying to keep 4 feet of dirt hydrated properly.

Prenolepis imparis nests are found very deep in the soil; chambers are only found 60 cm below ground and lower. Nests have been known to extend down about 3.6 meters. This is, of course, due to the fact that they are a cold loving species and during the summer, the soil around their nests are usually much cooler than the ground above.

Correct. However, an above ground in a container won’t vary the temperatures or very much anything. So a 4 foot container will be the same as a 6 inch one from the ant’s perspective.. What matters is what temperatures you are keeping them. Having a 4 foot tall container will simply make it much harder to monitor the ants and perform maintainence.

 

True, but such a container would simulate their natural environment. As for the temperature thing, I don't think it'd be that hard to pull off. I think there just needs to be more research done.

[ANTdrew]

I think one of Dspdrew’s big soil vase nests could work for this. Try replicating what he did. Then again, Prenolepis may be just one of the wierdly awesome ants one should admire *in the wild.*

[Manitobant]

I would try a mini hearth or any other formicarium that repletes can hang from. I would also maybe try keeping the colony in a fridge at all times, as the Temperature would be perfect for them.

Edited by Manitobant, January 21 2020 - 7:56 AM.

[Ants4fun]

I would try a mini hearth or any other formicarium that repletes can hang from. I would also maybe try keeping the colony in a fridge at all times, as the Temperature would be perfect for them.

Prenolepis impairs needs to be warm in the summer, as they go through a summer diapause. Just like how temperate ants need a winter diapause. It’s better to mimic natural temperatures. I big reason they stop producing is not going through a proper temperature cycle.