10 replies to this topic

[Skwiggledork]

I'm making plans for this coming ant year and I've decided I want to try and find a Strumigenys species. According to antmaps.org there are seven different species I could find in NY.

What's the best way to find them? I've read they sometimes nest in nuts, would cracking open acorns give me a decent chance to find some?

I read they feed exclusively on springtails. Is there a specific type of spring tail I should start a colony of?
 

Lastly, I know they are really moisture dependent, would the Tar Heel Ants Inception chamber be a good formicarium for them?

[Ferox_Formicae]

I guess you could consider me the local Strumigenys expert, you know, being the coauthor (illustrator...) of Doug Booher's upcoming key to Western Nearctic Strumigenys. Anyways, here, I made this whole thread a while ago as you're not the first one who's wanted collection tips for Strumigenys. https://www.formicul...?hl=strumigenys

[ponerinecat]

Tarheel would be good for a larger colony. I believe they also eat other small inverts, not just springtails. Springtails are still the safest option though.

[Ferox_Formicae]

Tarheel would be good for a larger colony. I believe they also eat other small inverts, not just springtails. Springtails are still the safest option though.

I've tried to feed them other soil invertebrates, but they are very particular about what they will accept. They only eat certain species of springtails too. However, some of the larger species like festigona or godmani (larger tropical species) accept termites of a few certain species, and some of the smaller species can eat termites as well, just juveniles though. What they eat mostly depends on the size of the species, and some are more generalists about what they eat, though a few species are highly specialist.

[ANTdrew]

I think the real question is whether these ants are suitable for captivity at all.

[Ferox_Formicae]

I think the real question is whether these ants are suitable for captivity at all.

Yes they are, they can just be a bit finicky at times. I had one Strumigenys membranifera colony for a few months before they decided to escape, somehow.

[ANTdrew]

Has anyone kept a colony alive more than a few months?

[ponerinecat]

Yes. Strumigneys is should be easily raised if the right conditions (food, water, humidity) are present, and don't seem to require anything special.

There was an old journal on here where someone got their colony to produce alates.

[RushmoreAnts]

They do well in the right conditions, but it's difficult to create the right conditions. Am I correct?

[Ferox_Formicae]

They do well in the right conditions, but it's difficult to create the right conditions. Am I correct?

No actually. It's pretty easy as long as the substrate does well with holding humidity.

[ponerinecat]

Actually super easy, absorbent nest material like ferox said and a large culture of springtails. I have both on hand, hoping to find S. membrafina or S. reliqua