19 replies to this topic

[OhNoNotAgain]

So this is the second time I'm trying fruit flies (hydei). I actually got them mostly because I'm getting another type of invert, but I figured I'd try to feed them to the ants, too.

 

I don't have colonies in just test tubes - they are either in things like mini-hearths or other formicaria, or are test tubes permanently open inside an open-top outworld. (Okay I do have my Schroedinger's ants, but they are fully claustral and don't need the stress of fruit flies.)

 

Are fruit flies supposed to be catchable by ants? I just watched one fruit fly running around inside a Camponotus nest, and none of the workers could catch it. It took the super aggressive queen and three workers to finally catch it. Not even sure they're eating it. (Last time I tried this in a test tube, they killed the fruit flies then threw them out as trash.)

 

I also watched a different colony, with a big outworld, and one worker fruitlessly chasing fruit flies. The fruit flies are just all hanging out and all they do is jump away from the ants, and they're safe.

 

Also, fruit flies should NOT be kept in the fridge, right? Fly spikes, yes. Mealworms, yes. Fruit flies, no? Last time I tried it I had two dead fruit fly cultures.

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, February 24 2020 - 9:42 PM.

[AntaholicAnonymous]

I can only talk about my experience with my colony. (manica rubida) and when I drop in fruit flies I usually give them 50 at least they just go on a killing spree. They kill them efficiently and love eating them too.
Maybe your ants just don't like fruit flies. Especially if they throw them on the garbage pile you can tell they don't have a taste for them.

I think they chase them around to defend their territory and food instead of going for the kill cause they are a pretty easy catch usually.

I've also seen my ants bluff charging thing they don't wanna eat just to get it out of the way and that's what I think your ants might be doing.

[RushmoreAnts]

 Are fruit flies supposed to be catchable by ants? I just watched one fruit fly running around inside a Camponotus nest, and none of the workers could catch it. It took the super aggressive queen and three workers to finally catch it. Not even sure they're eating it. (Last time I tried this in a test tube, they killed the fruit flies then threw them out as trash.

I believe you should kill the fruit flies before feeding, as the ants would need to be super fast, agile, and coordinated to even have a chance of catch fruit flies which can jump several inches.

[OhNoNotAgain]

Okay, I guess I will fridge them (not too long unlike last time) then ... mush them?

I'll try that, thanks!!

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, February 25 2020 - 4:42 PM.

[OhNoNotAgain]

Okay so this is what I tried. I fridged the fruit flies briefly, poured some onto a paper towel, folded it over, then mushed them. A bunch of them survived so it was an exercise in trying to mush without completely squashing. Yuck.

 

The fraggle foragers refuse to pick up dead fruit flies. They do charge living ones, treating them more like ant interlopers....

[SuperFrank]

I feed them live to most of my colonies, they can catch them live and if they can't they usually just collect the flies once they die. You can also just freeze the flies for 5-10 minutes to kill them and just feed them dead. Freezing also kills mites (can't say whether a brief freeze also kills the mite eggs or not)

[OhNoNotAgain]

I think my colonies must be derpy as most of them refuse to recognize fruit flies as food. 

I dropped a couple dead ones into the fraggle nest and I THINK one or two ants decided they tasted okay, but other ants were just like, "Gimme that trash and I'll go dump it for you!" 

 

My Derpymessor colony ignored dead fruit flies, leaving them lying around outside the test tube.

My Veromessor colony did something with them ... not sure what, but the bodies disappeared.

[AntaholicAnonymous]

Seems like I was on the right track.
Spinach is a food olives are food licorice is disgusting and so on.
All edible for us but not everyone's taste.

ants are only human after all. lol
I'd just give them what they already like

[ANTdrew]

From reading your journals. I have a hunch your unheated ants are in a sort of semi-dormancy where they’re not really growing larvae and needing protein. I would just offer some protein, but if they don’t take it, don’t worry too much.
You never mentioned how your Tetramorium responded to the fruit flies. Mine adore fruit flies and dispatch them in seconds.

[OhNoNotAgain]

From reading your journals. I have a hunch your unheated ants are in a sort of semi-dormancy where they’re not really growing larvae and needing protein. I would just offer some protein, but if they don’t take it, don’t worry too much.
You never mentioned how your Tetramorium responded to the fruit flies. Mine adore fruit flies and dispatch them in seconds.

Yeah that's my running theory on why fraggles aren't taking food. Buuuut I do find it weird the ones in the nest accept some protein while the foragers don't bother. (I mean I sorta get it but I still find it kinda annoying.)

And that they have almost ritualistically sacrificed their brood, one by one, forming this weird little knot around the pupating ant and ripping it apart and eating it up like delicious taffy. It's creeeeeepy. It reminds me of Argentines slaughtering queens in the spring. Again, dunno ... just a theory.

 

Your Tetras actually attack living fruit flies or you feed them already dead?

[ANTdrew]

They attack them ruthlessly!

[Acutus]

Camponotus aren't the best hunters in the world but all my colonies go crazy trying to catch Fruit-flies! I'm really hoping my Formica subcericea takes off this year. They are really good hunters apparently so I look forward to fruit-fly carnage!!

[OhNoNotAgain]

Well my C. salsabeanus ignored the dead fruit flies AGAIN.

 

I read people DO store ff in the fridge. Do you guys successfully store them in the fridge?? Tips for doing it without killing the culture?

[ANTdrew]

Use a funnel to shake a bunch into a test tube and freeze them.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

I wonder if I feed my Formica Subcericea queen fruitflies if she would try to hunt them or have a heart attack lol

[RushmoreAnts]

Anything foreign and moving would freak her out. She’d most likely try to escape and eat her brood than swat flies.

Edited by AntsDakota, February 27 2020 - 3:51 PM.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

figured as much

[OhNoNotAgain]

They attack them ruthlessly!

Well I gave some ff to the Tetras yesterday. I doubt colony 2 could find them, but colony 1 ... let's just say there's no trace of fruit flies any more.

 

I've not had good success feeding frozen anything to my ants so far.

Picky picky picky. Sigh.

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, February 28 2020 - 12:27 PM.

[RushmoreAnts]

Frozen insects aren’t as nutritious and are dry. Ants eat liquids, primarily.

[ANTdrew]

All my ants eat insects I’ve previously put in the freezer. I do it as a precaution against mites and a humane way to pre-kill them. Once they thaw, they are still juicy.
Freeze-dried insects would be dry. I’d never feed those except maybe to some seed harvester, desert ant.