9 replies to this topic

[Am3ricanBanana]

Hey everyone, I recently found a Myrmica queen in the Mt. Laguna area of San Diego and I have a question regarding feeding. I know Myrmica species are semi-claustral so I was wondering how often these types of queens go forage for food? Thanks!

[RushmoreAnts]

Just make a tubs and tubes setup, and set some sugary food in. You might have to experiment how often you put protein in, however. I would try once or twice a week at first, and you may cut back if this is too much for them. They don't need that much food per serving, just a few fruit flies should do.

[Am3ricanBanana]

That's what I have done right now, I was just wondering how often in general they come out to forage? When I first put her in the setup she ran around the outworld for a day and then settled into where the test tube is connected to the outworld. Just want a general idea.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

That's what I have done right now, I was just wondering how often in general they come out to forage? When I first put her in the setup she ran around the outworld for a day and then settled into where the test tube is connected to the outworld. Just want a general idea.

I don't care how much they forage as I would attempt to supply them with a constant force of food. I would give her 1 dead fruitfly, leave it there and then when it's gone, replace it. Same with whatever you use in the way of carbohydrates

[ANTdrew]

That's what I have done right now, I was just wondering how often in general they come out to forage? When I first put her in the setup she ran around the outworld for a day and then settled into where the test tube is connected to the outworld. Just want a general idea.

I don't care how much they forage as I would attempt to supply them with a constant force of food. I would give her 1 dead fruitfly, leave it there and then when it's gone, replace it. Same with whatever you use in the way of carbohydrates

Well said. Let the queen decide how much she needs by having things constantly available.

[Am3ricanBanana]

Ok, thanks everyone

[Serafine]

It's super easy - get a small box, add food (just as if it was a colony, only a bit less) wait for first workers.

One or two fruit flies daily and a small amount of sugar water for a single queen is perfect (I'd really recommend getting a small feeder like the byfromica 1ml/4ml set).

 

Here's a good journal where you can see how it works:

https://www.formicul...kys-myrmica-sp/

Edited by Serafine, April 21 2020 - 4:04 AM.

[RushmoreAnts]

It always surprises me how much one little queen can eat daily...........

[Serafine]

It's not really the queen but the brood that eats it

 

(also of course egg production needs proteins)

Edited by Serafine, April 21 2020 - 9:07 AM.

[Barristan]

I once had several Manica rubida queen and I only fed them once a week with a few fruit flies, that was enough. They often did not take more.

 

You should offer small insects, so you can easily see if the queen takes them into the test tube. If you feed larger insects you'll never know how much the queen ate...