5 replies to this topic

[jushi]

I just caught a queen of this species, and it is my first time raising a semi-claustral queen. What is the growth rate for these ants? She is currently in a test tube setup, and any and all advice for raising them would be appreciated!

[AnthonyP163]

I feed my queens small amounts of carbohydrates and large amounts of protein. A cricket leg or small, soft-bodied arthropod like a springtail should suffice. The colonies remain small, and the brood develops somewhat slowly. 

[jushi]

I feed my queens small amounts of carbohydrates and large amounts of protein. A cricket leg or small, soft-bodied arthropod like a springtail should suffice. The colonies remain small, and the brood develops somewhat slowly. 

 

Thanks! What is their usual mature colony size? I've heard 500 from some people and 300 from others.

[AnthonyP163]

 

I feed my queens small amounts of carbohydrates and large amounts of protein. A cricket leg or small, soft-bodied arthropod like a springtail should suffice. The colonies remain small, and the brood develops somewhat slowly. 

 

Thanks! What is their usual mature colony size? I've heard 500 from some people and 300 from others.

 

I don't know. The only mature colony I have found had 2 queens and ~100 workers. I would guess 300. 

[Ants_Dakota]

Are these myrmica the only semi-claustral in the area? 

[jushi]

Are these myrmica the only semi-claustral in the area? 

 

I'm sure they aren't the only ones. According to www.antmaps.org there are quite a few: stenamma, stigmatomma, strumigenys, and other myrmecia species. I could be missing a few. These species tend to be very hard to come across, so finding one of these queens is very rare. I'm happy I just found her by accident, and a colony of these guys would be really interesting to keep!