4 replies to this topic

[greendragon]

Was given a 5 gallon bucket yesterday 5-29-2020 of Red Harvester Ants 1/2 full, from a contractor friend who got them from his job site before paving, it contained 3 Winged Queens 5 Winged Drones 10 larvae, pupa, 200 or so workers removed the dirt, placed them in 16x12 plastic tub with 5 test tubes all open end with water n cotton which they can enter n leave,, one empty no water, one 4'' laboratory-style dish covered formicarium n dandelion seeds n honey, small heat wire under one corner. Is this enough??  should I do something different??  Or will the colony Fail without a fertile Queen?? Can i mate one of the queens with a drone from another Colony that i have then return her?? Can Californicus mate with Occidentalis??

Edited by greendragon, May 30 2020 - 7:39 PM.

[Broncos]

The colony will fail without a queen but that is where patience comes in. And you could be able to tell if that is enough space. If each test tube is filled. It is to little. If not... I would keep it there just for growth space.

[JenC]

So basically someone went outside and dug up part of a nest. Then gave it to you?

Edited by JenC, May 30 2020 - 7:02 PM.

[Broncos]

I think he may have been given it but if not... that is a big no no. Harvester ants are very beneficial to the environment. And I think are becoming kind of endangered.

[greendragon]

contractor friend gave them to me from his job site

Edited by greendragon, May 30 2020 - 7:23 PM.