15 replies to this topic

[Fabey]

Heeey community!

I bought a Novomessor cockerelli and because yesterday was my birthday I got two Notoncus sp. on top.
Because I was too impatient, I shaked the queen's into new test tubes, because the water tanks in the old tubes were totally dry... while moving them into the new nests one of the queens lost her one larva - how can I support her?
I read, that Notoncus is founding semiclaustral, so feeding them is necessary. Is there a chance, that the queen lays new eggs?
Greetings from Central Europe,
Fabey

[BlueLance213]

Well you ended up with a double post XD

 

I am no ant expert, but even my fully claustral Camponotus barbaricus re-laid eggs after losing her nanitics and eating her brood, So I would assume a semi claustral ant would relay eggs after they settle down and arent disturbed, just make sure they have food and she should eat it and when she is ready holpefully lay eggs.

 

I am not an ant expert just my observations

[Fabey]

Hey, thank you for your response!
I also wrote a PN to CoolColJ, cuz I read somewhere in this forum, that he is a pro concerning Australian ants.
I bought some boxes at the supermarket and wrapped the tubes in tinfoil - so they are dark and have an outworld. I will tell ya if the queen lays new eggs.

[Ants_Dakota]

If they are semiclaustral, i feel like they would be more likely to re lay eggs than claustral queens, so that is good. Just make sure to get them a drop of honey and a cricket leg or something as soon as possible.

[TestSubjectOne]

Do you have them on heating? Novomessor and I assume Notoncus are desert species and do much better when heated.

[Fabey]

Hey, I have a heating for the Novomessor and Messor. Because the nest temperature for Messor should be around 26 degrees Celsius I use a thermostat. But our flat is around 24 degrees warm and because of the already low standing sun and our southwestern windows it heats up in the afternoon.
For the Notoncus the dealer supposed room temperature. I will keep them like he said. They come from the eastern, subtropical part from Australia - so I think it'll work out. I minimized the tube entry with a very thin straw, but they should get out and inside again. As food I'll offer them firebrats, which I cut in halves.

[TestSubjectOne]

It seems like you have heating worked out for them, then. I'm raising some Novomessors myself, but keeping them at 30-32 Celsius and feeding them while they are founding, so I'll be watching your journal with interest.

[Fabey]

I didn't start a journal but could do if you want
And will you hibernate them? Cause on Fourmiculture I read, that they should hibernate as the Mediterranean Messors (3-4 Month around 15 degrees, but I wonder if 10 would also fit. I don't think our cellar is warm enough)

To my Notoncus: I gave them a firebrat and a cricket leg each. I put them inside their tubes but will not disturb them another time. But am a bit afraid that they won't fit through the straw that minimized their nest entry. I'd say it has a diameter of 4mm. The Queen's are 7-8mm long, but I don't know how wide they are.

Edited by Fabey, September 18 2020 - 11:24 AM.

[RushmoreAnts]

If they are 7-8 mm in length, they should definitely fit. Almost no ant is half as wide as it is long.

[Antkeeper01]

almost????

Which one is????

[Kaelwizard]

.

Edited by Kaelwizard, September 25 2020 - 8:38 AM.

[Devi]

You could try brood-boosting, (taking brood from a wild colony of the same species) or just keep her well fed because she is semi-claustral.  Make sure to give her access to a foraging area.  She probably won't get nanitics until next year. 

[TestSubjectOne]

Brood boosting would not work for him because this is an Austrialian species. Just feed her small insects or insect pieces and some honey soaked into cotton. This should keep her alive and help her support more larvae.

[Devi]

Brood boosting would not work for him because this is an Austrialian species. Just feed her small insects or insect pieces and some honey soaked into cotton. This should keep her alive and help her support more larvae.

Thank you for clarifying.  I am not familiar with this species, so I was just saying some general things you could look into. 

[ponerinecat]

 

Brood boosting would not work for him because this is an Austrialian species. Just feed her small insects or insect pieces and some honey soaked into cotton. This should keep her alive and help her support more larvae.

Thank you for clarifying.  I am not familiar with this species, so I was just saying some general things you could look into. 

 

Brood boosting would work if a European has wild Notoncus colonies  You can feed her some honey but not much else is required for now.

[RushmoreAnts]

Brood boosting would work if a European has wild Notoncus colonies

Haha, good point. I mean, if you were willing to go all the way to Australia.......