83 replies to this topic

[ponerinecat]

Collected some arboreal globulars via bush beating, they've been identified as Ptenothrix beta.

 

 

 

 

[wardkad2]

[mention]ponerinecat [/mention]nice! How do you plan to house the arboreal sp.? Differently from the more terrestrial types? Do they have similar dietary habits?

Edited by wardkad2, December 24 2020 - 9:42 PM.

[ponerinecat]

[mention]ponerinecat [/mention]nice! How do you plan to house the arboreal sp.? Differently from the more terrestrial types? Do they have similar dietary habits?

I'm not sure. A bonsai tree or sapling in a pot has been suggested to me, could probably try one of those. Dietary requirements should be similar, but there's also the possibility they feed directly on the host plant like many bourletiellidae do.

[M_Ants]

How are the Morulina?

[Swirlysnowflake]

Morulina like mushrooms I think

[ponerinecat]

Adult 7-8 mm Morulina.

 

 

 

Purple Entomobrya sp juvie with an egg.

 

 

 

Purple glob egg and juvies.

 

 

 

Newborn Neanura muscorum.

 

[antsandmore]

 

I wish I could buy giant neanurids. They look so cool.

Should be able to sell you some if they breed.

 

where do you collect these?

[ponerinecat]

 

 

I wish I could buy giant neanurids. They look so cool.

Should be able to sell you some if they breed.

 

where do you collect these?

 

Almost always under stones, occasionally wood. They arent too picky, main difficulty is they rarely gather in large numbers. You have to build up an initial culture one by one.

[ANTdrew]

My peach Sinella springtails are really kicking butt now.

[antsandmore]

 

 

 

I wish I could buy giant neanurids. They look so cool.

Should be able to sell you some if they breed.

 

where do you collect these?

 

Almost always under stones, occasionally wood. They arent too picky, main difficulty is they rarely gather in large numbers. You have to build up an initial culture one by one.

 

thanks. I will look under stones, hopefully I catch one

[antsandmore]

I caught some springtails today, what do you usually feed them ponerinecat?

Edited by antsandmore, February 17 2021 - 1:01 PM.

[ponerinecat]

I caught some springtails today, what do you usually feed them ponerinecat?

Depends heavily on the species, but nutritional yeast is a fairly standard go to food. Just don't feed too much at one time as it molds easily.

[ponerinecat]

Morulina eggs.

 

[antsandmore]

Morulina eggs.

 

CSC_3835.JPG

awesome! 

[ANTdrew]

Pcat-

 Do you think there could be a point where a dirt setup with ants has too many springtails? The Sinella springtails I put in my Formica's ant farm style setup are really exploding. I'm wondering if it could get out of hand and stress the ants without some kind of natural balance on their numbers. What do you think?

[antsandmore]

Pcat-

 Do you think there could be a point where a dirt setup with ants has too many springtails? The Sinella springtails I put in my Formica's ant farm style setup are really exploding. I'm wondering if it could get out of hand and stress the ants without some kind of natural balance on their numbers. What do you think?

I am not Pcat, but if you would let me, I can tell you what I think. I personally think that a good amount springtails isn't bad, since they make sure that your ant's setups will be clean. I think too many springtails might be an issue, but maybe if you can take some substrate out, take out some springtails, and put the substrate back in every once in a while, it might work. but yes, I would also like to hear PonerineCat's opinion.

[ponerinecat]

Pcat-

 Do you think there could be a point where a dirt setup with ants has too many springtails? The Sinella springtails I put in my Formica's ant farm style setup are really exploding. I'm wondering if it could get out of hand and stress the ants without some kind of natural balance on their numbers. What do you think?

Depending on the size of the ants themselves, maybe. Wild ant nests are often filled with springtails and as long as the ants are large enough they really don't mind. I've even see what I think are Parcoblatta americana nymphs take refuge in Veromessor andrei nests without the ants taking notice, despite being twice the size of the ants. However, if the ants are a small species like Tetramorium or Crematogaster they would probably not like having relatively large springtails like SInella in the nest, or at least not in large numbers. You might have luck introducing a predatory species, such as various mesostigma or some of the predaceous prostigs. I would suggest using mesostigs, as they're easier to find, kill more stuff, and less noticeable to ants. You can find them in leaf litter outside, they resemble tiny ticks running around waving the first pair of legs.

[antsandmore]

 

Pcat-

 Do you think there could be a point where a dirt setup with ants has too many springtails? The Sinella springtails I put in my Formica's ant farm style setup are really exploding. I'm wondering if it could get out of hand and stress the ants without some kind of natural balance on their numbers. What do you think?

Depending on the size of the ants themselves, maybe. Wild ant nests are often filled with springtails and as long as the ants are large enough they really don't mind. I've even see what I think are Parcoblatta americana nymphs take refuge in Veromessor andrei nests without the ants taking notice, despite being twice the size of the ants. However, if the ants are a small species like Tetramorium or Crematogaster they would probably not like having relatively large springtails like SInella in the nest, or at least not in large numbers. You might have luck introducing a predatory species, such as various mesostigma or some of the predaceous prostigs. I would suggest using mesostigs, as they're easier to find, kill more stuff, and less noticeable to ants. You can find them in leaf litter outside, they resemble tiny ticks running around waving the first pair of legs.

 

I think the ants he has in the setup is Formica subsericea.

[ANTdrew]

That’s correct. They’re big girls.

[ponerinecat]

That’s correct. They’re big girls.

Then it'll be fine.