8 replies to this topic

[JLawson]

Hey All,

 

I bought the full set of byFormica feeders for my M. Mexicanus.  I've been trying them for about 2 weeks now.  I was hoping to keep sugar water available and not evaporating and crystalizing in an hour due to the higher temp.  I have a larger feeder with water and a medium feeder with half/half sugar water.  The workers have stuffed the holes of both feeders with minced insect carapaces and don't seem to be using either as a foraging source.  I should have snapped a pic but the larger water feeder had a small cricket leg sticking out of one of the holes!  I dyed the sugar water green hoping to see some green gasters, but nothing.  They will take water from a mesh feeder and will take sugar water off of a piece of foil, but have yet to figure out the feeders.  Anyone else experience this and is it just a matted of time?

 

The colony has about 30 works and probably 30ish pupae is very active and somewhat cantankerous.  

 

Thanks you all in advance!

 

-Jeff

Edited by JLawson, December 1 2020 - 9:40 AM.

[OhNoNotAgain]

Some of my colonies have done the same with THA mesh feeders ... the mesh gets covered in garbage. I've seen ants pile garbage on byFormica feeders, too.

Is the sugar water the same formula as you usually use?

I don't know exactly what to suggest but I do know small colonies can be really dumb sometimes.

[Ants_Dakota]

same here! my tetramorium stuff sand up their feeders, and then i clean them out, and then they do the same! what is going on in their little brains!

[ZTYguy]

You should see what my mexicanus worker did in my latest youyube vid. They are so dumb. I am too lazy to get the link so its in my signature thingy. hehe

Edited by ZTYguy, December 1 2020 - 10:57 AM.

[Zeiss]

Ants will block the liquid sources if they feel it could be a threat to the colony by being too close.  That could be one reason why they're doing it.

 

Dying the liquids could also deter them as dyes are often bitterants.  

 

As for the sugar water you make, I suggest a 1:3 ratio of sugar:water.  That's what I've always used when I make my own and it works.  Otherwise I would suggest using Sunburst by byFormica.

[Ants_Dakota]

maybe ants feel if the sugar is too close to their colony and is left in the open, another colony will find it and attack their nest? that makes logical sense. 

[cocdeshijie]

take the feeder out and make a trash area with wet cotton, once they have a stable area for trash put the feeder back in

[Ants_Dakota]

take the feeder out and make a trash area with wet cotton, once they have a stable area for trash put the feeder back in

how would i make it with wet cotton?

[JLawson]

Ants will block the liquid sources if they feel it could be a threat to the colony by being too close.  That could be one reason why they're doing it.

 

Dying the liquids could also deter them as dyes are often bitterants.  

 

As for the sugar water you make, I suggest a 1:3 ratio of sugar:water.  That's what I've always used when I make my own and it works.  Otherwise I would suggest using Sunburst by byFormica.

 

Interesting!  I will try this and the wet cotton.  Thanks for all the advice guys.