55 replies to this topic

[AntaholicAnonymous]

I've seen a lot of people talking about the byFormica Sunburst and I wonder if it's any better than sugarwater/honeywater.

If you buy the mixture instead of using what you already have at home I assume it's better but noone really explained the difference before.
Teach me if you'd be so kind

[AleeGuy]

It's easier to use Sunburst nectar because it will be preferred by the most species(not as sugar water), it is long lasting(in expirational and the time it will take to finish the whole bottle way), and it has all needed *carbohydrate* resources(obviously the ants still should be fed with protein sources too).

[MinigunL5]

It's easier to use Sunburst nectar because it will be preferred by the most species(not as sugar water), it is long lasting(in expirational and the time it will take to finish the whole bottle way), and it has all needed *carbohydrate* resources(obviously the ants still should be fed with protein sources too).

Additionally, you can leave it in a feeder much longer than sugar water.

[KitsAntVa]

I always use sugar water or honey water for my ants because to me the price of that small bottle isn't worth it. Honestly my pogonomyrmex like syrup water and most other species like honey water so i'm fine with whatever I have. I also make sure I feed a ton amount of protein to make sure they don't think that they don't have enough food to make larvae two times their colony size. 

[NickAnter]

The main benefit for sunburst is its ability to last a long time. I personally do not see the need to spend money on the product when my sugar water/honey mixture works just fine.

[PurdueEntomology]

I always use sugar water or honey water for my ants because to me the price of that small bottle isn't worth it. Honestly my pogonomyrmex like syrup water and most other species like honey water so i'm fine with whatever I have. I also make sure I feed a ton amount of protein to make sure they don't think that they don't have enough food to make larvae two times their colony size. 

what is your water/honey ratio?

[ANTdrew]

I use Sunburst exclusively for all my colonies. What I like about it is that the nectar doesn't ferment. When I used to use honey water, the CO2 bubbles let off by fermenting yeast would push out the nectar and cause the liquid feeders to flood. This would make a sticky mess. I've left Sunburst in my setups all winter long, and nothing went wrong with it. It's not necessary, but it will make your life easier as a keeper.

[antsandmore]

 

I always use sugar water or honey water for my ants because to me the price of that small bottle isn't worth it. Honestly my pogonomyrmex like syrup water and most other species like honey water so i'm fine with whatever I have. I also make sure I feed a ton amount of protein to make sure they don't think that they don't have enough food to make larvae two times their colony size. 

what is your water/honey ratio?

 

People usually use 3:1 water to honey. at least that's what I use.

[KitsAntVa]

I usually use a little bit more honey than water, I always put in the honey first though. I don't know how to explain it. its like cooking.

[antsandmore]

I usually use a little bit more honey than water, I always put in the honey first though. I don't know how to explain it. its like cooking.

lol. always experimenting.

[ConcordAntman]

I read somewhere that a 3:1 (water:sugar) mixture is the favored ratio for ant nectar (that just happens to be the same ratio for hummingbird nectar). I've had the problem of workers getting stuck in honey water as the water has evaporated. I can't find my original source but this article looking at Lasius niger suggests 30-40% Sensitivity and feeding efficiency of the black garden ant Lasius niger to sugar resources (archives-ouvertes.fr) (page 7, bottom half, first column) and this on Camponotus species and sugar concentration suggests 43% (sorry, this is behind a paywall but the information is in the abstract) Nectar feeding by the ant Camponotus mus: intake rate and crop filling as a function of sucrose concentration - ScienceDirect I might not go as high as 1:1. The second article's abstract suggests foraging workers have a drop off in their crop contents when the sugar content is >70%. The fermentation issue is valid. While I make my own nectar, I can see the value of something with a long shelf life. Also, keep in mind that dry measure volumes for the sugar and wet measure volumes for the water require different measuring cups!  

[gs5248]

I've seen a lot of people talking about the byFormica Sunburst and I wonder if it's any better than sugarwater/honeywater.

If you buy the mixture instead of using what you already have at home I assume it's better but noone really explained the difference before.
Teach me if you'd be so kind

Some species won't accept plain sugar water, but every species I have seen has accepted sunburst. And more importantly, sunburst contains a lot of the vitamins and nutrients that ants need, while sugar water only has sugars. However, I still don't really use sunburst that much because I find that feeding a variety of fruits and insects get's the ants all they need.

[ConcordAntman]

Yeah, my Camponotus spp. seem to like apples, pears, and banana.

[AleeGuy]

I always use sugar water or honey water for my ants because to me the price of that small bottle isn't worth it. Honestly my pogonomyrmex like syrup water and most other species like honey water so i'm fine with whatever I have. I also make sure I feed a ton amount of protein to make sure they don't think that they don't have enough food to make larvae two times their colony size.

what is your water/honey ratio?

3:1(water to sugar/honey), if your ants don't get stuck when consuming it then you can even go with 2:1(but there is no big difference). By the way, I've had better experience in acceptance with a cane sugar rather than a honey.

Edited by AleeGuy, March 3 2021 - 12:03 PM.

[gs5248]

Same here. I tend to also use maple syrup, or corn syrup as an alternative sugar source, and my ants will prefer it over sugar water and honey.

[BugFinder]

Same here. I tend to also use maple syrup, or corn syrup as an alternative sugar source, and my ants will prefer it over sugar water and honey.

 

straight syrup, or dilluted with water?

[PogoQueen]

My ants love sunburst, across many different species. I highly recommend it! A very safe product as well.

[gs5248]

 

Same here. I tend to also use maple syrup, or corn syrup as an alternative sugar source, and my ants will prefer it over sugar water and honey.

 

straight syrup, or dilluted with water?

 

I will usually dilute it in water to make it easier for the ants to feed out of a THA water feeder. you can either do 1 part syrup and 1 part water, or 2 parts syrup and 1 part water. I wish usually go with the first option.

Edited by gs5248, March 3 2021 - 10:00 PM.

[gs5248]

My ants love sunburst, across many different species. I highly recommend it! A very safe product as well.

I agree that is a great product. But it is still kind of expensive, and for the price i would rather just get some fruits that have all the same vitamins as sunburst does.

Edited by gs5248, March 3 2021 - 10:01 PM.

[AntaholicAnonymous]

Oh so ants do need vitamins?
That was kind of where my question was aiming at.

Currently I use a sugar water test tube.
I'll try to offer both sunburst and sugar water in the future to see what they prefer.
Maybe I'll see an I crease in activity if they're juicing harder