4 replies to this topic

[antscientist]

I have an atta texana colony and I really want to try to brood boost them. Since atta ants are fungus-farming ants, I don't really know if I should brood boost them using a heating mat or a heating cable. If I do brood boosting using that way, the conditions might be too hot for the fungus. Idk. Pls tell me how to brood boost atta ants. Couldn't find that much info on the internet.  I also got them from ants emporium as that they don't live where I live.

Edited by antscientist, October 12 2021 - 4:21 AM.

[Manitobant]

First of all, NEVER heat fungus growing ants. It always goes badly.

As for your question, you could probably boost them like any other ant, just tossing pupae in the outworld and they will carry it into the nest.

[antscientist]

First of all, NEVER heat fungus growing ants. It always goes badly.

As for your question, you could probably boost them like any other ant, just tossing pupae in the outworld and they will carry it into the nest.

thanks.

[mmcguffi]

+1 to never heating

 

In my experience, the colonies that I brood boosted (and worker boosted!) had a much higher successful founding rate -- I very much recommend it. Furthermore, "fungus-boosting" helps a ton as well, because many of the queens will not have viable fungal pellets. I recommend boosting every queen with a pea-size of fungus. In my (anecdotal) tests this year, the more fungus and workers I boosted with, the more success I had

 

All this said, almost all American Atta texana colonies should be well past founding this year, and thus no need for boosting. The only populations (that I know of) that fly twice a year are in Mexico or are near the Mexican border.

 

Here is my journal if it is of any help: https://www.formicul...-08-15-mmcguffi

 

and here is a helpful thread by Cheeto: https://www.formicul...afcutter-ants™/

[antscientist]

+1 to never heating

 

In my experience, the colonies that I brood boosted (and worker boosted!) had a much higher successful founding rate -- I very much recommend it. Furthermore, "fungus-boosting" helps a ton as well, because many of the queens will not have viable fungal pellets. I recommend boosting every queen with a pea-size of fungus. In my (anecdotal) tests this year, the more fungus and workers I boosted with, the more success I had

 

All this said, almost all American Atta texana colonies should be well past founding this year, and thus no need for boosting. The only populations (that I know of) that fly twice a year are in Mexico or are near the Mexican border.

 

Here is my journal if it is of any help: https://www.formicul...-08-15-mmcguffi

 

and here is a helpful thread by Cheeto: https://www.formicul...afcutter-ants™/

oh ok.