3 replies to this topic

[antkeeperscotland]

Hi there! I am looking for any advice regarding the best way to keep parasitic ants- most specifically the best type of setup. here in scotland, Formica Excecta is very rare, and a local population is needing help,  so the naturalists who help manage the estate are thinking of keeping queens in captivity in order to create more colonies to release into the wild. I was hoping some people would be able to give some me some tips for doing this... (Formica Excecta is a parasite of Formica lemani, hence the parasitic question).

 Thanks!

Edited by antkeeperscotland, October 14 2021 - 11:10 AM.

[Manitobant]

Formica exsecta cannot open pupae like formica sanguinea group parasites, so you will need callows. Despite what you said about lugubris, to my knowledge their main host is formica fusca group species, such as fusca or lemani. Once you have gotten the queen accepted by callows, give the colony host pupae, which the new workers should be able to open.

[antkeeperscotland]

Thank you- useful advice indeed- sorry about the typo,I meant lemani ! 

are there any setups that you would advise for parasitic species ( I normally use test tubes for ants, but if there is a better method for parasitic ants it would be useful to know.)

[Manitobant]

Thank you- useful advice indeed- sorry about the typo,I meant lemani ! 
are there any setups that you would advise for parasitic species ( I normally use test tubes for ants, but if there is a better method for parasitic ants it would be useful to know.)

test tubes work for founding, but your gonna want to use a formicarium later on, as exsecta colonies get massive.