24 replies to this topic

[Mannomorth]

Hello everybody.

 

I've recently got a byFormica GroTubeXL and a Grande foraging area.

Now its time to decide what species I want to get.

 

Right now I have three to choose from (I would love to get other suggestions)

 

Messor Barbarus

Pros: Interesting, foraging seeds, different sizes and colors

 

Cons: A bit harder, not native, needs more size, needs a warmer formacarium

 

Myrmica Rubra

Pros: Beautiful color, polygynous, quite easy to keep, native

Cons: Semi-claustral, aggressive, semi-nomadic

 

Lasius Niger

Pros: Very easy to keep, good starter species, native

Cons: Kinda boring (compared to the other two)

 

Any suggestions?

 

[LC3]

I would suggest L. niger good starter species, also 'really don't care on how boring a species is as long as your willing to put time and effort it's good to go.You would rather gain some experience before taking up other ants. All ants are good to watch and observe. I don't really know where you live and depending on that M. barbarus might be illegal to ship. 

Edited by LC3, July 5 2015 - 11:23 AM.

[Mannomorth]

I would suggest L. niger good starter species, also 'really don't care on how boring a species is as long as your willing to put time and effort it's good to go.You would rather gain some experience before taking up other ants. All ants are good to watch and observe. I don't really know where you live and depending on that M. barbarus might be illegal to ship. 

Ofc any ant is better than no ants, but I've heard opinions that said that just a bit more difficult species are alot more rewarding. I live in Sweden, and I've been looking for any info if M. Barbarus legal to import or not, its available from both the UK and Germany so I would be surprised if its illegal here.

 

The thing is that I will only have space (and time) with one formacarium for quite some time, so I want to get a species that can evolve with me if you understand.

Edited by Mannomorth, July 5 2015 - 12:23 PM.

[Ants4fun]

I say M barbarus if legal to ship.

[LC3]

 

I would suggest L. niger good starter species, also 'really don't care on how boring a species is as long as your willing to put time and effort it's good to go.You would rather gain some experience before taking up other ants. All ants are good to watch and observe. I don't really know where you live and depending on that M. barbarus might be illegal to ship. 

Ofc any ant is better than no ants, but I've heard opinions that said that just a bit more difficult species are alot more rewarding. I live in Sweden, and I've been looking for any info if M. Barbarus legal to import or not, its available from both the UK and Germany so I would be surprised if its illegal here.

 

The thing is that I will only have space (and time) with one formacarium for quite some time, so I want to get a species that can evolve with me if you understand.

 

If your gonna only keep one ant for a really really  long time than it's your choice. 

[Alza]

Messor barbarus is by far the best, and aren't that hard to keep. Of course, lasius is easier though.

[Mannomorth]

Messor Barbarus it is then, they look very interesting, and I've been "studying" our native species for quite some time so its going to be fun to get a whole different species that vary in size aswell, i havent seen that in any of our native species.

[drtrmiller]

Get your feet wet with Lasius niger.  You can always get other ants later.

 

You don't want your first ants to die and become discouraged.

 

Anecdotally, I think a user imported some Messor across an ocean and said that over 90% of them died within a few days of being introduced into a GroTube XL.  Without knowing why they died, and having no experience with Messor, myself, as most users in North America have no hands-on experience with Messor, including those who recommended it here, you need to ask some European members what type of formicarium Messor prefers, especially whether they are sensitive to light, as the GroTube XL allows a great deal of light to enter the nest.

[Ants4fun]

Woops I didn't read that it was for a grotube. The grotube isn't the best for these ants. The visibility is a bit too much...
Myrmica do not do well with this formicarium as well... Lasius would do good however.

[Mannomorth]

Get your feet wet with Lasius niger.  You can always get other ants later.

 

You don't want your first ants to die and become discouraged.

 

Anecdotally, I think a user imported some Messor across an ocean and said that over 90% of them died within a few days of being introduced into a GroTube XL.  Without knowing why they died, and having no experience with Messor, myself, as most users in North America have no hands-on experience with Messor, including those who recommended it here, you need to ask some European members what type of formicarium Messor prefers, especially whether they are sensitive to light, as the GroTube XL allows a great deal of light to enter the nest.

I guess I need some european input then, since it seems like they are pretty common over here. If i would import them its just a 4 hr ride for them so I think transportwise it would be ok.

But yeah, the Messor I've seen seem to thrive in darkened vertical formacariums. Hopefully I get some more input from someone with hands on experience.

 

Its leaning towards Lasius now then, its probably better, so then i can get my own queen too.

I guess Solenopsis invicta will have to wait

[Jonathan21700]

You should have Camponotus there. They are pretty interesting and polymorphic.

[Myrmicinae]

Another disadvantage of keeping Myrmica is their vulnerability to parasitic mites.  I have heard many stories of colonies being entirely wiped out by mites and have had a similar experience with my own colonies as well.  That said, they are very interesting ants and will readily adopt new queens. They are not picky about food and seem to handle stress fairly well.

Edited by Myrmicinae, July 6 2015 - 7:30 PM.

[Mannomorth]

You should have Camponotus there. They are pretty interesting and polymorphic.

 

Yes we do, the Camponotus herculeanus, only disadvantage is that they are quite large and it seems like they have their nuptial flight in the spring, may-june. I've been looking for Queens for a couple of days, and even with woodland areas i havent seen any Camponotus queens.

 

Edit. it could also be Camponotus ligniperda, I'm not quite sure.

Another disadvantage of keeping Myrmica is their vulnerability to parasitic mites.  I have heard many stories of colonies being entirely wiped out by mites and have had a similar experience with my own colonies as well.  That said, they are very interesting ants and will readily adopt new queens. They are not picky about food and seem to handle stress fairly well.

 

Thanks, I had no idea about that. Where did the mites come from? Is it so common one should stay away from Myrmica rubra all together?

Edited by Mannomorth, July 7 2015 - 12:25 AM.

[Trailandstreet]

Myrmica rubra is a native ant here in europe. They don't have much problems with mites. Maybe only if the conditions are completely wrong, but they can go on very well with a more humid environment.

[Jonathan21700]

It is not sure that the ants you have in the area are Myrmica rubra. Myrmica are very hard to ID without microscopic pictures

Edited by Jonathan21700, July 7 2015 - 10:55 AM.

[Mannomorth]

It is not sure that the ants you have in the area are Myrmica rubra. Myrmica are very hard to ID without microscopic pictures

I think it has to be, according to wikipedia and other sources its the only "red" species in Sweden (is what i have understood)

[LC3]

Who knows. Many Myrmica aren't known very well and Wikipedia isn't very reliable for ants. 

[Jonathan21700]

Many species of Myrmica are red.

[Trailandstreet]

Who knows. Many Myrmica aren't known very well and Wikipedia isn't very reliable for ants. 

You'd better use the antwiki

[Ants4fun]

I believe people are missing the point. Doubt their will be a huge difference between myrmuca rubra and a different red Myrmica so. I don't believe they are really succeptable to mites as I had Myrmica, and I know plenty of people who had Myrmica that didn't get mites. Those are usually isolated incidents, and can happen with any ant.

I think that Myrmica is a great genus to keep, as long as you have an extremely simple formicarium. They can literally get lost, and die in their nest... But they are usually polygynous, so that's always good. For me however, I prefer an ant that has better eyesight. They react based on what they see, and therefore seem smarter. I always viewed Myrmica as a dumb genus, and Camponotus as a smart genus, however I now realize that it is due to their reactions. Based on that, and the reason I love big ants, as they are easier to observe, I would recommend Camponotus for you. They are large ants that are usually a flight rather than a fight ant. Their majors are pretty impressive, and usually get about the same size as the queen! Also they are rather prolific for being such large ants. If you can buy a native sp. then I highly recommend them.