7 replies to this topic

[Works4TheGood]

Location of collection: Drowning in a swimming pool

Date of collection: 8/21/15

Habitat of collection: Suburbs

Length: Please see coin in pictures

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[Works4TheGood]

Ponera pennsylvanica?  Anyone ever kept these before?  I read that Ponera pennsylvanica typically has less than 100 workers in the colony and preys on small soil-dwelling arthropods ... weird.  Sounds like it may not do well in captivity.

Edited by Works4TheGood, August 21 2015 - 4:53 PM.

[JakobS]

If it is Ponera pennsylvanica, and it does look very similar, you can feed it springtails and isopods. Because it is from the base of the ant family tree (closest to wasps etc) they show intermediate stages of being claustral, and most likely will need to feed while founding their colony. Springtails and isopods can be found in leaf littler, or at online reptile stores as feeder or cleaner insects. As they are generalist predators they may also prey on small insect/arthropod larvae if found too, preferably where pesticide use is not abundant. 

Edited by JakobS, August 21 2015 - 6:02 PM.

[Works4TheGood]

Oooof!  That sounds like a lot of effort!  I'm going to seriously consider releasing these then.

[William. T]

Oooof!  That sounds like a lot of effort!  I'm going to seriously consider releasing these then.

There may be hope yet. Get a net, and sweep through the nearest meadow. Any small insect you catch can be fed. These are predators, but they will accept anytihing small and live. Don't feed them chunks of dead prey, such as cricket legs. Fruit flies and termites might work also. Predators aren't picky.

[Works4TheGood]

And how often would I need to find food for her? Would I have to do that for the established colony as well? And what she doesn't eat will mold ... ug.

I'm leaning towards letting her go. Actually, I'd be letting 3 of them go. I'm a novice and this is not a novice species.

[dermy]

If I was you I'd release them that is way too much work! Your better off getting yourself something like Lasius or Formica. I wouldn't even keep these ants too much work!

[William. T]

And how often would I need to find food for her? Would I have to do that for the established colony as well? And what she doesn't eat will mold ... ug.

I'm leaning towards letting her go. Actually, I'd be letting 3 of them go. I'm a novice and this is not a novice species.

It's really your choice. But it's hard to find this species, and you can feed her some small insect once a week.