37 replies to this topic

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

also since this is a small colony I would feed them mostly sugar but once in a while a little piece of mealworm.

[cooIboyJ]

me and my brother will probably buy mealworms soon.

ok

I can send pic of nest/outworld if you want

Answer?

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

for sugar a tiny drop of honey should work. TINY

[cooIboyJ]

I already gave them some honey, but it was accidentally a lot. But not enough to kill the colony

Edited by cooIboyJ, March 6 2024 - 4:05 PM.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

Perfect but it was small right?

Even if it is small I would put a little stick so if the ants get stuck they can pull themselves out.

Edited by GOCAMPONOTUS, March 6 2024 - 4:04 PM.

[cooIboyJ]

ok

 

I will put a stick in

Edited by cooIboyJ, March 6 2024 - 4:06 PM.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

me and my brother will probably buy mealworms soon.

ok

I can send pic of nest/outworld if you want

Answer?

My bad, yes do it. It will also help us identify the type of solenopsis.

Edited by GOCAMPONOTUS, March 6 2024 - 4:06 PM.

[cooIboyJ]

ok

[The_Gaming-gate]

We only have around 8 ants beside the queen

no

I'd go back and collect some more ants. Much more. The queen has been being pampered her whole life by this massive colony, leaving her with only 8 workers will stress out the queen and she may not lay eggs. I'd have enough ants to fill a test tube at least (by fill I mean you can't open it without many ants spilling out). My friend learned this the hard way with fire ants, and it took him about 35 workers to get the queen to act normal, at least, if they are invicta. Also, if you find majors you should be able to rule out some species, I'm pretty sure it couldn't be S. molesta as they should be monomorphic.

Edited by The_Gaming-gate, March 6 2024 - 5:25 PM.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

 

We only have around 8 ants beside the queen

no

I'd go back and collect some more ants. Much more. The queen has been being pampered her whole life by this massive colony, leaving her with only 8 workers will stress out the queen and she may not lay eggs. I'd have enough ants to fill a test tube at least (by fill I mean you can't open it without many ants spilling out). My friend learned this the hard way with fire ants, and it took him about 35 workers to get the queen to act normal, at least, if they are invicta. Also, if you find majors you should be able to rule out some species, I'm pretty sure it couldn't be S. molesta as they should be monomorphic.

 

I agree on most of what you said. The coloration on the molesta is more of a yellowish

And he made a separate thread showing pics.

[The_Gaming-gate]

Can you link it?

We only have around 8 ants beside the queen

no

I'd go back and collect some more ants. Much more. The queen has been being pampered her whole life by this massive colony, leaving her with only 8 workers will stress out the queen and she may not lay eggs. I'd have enough ants to fill a test tube at least (by fill I mean you can't open it without many ants spilling out). My friend learned this the hard way with fire ants, and it took him about 35 workers to get the queen to act normal, at least, if they are invicta. Also, if you find majors you should be able to rule out some species, I'm pretty sure it couldn't be S. molesta as they should be monomorphic.

I agree on most of what you said. The coloration on the molesta is more of a yellowish

And he made a separate thread showing pics.

[The_Gaming-gate]

Found the other thread. I'm quite positive the pictured ants were S. xyloni, based on color (means it's likely invicta, which I doubt lives in Nevada, xyloni,​ or amblychilla) and description of majors, which rules out most Solenopsis sp. including S. molesta. I'd leave them which a bit of protein (dead insects or meat) and a tube of sugar water. Don't put sugar water in a tube ants live in, since sugar could help bacteria or other harmful things grow in the tube and harm the colony.

[cooIboyJ]

ok

 

for sugar we have been giving them jelly from petco

Edited by cooIboyJ, March 7 2024 - 5:03 PM.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

That is fine. But i would keep it not to far from the tube.

[cooIboyJ]

It is only around two inches away

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

That sould be fine.

also instead of the rock you could add a few little sticks.

[cooIboyJ]

ok we will put some in

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

Make sure it is not to big so they do not nest in it.