7 replies to this topic

[futurebird]

I'm a little concerned about this Formica subsericea. They have a dark nest under the sand, but during the day the queen comes to the surface. If she hears a noise they all run underground as shown in this video.

They seem unsettled. I'm going to offer them a test tube in their outworld to see if that helps?

I don't know why they don't stay underground. It's not over moist or dry. They also spend very little time in the outworld. It's amazing how fast they move.

 

Until about two weeks ago they had lots of eggs and brood and were in a small nest box. But the brood tampered off so I tried moving them to this new set up a week ago. They dug a nest but have not really taken to it as this video shows. 

 

 

Hm.

 

 

 

[The_Gaming-gate]

That’s odd, I wonder what’s stressing that queen out. I do wonder if the workers are bringing brood (if they have any) outside. If not, it means the queen is the only ant who’s stressed out like this.

Perhaps wrapping the nest in wrapping paper or anything to block light out could prevent this. I also suggest using foam, or cloth as a border between the desk/table/countertop they are on, and the nest. This should keep out vibrations.

[futurebird]

The nest is wrapped on the lower half, but they keep coming to the top where the light is. 

 

I could just cover the whole thing and let them live up there. 

[mbullock42086]

either they want more heat or they loathe the substrate itself.  might require some sort of clay addition to make them happy.

  formica are known for being heat-lovers.  

 edit: solved 

Edited by mbullock42086, July 23 2024 - 3:01 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Are there any happy Formica colonies in captivity? Nobody on this forum has a truly large colony, much less one that has produced alates. I think that says a lot about the difficulties of keeping Formica long term. I hope I am wrong, but I just haven’t seen any evidence to the contrary in my years cruising formiculture.

[futurebird]

So I put a little heater on one side of the sand nest... and... it worked? They are underground and even have a few foragers out. I don't know if I've totally calmed them... poor nervous girls.

I'm going to leave them alone as much as I can and hope that they don't abandon their nest again.

(I have had the AC on so maybe they feel like they aren't in a proper summer.)

 

The sand is the same sand I use for all my other ants. My Pogonomyrmex dug this kind of sand in a similar set up with no issues. I don't think it's the sand, but this heat thing could be a factor. 

[mbullock42086]

So I put a little heater on one side of the sand nest... and... it worked? They are underground and even have a few foragers out. I don't know if I've totally calmed them... poor nervous girls.

I'm going to leave them alone as much as I can and hope that they don't abandon their nest again.

(I have had the AC on so maybe they feel like they aren't in a proper summer.)

 

The sand is the same sand I use for all my other ants. My Pogonomyrmex dug this kind of sand in a similar set up with no issues. I don't think it's the sand, but this heat thing could be a factor. 

I've noted when my ants needed heat, they would always pile all the cocoons toward the light source thinking its sunlight lol

[Stubyvast]

Yup makes sense! Either they just needed heat, cuz like you said the AC was on, or the heat overwhelmed any fears of the substrate, and settled them down. If they're sending out foragers, then that's good! Likely they've settled in and the queen is brood-making, and hungry for food. Nice! 

 

 

So I put a little heater on one side of the sand nest... and... it worked? They are underground and even have a few foragers out. I don't know if I've totally calmed them... poor nervous girls.

I'm going to leave them alone as much as I can and hope that they don't abandon their nest again.

(I have had the AC on so maybe they feel like they aren't in a proper summer.)

 

The sand is the same sand I use for all my other ants. My Pogonomyrmex dug this kind of sand in a similar set up with no issues. I don't think it's the sand, but this heat thing could be a factor. 

I've noted when my ants needed heat, they would always pile all the cocoons toward the light source thinking its sunlight lol

 

I mean it's likely that the light does provide a tiny bit of heat, so yes, they would think it helped! Funny how ants do that haha.