13 replies to this topic

[Ants4ever7]

I am in Arizona and am pretty new to antkeeping. I have two queens and both have lots of pupae. When should I feed them and what should I give for their first few meals.

[AntsGodzilla]

what species?

Edited by AntsGodzilla, August 26 2024 - 11:13 AM.

[AntsGodzilla]

And don't feed nanitics, the queen will feed them a soup from her wing muscles. In my experience, don't feed them until 10+ workers. And when it is time to feed them, wingless fruit flies work as proteins, and you can us byformica, humming bird nectar, ect, as carbs

Edited by AntsGodzilla, August 26 2024 - 11:20 AM.

[Ants4ever7]

I am not sure of the species now as I am waiting for Sunday when I check on them. I caught both in the morning. One I think is Solenopsis as it is about13 mm and has almost 20 pupae. The other is about 8mm and her pupae are tiny but more than 10

[AntsGodzilla]

13mm sounds big for solenopsis

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

You can feed them once the workers tug on the cotton. I feed my ants their first meals consisting of sugar water and a little cut up mealworm or fruit fly.

[mbullock42086]

13mm sounds big for solenopsis

you probably have a crematogaster species, some are bicolored

[Ants4ever7]

Her head and thorax are red-orange and her abdomen is black for the larger one which is about 12-13 mm. I just assumed Solenopsis as we have TONS here

[eea]

You can make a thread in Ant ID.

[Ants4ever7]

For the test tubes should I put  a little sand in for them to spin cocoons? Is it mold safe?

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

No, crematogaster don't spin coocons but have naked peupe.

[rptraut]

Hello Ants4ever7;

 

Once a queen has nanitics, I feed them sugar/water, drinking water and for protein I always give them cooked chicken liver.    It's always been a hit with my founding colonies.    I also feed a lot of flies, any kind, blue bottle, green bottle, house, cluster and deer flies.    Cut them open for easy access and replace every two days to keep them fresh.    Very small ants really like mosquitoes.   Good Luck

RPT

[cooIboyJ]

I feed my nanitics flys I caught from the park and lizard jelly bought from petco.

[Mushu]

I feed them humming bird nectar not when they first eclose but when they start moving normally and aware. The queen will usually take some also.