16 replies to this topic

[1tsm3jack]

Has anyone tried feeding Pogonomyrmex's dry rice or crushed bits of dry pasta or anything else besides seeds? Also do they need any sugars like other ants?

 

Edit: has anyone ever fed their Pogonomyrmex's herb seeds? I currently have little packets of oregano and cilantro seeds 

Edited by 1tsm3jack, September 30 2024 - 7:54 PM.

[ruth]

Hello, I have a queen with aprox 10 eggs and she seems to love water with honey and a candy called Mazapán but I think it's only from Mexico, you can also give them corn tortilla and beans.

[ruth]

I don't think feeding them with oregano and cilantro Is a good idea because It can be too smelly or strong, you can try with humming bird nectar.

Edited by ruth, October 1 2024 - 5:38 AM.

[1tsm3jack]

I don't think feeding them with oregano and cilantro Is a good idea because It can be too smelly or strong, you can try with humming bird nectar.

Yeah I figured feeding them the plant isn't a good idea but the seeds probably don't smell or are probably not very strong are they?

[RushmoreAnts]

Pogonomyrmex do not require sugars like other ants do. While you could experiment with dry rice and pasta I would stick to their proven favorites of grass seed, dandelion seed, and chia seed, as well as an ample supply of insects.

[1tsm3jack]

Pogonomyrmex do not require sugars like other ants do. While you could experiment with dry rice and pasta I would stick to their proven favorites of grass seed, dandelion seed, and chia seed, as well as an ample supply of insects.

What do you think about the herb seeds? could i feed them those?

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

I feed my Pogonomyrmex Occidentalis, all the things. https://www.formicul...x-occidentalis/

 

While they are a harvester ant able to get by on seeds and water alone. They are opportunist scavengers that will drink sugar, bring in seeds, and whatever carrion they come across. Though they are not active hunters so no live prey is needed.

 

I let mine keep a small larder of seeds in their nest (as they would if possible in the wild). they love dandelion seeds, and other small seeds from the bulk food bins. But i also give them various gardening seeds like for herbs and flowers (way stupid costly by weight for how much you get compared to bulk food bins) just to give them a wide variety as they would have in nature.

I also keep sunburst/sugarwater dispenser out and they stay busy. As well I give them some organic fruit sometimes like apple slices or blueberries/strawberries. They will harvest all the seeds off of/out of fruit if it's small enough.

 

I also rotate in some feed insects like cricket or wax worm(quickly boiled for a few seconds to kill off any mites/mite eggs that might be on them).

And the ants also get in for fish flakes(check ingredients, like people food listed in order of amounts, the common stuff at pet smart places is mostly flour and fillers). Sometimes a bit of chicken heart/liver, or some reall really fancy near people grade catfood(called smooth bird). Which they go super nuts for, along with the salmon flake cat treats.

 

The cat treat stuff is more costly than i would pay for on it's own. But if you got a pet that will eat it, they can share a little with the ants.


These ants can get by on seeds alone, and will tend to focus on meats/proteins over seeds if they are available. But i try to do my best to give them the real world variety they would have in the wild.

Edited by Full_Frontal_Yeti, October 1 2024 - 11:02 AM.

[1tsm3jack]

I feed my Pogonomyrmex Occidentalis, all the things. https://www.formicul...x-occidentalis/

 

While they are a harvester ant able to get by on seeds and water alone. They are opportunist scavengers that will drink sugar, bring in seeds, and whatever carrion they come across. Though they are not active hunters so no live prey is needed.

 

I let mine keep a small larder of seeds in their nest (as they would if possible in the wild). they love dandelion seeds, and other small seeds from the bulk food bins. But i also give them various gardening seeds(way stupid costly by weight for how much you get compared to bulk food bins) just to give them a wide variety as they would have in nature. Offering various flower seeds and such that we don't eat.

I also keep sunburst/sugarwater dispenser out and they stay busy. As well I give them some organic fruit sometimes like apple slices or blueberries/strawberries. They will harvest all the seeds off of/out of fruit if it's small enough.

 

I also rotate in some feed insects like cricket or wax worm(quickly boiled for a few seconds to kill off any mites/mite eggs that might be on them).

And the ants also get in for fish flakes(check ingredients, like people food listed in order of amounts, the common stuff at pet smart places is mostly flour and fillers). Sometimes a bit of chicken heart/liver, or some reall really fancy near people grade catfood(called smooth bird). Which they go super nuts for, along with the salmon flake cat treats.

 

The cat treat stuff is more costly than i would pay for on it's own. But if you got a pet that will eat it, they can share a little with the ants.


These ants can get by on seeds alone, and will tend to focus on meats/proteins over seeds if they are available. But i try to do my best to give them the real world variety they would have in the wild.

Do you think feeding them oregano and cilantro seeds?

[RushmoreAnts]

The ants themselves can tell you what seeds to feed them better than any human. Experiment with different seed types. If they bring them into the nest and eat them, they like those types of seeds.

[Ants_Dakota]

Page 69 of this article is quite helpful, I would recommend reading it. It documents the seed preferences of wild Pogonomyrmex colonies in the research area.

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

 

I feed my Pogonomyrmex Occidentalis, all the things. https://www.formicul...x-occidentalis/

 

While they are a harvester ant able to get by on seeds and water alone. They are opportunist scavengers that will drink sugar, bring in seeds, and whatever carrion they come across. Though they are not active hunters so no live prey is needed.

 

I let mine keep a small larder of seeds in their nest (as they would if possible in the wild). they love dandelion seeds, and other small seeds from the bulk food bins. But i also give them various gardening seeds(way stupid costly by weight for how much you get compared to bulk food bins) just to give them a wide variety as they would have in nature. Offering various flower seeds and such that we don't eat.

I also keep sunburst/sugarwater dispenser out and they stay busy. As well I give them some organic fruit sometimes like apple slices or blueberries/strawberries. They will harvest all the seeds off of/out of fruit if it's small enough.

 

I also rotate in some feed insects like cricket or wax worm(quickly boiled for a few seconds to kill off any mites/mite eggs that might be on them).

And the ants also get in for fish flakes(check ingredients, like people food listed in order of amounts, the common stuff at pet smart places is mostly flour and fillers). Sometimes a bit of chicken heart/liver, or some reall really fancy near people grade catfood(called smooth bird). Which they go super nuts for, along with the salmon flake cat treats.

 

The cat treat stuff is more costly than i would pay for on it's own. But if you got a pet that will eat it, they can share a little with the ants.


These ants can get by on seeds alone, and will tend to focus on meats/proteins over seeds if they are available. But i try to do my best to give them the real world variety they would have in the wild.

Do you think feeding them oregano and cilantro seeds?

 

I'd guess so. i make the call for my ants based on seed size/hardness.

too big and they can't open it, too hard they also probable can't crack it.

sometimes i find out by noticing their larder just has some of the same seeds in now forever that don't get used up.

 

 

there was a study that found they bring in ALL THE SEEDS, even if they can't crack it right away. they let them sit around and dry more or get them wet, depending on the seed.
It was found that of the seeds brought in any day, only a % of them were immediately usable. the rest just got stored and maybe eventually opened much later on.

It was found that just because they have a larder does not mean they are eating. If the seeds they currently have just can't be opened by them right now.

[ANTdrew]

Go outside and collect the bounty of wildflower seeds our Virginia meadows have to offer. Many plants found here are also found in the states these ants come from.

[1tsm3jack]

Go outside and collect the bounty of wildflower seeds our Virginia meadows have to offer. Many plants found here are also found in the states these ants come from.

How would I go about collecting the seeds? Also are there any plants that grow in the woods here in VA that I could easily collect seeds from?

Edited by 1tsm3jack, October 4 2024 - 10:02 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Most wild flowers are setting seed right now, as are wild grasses. You can rub old dried flower heads over a screen to separate seeds. Experiment and see which ones they like, worst case scenario is they’ll ignore them. Black eyed susans are very common and full of seeds right now.

[1tsm3jack]

Most wild flowers are setting seed right now, as are wild grasses. You can rub old dried flower heads over a screen to separate seeds. Experiment and see which ones they like, worst case scenario is they’ll ignore them. Black eyed susans are very common and full of seeds right now.

Alright thank you I will probably look on my walk home today.

[ANTdrew]

Here’s what black eyed susan (Rudbeckia) seed heads look like:

[1tsm3jack]

Here’s what black eyed susan (Rudbeckia) seed heads look like:

Alright thank you