12 replies to this topic

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

A while ago a went to feed my ants their protein of crickets and meal- worms everything normal. Then a few days later when I went to check on them almost all the colonies died. All but 5. And they all had the same foods given, anyone have any idea why this happened?  And how I could maybe prevent this in the future?

 

TIA

 

(only knowledgeable answers please)

[eea]

A while ago a went to feed my ants their protein of crickets and meal- worms everything normal. Then a few days later when I went to check on them almost all the colonies died. All but 5. And they all had the same foods given, anyone have any idea why this happened?  And how I could maybe prevent this in the future?

 

TIA

 

(only knowledgeable answers please)

This could be a generation of worker ants dying or perhaps there could be something in the food.

[Ernteameise]

Were these freshly killed insects?

Not some of these canned insects?

Some of these canned crickets are notorious for reports in different ant groups for killing off colonies. There is very likely a preservative in there that kills ants.

Did you spray something in your house?

Did you de-flea your dog and cat and not wash your hands?

Did you catch the insects yourself next to public land or agricultural lands where there could be spraying?

It is hard to tell.

There are also the above mentioned physiological reasons.

 

There is another thread in this forum that lists health hazards to ants.

It is very extensive, maybe go through it and check things off the list:

https://www.formicul...g-health-guide/

[rptraut]

Hello GOCAMPONOTUS;

We’re sorry for your loss. To give you a knowledgeable answer we need more information. Tell us what kind of ants, some history, their living conditions, what you’re feeding them, sugar/water, water, hydration and any other details that may have influenced their death. Are we talking about the loss of some workers or whole colonies? Photos might also be helpful.
RPT

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

Ill try my best

 

whole colonies were the ones that died. 

 

Species: Veromessor,Tetramorium, and Camponotus.

 

   I fed them a 1:2 sugar/water mix and petsmart mealworms/crickets.

 

They lived in simple test tubes with water.

 

I sadly don't have any photos.

[rptraut]

Hello CAMPONOTUS;

It’s very hard to diagnose a cause with so little information. Call it a hunch, but I’m wondering if it couldn’t be something environmental. Is there a window near or across from where they’re kept? Where I live the sun is much lower in the sky as winter approaches. There may be a similar situation where you are, to a lesser degree. The point is, I’ve had to cover some of my colonies that haven’t had sun all summer, to keep them from overheating on sunny afternoons now that the sun reaches further into the room. Is this a possibility where you keep your ants? You might not notice the sun if you aren’t there around two or three in the afternoon.

Also, have a really close look for mites. Although they’re extremely small, I believe they were the cause of some colony collapses of mine. They will migrate. To be safe, remove the dead colonies from your ant keeping area asap.
RPT

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

i keep them away from the sun. but it could be mites as on a few of the dead colonis i saw mites.

[AntsGodzilla]

Mites could be the answer, but it could also be other causes such as an illness similar to the one that wiped out most of my Pogonomyrmex colony. It might have been something in the water.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

no, Becasue I always disinfect my test tubes and the water is distiled as I put it through a filter.

[eea]

I doubt this had anything to do with water or food, if worker deaths stop this is likely just some older ants dying.

[1tsm3jack]

I doubt this had anything to do with water or food, if worker deaths stop this is likely just some older ants dying.

If you read, he had multiple whole colonies die off, not just workers

[mbullock42086]

avoid big name places like petsmart or petco.  Look for smaller local reptile shops near you- The mom and pop reptile shops generally rear their own feeders and they do it better.

  I stopped using fruitflies from both  because they were consistently and severely infested with both phoridae and grain mites.   try to rear your own as well, so you can be sure they're not contaminated.

[rptraut]

Mites could be the answer, but it could also be other causes such as an illness similar to the one that wiped out most of my Pogonomyrmex colony. It might have been something in the water.

 

Hello GOCAMPONOTUS;

 

I've written about the illness that afflicted some of my colonies here Journal of My Afflicted Colonies - Ant Keeping Journals - Ants & Myrmecology Forum   I strongly suspect that the illness was carried by the mites, and that it wasn't only the mites that were the cause of the colonies' collapse.   It could have been a bacteria or virus, but I think a fungus is more likely because of subsequent experiments that I've done.     

 

I've replaced a lot of the insects I feed my ants by feeding meat products like chicken, turkey, raw pork, liver, and canned dog food.   The ants love it and no contamination by mites - less trash to clean up too!

RPT

Edited by rptraut, November 17 2024 - 9:36 AM.