13 replies to this topic

[ant1234]

Here is some research I am working on Turns out it was mixed between an American Yellow Meadow Ant and Lasius flavus

Leaf cutter ant

 

Leafcutter ants eat a fungus that they cultivate in underground gardens. They grow the fungus by feeding it a compost made from leaves they cut. How they grow the fungus is They cut leaves from plants then they carry the leaves back to their underground nests and cut the leaves into small pieces then they inject the leaf pieces with a fungal secretion The fungus breaks down the leaves into an edible mushroom form why they grow the fungus the fungus breaks down plant polymers that the ants' digestive enzymes can't This makes the plants more nutritious for the ants. Leafcutter ants are found in Latin America and the Caribbean; they live in the forest floor and construct underground chambers. Leafcutter ants use vibrations to communicate with each other they can send vibrations through their jaws into the leaf, which travel down the stem to nearby nest mates

 How to feed them

 Give them leaves, that is it they do the rest on their own

Nest temperature

Leaf cutter ants prefer a nest temperature between 23°C and 26°C (73°F and 79°F), as they are accustomed to a very stable underground temperature in their natural tropical habitat, with minimal variation throughout the year. 

Key points about leaf cutter ant temperature preferences:Stable temperature: They thrive in a consistent temperature range, with minimal fluctuations. Tropical climate: Since they originate from tropical regions, they prefer warmer temperatures. Underground nesting: Their underground nests naturally help regulate temperature. 

 Outworld temperature

Leafcutter ants prefer an outworld temperature between 24°C and 26°C (around 75°F to 79°F), as they are typically found in tropical environments with relatively stable temperatures; ensuring their nest area is also within this range is crucial for optimal health and activity. 

Key points about leafcutter ant temperature preferences:Stable temperature: They thrive in environments with minimal temperature fluctuations. 

   Humidity

Leafcutter ants prefer a humidity level of 85–95%. 

ExplanationLeafcutter ants are native to the tropical regions of South America, where they live in lowland shrubs and foliage. They thrive in environments that mimic their natural habitat, including the right temperature and humidity. When kept in captivity, the humidity level should be measured directly where the fungus is located. Cold surfaces can act as dehumidifiers, so condensation may form on the glass of an enclosure. 

 Cleaning  Stuff should be the same as the Yellow Meadow ant

 

 

 

Could you guys also give me advice on what ant I should do next And advice on the Yellow Meadow Ant

Edited by ant1234, March 10 2025 - 4:59 PM.

[Rrar]

Just some thoughts:

 

One: I would consider shortening this guide on parts like the different queen ant founding stages, since most ant keepers with a bit of experience would probably already know about that stuff

 

Two: maybe u could edit and fix some spelling and writing errors

[ANTdrew]

Hit post once and WAIT!

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

Hit post once and WAIT!

It helps keep the mods sane! 

 

When catching an L. flavus queen, they look just like the workers, but they have more yellowish legs and they have a very yellow patch under their abdomen, also I just wanted to say that you do not need to cover their nest, instead leave it open, the ants get used to it and they won’t get stressed when you check on them.

[ant1234]

 

Hit post once and WAIT!

It helps keep the mods sane! 

 

When catching an L. flavus queen, they look just like the workers, but they have more yellowish legs and they have a very yellow patch under their abdomen, also I just wanted to say that you do not need to cover their nest, instead leave it open, the ants get used to it and they won’t get stressed when you check on them.

 

thank you

But how will I keep them in?

Edited by ant1234, February 7 2025 - 3:24 PM.

[ant1234]

Deleted

Edited by ant1234, February 7 2025 - 3:05 PM.

[ant1234]

I just realized I put the topic wrong

[ANTdrew]

Dude, just chill on the Lasius flavus. They’re not that special.

[AntBoi3030]

Dude, just chill on the Lasius flavus. They’re not that special.

I don't think I've ever seen someone so hell-bent on obtaining Lasius, haha. They are very cool looking, but there are also lots of other yellow and orange ants out there!

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

Alright, lasius does not need anything special to keep them, just get them an outworld and a nest that fits the colony, not too much space but also not too little because too much space could stress them out and too small prevents growth, feed them until they look full or until your satisfied, you can tell if they are full because lasius likes to fill themselves up and they love to eat (my experience). Give them a constant source of fresh water and sugar, that is all you need to do with keeping lasius, nothing special, but they can be a very rewarding species to grow.

 

also, whenever lasius workers escape, they always return to the nest and it is almost like they are saying “Mama, let me in!” It is only bad if the queen escaped. Another pointer is that they are very hardy so if you make a mistake or have a big die off, with the correct care, they can and will bounce back in numbers.

 

hope that you find this species fun to keep!

Edited by OwlThatLikesAnts, February 8 2025 - 5:29 AM.

[ant1234]

Alright, lasius does not need anything special to keep them, just get them an outworld and a nest that fits the colony, not too much space but also not too little because too much space could stress them out and too small prevents growth, feed them until they look full or until your satisfied, you can tell if they are full because lasius likes to fill themselves up and they love to eat (my experience). Give them a constant source of fresh water and sugar, that is all you need to do with keeping lasius, nothing special, but they can be a very rewarding species to grow.

 

also, whenever lasius workers escape, they always return to the nest and it is almost like they are saying “Mama, let me in!” It is only bad if the queen escaped. Another pointer is that they are very hardy so if you make a mistake or have a big die off, with the correct care, they can and will bounce back in numbers.

 

hope that you find this species fun to keep!

Thank you!

[rptraut]

Hello ant1234;

Lasius flavis is the name given to these ants in Europe etc, Lasius brevicornis is the North American counterpart. Pardon the lack of italics, my iPad doesn’t have that option.

These ants are considered subterranean, collecting food and honeydew below ground essentially. My best tip for you to help a founding colony is to cover their food so they can forage “underground”. I’ve even fed them in a small hole beside the nest and covered it after feeding. I was surprised how much more protein they would take when fed this way. I’ve also found this feeding method works well with founding colonies of other ants, especially when the colony is small and the ants are shy.

There are many factors that affect the development of a colony. I think every successful colony in captivity is special.
RPT

[Ants_Dakota]

Hello ant1234;

Lasius flavis is the name given to these ants in Europe etc, Lasius brevicornis is the North American counterpart. Pardon the lack of italics, my iPad doesn’t have that option.

These ants are considered subterranean, collecting food and honeydew below ground essentially. My best tip for you to help a founding colony is to cover their food so they can forage “underground”. I’ve even fed them in a small hole beside the nest and covered it after feeding. I was surprised how much more protein they would take when fed this way. I’ve also found this feeding method works well with founding colonies of other ants, especially when the colony is small and the ants are shy.

There are many factors that affect the development of a colony. I think every successful colony in captivity is special.
RPT

I agree. To a previous user, let's not bash someone for really desiring to have an ant that some consider "boring". Every ant species is so fun to keep, no matter what kind! 

Edited by Ants_Dakota, February 8 2025 - 1:58 PM.

[ant1234]

Hello ant1234;

Lasius flavis is the name given to these ants in Europe etc, Lasius brevicornis is the North American counterpart. Pardon the lack of italics, my iPad doesn’t have that option.

These ants are considered subterranean, collecting food and honeydew below ground essentially. My best tip for you to help a founding colony is to cover their food so they can forage “underground”. I’ve even fed them in a small hole beside the nest and covered it after feeding. I was surprised how much more protein they would take when fed this way. I’ve also found this feeding method works well with founding colonies of other ants, especially when the colony is small and the ants are shy.

There are many factors that affect the development of a colony. I think every successful colony in captivity is special.
RPT

thank you 

Edited by ant1234, February 23 2025 - 5:06 PM.