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Posted August 3 2016 - 5:33 PM
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Hey guys,
Does anyone have any evidence of Camponotus constructing their own tunnels in a homemade wood formicarium like other ants would in sand or dirt?
The idea would be to place the queen in a founding chamber that is part of a larger piece of wood and let them expand it on their own.
Thanks,
B.
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Posted August 3 2016 - 6:35 PM
Advanced Member
Hey guys,
Does anyone have any evidence of Camponotus constructing their own tunnels in a homemade wood formicarium like other ants would in sand or dirt?
The idea would be to place the queen in a founding chamber that is part of a larger piece of wood and let them expand it on their own.
Thanks,
B.
I had a friend who had his colony dig their own chambers. The wood has to be soft enough for them to dig and it would be difficult to hydrate without it decaying.
Currently Keeping:
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis
Pheidole pilifera
Forelius sp. (Monogynous, bicolored) "Midwestern Forelius"
Crematogaster cerasi
Pheidole bicarinata
Aphaenogaster rudis
Camponotus chromaiodes
Formica sp. (microgena species)
Nylanderia cf. arenivega
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Posted August 3 2016 - 9:05 PM
Advanced Member
Hey guys,
Does anyone have any evidence of Camponotus constructing their own tunnels in a homemade wood formicarium like other ants would in sand or dirt?
The idea would be to place the queen in a founding chamber that is part of a larger piece of wood and let them expand it on their own.
Thanks,
B.
I had a friend who had his colony dig their own chambers. The wood has to be soft enough for them to dig and it would be difficult to hydrate without it decaying.
Hmmm, OK, so we need a soft wood that can be tunneled but that is dense enough to stop decay but also allow hydration. that's a tough one...
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Posted August 6 2016 - 12:39 PM
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You really don't need to hydrate the wood if it's an arboreal Camponotus sp. As long as humidity is high enough their brood will develop no problem.
Current Species:
Camponotus fragilis
Novomessor cockerelli
Pogonomyrmex montanus
Pogonomyrmex rugosus
Manica bradleyi
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Posted August 6 2016 - 1:01 PM
I actually have a setup just like this. I haven't posted pictures in a while, but I should. They have dug it out quite a bit now. I used rotted wood, and like I do with all my formicariums, seeded it with lots of springtails, mites, booklice, and I even have a colony of pill bugs living in there too. mine stays pretty damp towards the bottom and has absolutely no mold at all. When I first made it and it did not have those other organisms in it, the thing was completely covered in mold immediately. Nothing compares to springtails, booklice, and others when it comes to controlling mold. The ants don't ever seem to have any problem with them being there at all either. BTW, the Camponotus I have in that setup are my most successful colony of that species too.
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Posted August 6 2016 - 3:32 PM
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Please do post some pics, Drew.
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Posted August 7 2016 - 8:43 AM
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yeah, pics please 
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Posted August 7 2016 - 12:56 PM
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I actually have a setup just like this. I haven't posted pictures in a while, but I should. They have dug it out quite a bit now. I used rotted wood, and like I do with all my formicariums, seeded it with lots of springtails, mites, booklice, and I even have a colony of pill bugs living in there too. mine stays pretty damp towards the bottom and has absolutely no mold at all. When I first made it and it did not have those other organisms in it, the thing was completely covered in mold immediately. Nothing compares to springtails, booklice, and others when it comes to controlling mold. The ants don't ever seem to have any problem with them being there at all either. BTW, the Camponotus I have in that setup are my most successful colony of that species too.
Pictures or it didn't happen!
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