15 replies to this topic

[Socalfireants]

Anyone ever tried those freeze dried crickets or mealworms they sell for reptiles and fish? I feel like ants would like them

[Vendayn]

I have this

 

http://www.petsmart....36-catid-500004

 

My Pheidole megacephala do NOT like it.

 

My Dorymyrmex bicolor I briefly had, did NOT like it either.

 

My Monomorium ergatogyna did NOT like it.

 

My Pogonomyrmex californicus did NOT like it either.

 

Solenopsis invicta might, but I haven't tried it with them. They probably wouldn't like it either.

 

I find all my ants I've had, completely ignore the dried insects from that.

 

Maybe its the brand or type of insects that are freeze dried. But, its common ant food ant keepers use (crickets, mealworms etc).

 

However, I can find sun dried insects on the road and my Pheidole megacephala like them a lot.

 

I personally wouldn't buy freeze dried insects again though.

Edited by Vendayn, April 28 2016 - 10:07 PM.

[noebl1]

I read on another forum someone was having issues with live food with some of their ants, and they started feeding them these:

http://www.petsmart...._t=pfm=category

 

I ordered some to experiment with.

[Crystals]

None of the species I ever kept liked freeze dried insects.  Well, occasionally a small grain sized piece was given to brood of certain species like Aphaenogaster and Crematogaster, but other than that, no.

 

I freeze live ones and then dice them and serve them with no issues.  Besides, it is much cheaper to buy live and then freeze it, as opposed to buying those expensive little containers of dried critters.

 

Most of my species will drink the juices, and maybe harvest some of the softer tissue, but once it dried it was drug to the garbage pile.

[dspdrew]

Harvester ants are really the only ants I've ever had that like dried insects.

[Vendayn]

A lot of my ants I've had like dried insects. My Pheidole megacephala especially like them. I often find dried up bees (the most common), and sometimes earwigs and they like them a lot.

 

None of my ants I've had, have liked the freeze dried insects at all. Even my Pogonomyrmex californicus completely ignored them.

 

Something negative must happen when they are freeze dried, that the ants don't like.

 

I can put insects in the freezer all night, and the ants still like them. Just not the freeze dried stuff that I got from petsmart.

[NightsWebs]

Just so you know. I use them for all my ant species especially for newer colonies.  the dried insects for all the desert species just makes sense and they will store them in the nest.  I use the bearded dragon medley of meal worms, crickets and grasshoppers.

[antsinmypants]

My Pogonomyrmex have taken freeze-dried crickets and meal worms and fed them to their larvae. My Camponotus Modoc workers ignore them.

[Socalfireants]

Mixed results. Hmm

[kellakk]

I think generally the ants that can eat dry foods (some myrmicines like Pogonomyrmex or Solenopsis) will enjoy freeze dried foods. Most ants prefer liquid food, regardless of whether it's a protein source or a carbohydrate source.

[noebl1]

@kellakk 

 

Any thoughts on this?  http://www.store.rep...e-3-oz-jar.html

 

Anything in there look like it's toxic to ants?

[kellakk]

@kellakk 

 

Any thoughts on this?  http://www.store.rep...e-3-oz-jar.html

 

Anything in there look like it's toxic to ants?

 

It looks fine to me. I'd be interested to see if ants would like that, though. It's been a struggle to find a protein source for my ants that isn't live insects.

[noebl1]

I got the idea after seeing posts in herp forums where they couldn't keep the ants *out* out the food... I ordered the small amount and will try mixing with nectar to see what happens. I'll report either way.

Edited by noebl1, May 9 2016 - 1:25 PM.

[NightsWebs]

I think the more mature your colony gets the more fresh insects they want.  My Novomessors actively hunt anything that disturbs the air around them. I have thrown into their foraging area May Flies and they actively hunt for them even to the extent of having a flying ride while holding onto their legs. 

[Vendayn]

So, it seems my Pheidole megacephala ARE eating the freeze dried insects. Went to clean it out, and the insects are completely hollow inside. They don't take the crushed up parts however. When I've crushed it up, they have ignored it. But, they are actually eating them, with the parts I didn't fully crush up. It doesn't appear to be their favorite stuff in the world. They swarm over sun-dried bees and other dried up insects, but mostly ignore the freeze dried insects. However, while they don't appear to get particularly excited over them, guess they do eat them.

 

Well, I'll say I'm pretty surprised about that. They had been in their foraging container untouched for an entire month, so they must eat them REALLY slowly compared to stuff I find outside.

[Mario]

Does anyone have tried to let the dried insects become saturated with water (quasi once again)?