41 replies to this topic

[AntsAreUs]

I've recently just got into S. molesta and I really want a colony, is there a way to get one this time a year or did they already fly? Is it possible to did up a small colony of them?

[dspdrew]

They seem to fly all summer long in some places.

[Crystals]

They don't dig very deep in places where they are common.

Try turning over stones and bits of wood (especially in gravel parking lots and storage area).  Look for very tiny yellow ants.

[AntsAreUs]

Ha, just dug up an intire mature S. molesta colony with a single queen. Also is it better to have more than one queen? Like is there a population difference?

[Gregory2455]

Overall Population Limit = Food and Space provided for them.

Overall Colony Growth Speed= Amount of queens.

[Alza]

is molesta supposed to eat other colonies pupae ? because i wouldn't want to  make my ants have a throw down. also do all fire ants do the same thing ? i read somewhere that they raid alot,  i don't want my ants to get dropped in battle. so how do you peacefully keep fire ants ?

[dspdrew]

Your ants should not be coming into contact with any other ants unless there's something wrong with your formicarium.

[Alza]

so how do you peacefully keep fire ants ?

[Gregory2455]

They do not come in contact with other ants, they are just like any other species. You give them a protein- insects or chicken, sugar- usually in the form of sugar water, and water.

[Alza]

ohhhhhhh so i should keep fire ants, aight got you! also can somebody find good ant hunting spots in LA ? i feel like we have nothing and i have never seen solenopsis molesta

[dspdrew]

ohhhhhhh so i should keep fire ants, aight got you! also can somebody find good ant hunting spots in LA ? i feel like we have nothing and i have never seen solenopsis molesta

There are no good spots in the city. If you want to find something good, you need to go into the mountains or the hills near LA.

[Alza]

the mountains or the hills ? uh.. does that involve rattle snakes, steep climbs, mountain lions, and ground nesting wasps ? tell me where to go plox and how to avoid the 4 listed

[dspdrew]

the mountains or the hills ? uh.. does that involve rattle snakes, steep climbs, mountain lions, and ground nesting wasps ? tell me where to go plox and how to avoid the 4 listed

I think you need to start doing some Googling.

[Alza]

lol i saw some kind of ant map, made by "andrew" and i found a person on youtube with the same first name. also if your a gan farmer that means we have met irl 

[dspdrew]

Those would probably all be me. I am the only GAN farmer in Southern California.

[Alza]

ma boy you got the skills

you probably don't know me but I'm going to buy the leaf cutters from you

[Crystals]

You may want to start with an easier species just for learning.  Don't get any high maintenance ants for at least 1-2 years.  High maintenance would leaf cutters, fungus growers, and other very specialized ants.  They may look cool and neat, but any error could result in the loss of your colony as they are less forgiving of mistakes than other ants.

Solenopsis are hardy, as well as many other species.  Fire ants are almost bullet proof (although considering they are escape artists and have a powerful sting I am not sure I would keep them).

 

Not sure if you found or read these threads yet, but I like to recommend them to the newer members.  Especially when they are trying to get their first colony.

Beginner's Ant Guide: http://forum.formicu...-for-beginners/

Formicarium pictures: http://forum.formicu...-and-outworlds/

 

How to find queens (this is for more northern locations, but gives some ideas for finding them in more urban areas as well): http://forum.formicu...queens +alberta

 

You will be amazed at how many ants you can find just in the city park, under a log, in a branch, etc.

[Alza]

idk if i will be able to get any leaf cutters next year, but i don't want to kill off a colony .-. ill stick to fire ants and honey pots. btw can solenopsis invicta and xyloni escape test tubes ?

and i hear they can eat through their homes, what do i do about that ?

[AntsAreUs]

You may want to start with an easier species just for learning.  Don't get any high maintenance ants for at least 1-2 years.  High maintenance would leaf cutters, fungus growers, and other very specialized ants.  They may look cool and neat, but any error could result in the loss of your colony as they are less forgiving of mistakes than other ants.

Solenopsis are hardy, as well as many other species.  Fire ants are almost bullet proof (although considering they are escape artists and have a powerful sting I am not sure I would keep them).

 

Not sure if you found or read these threads yet, but I like to recommend them to the newer members.  Especially when they are trying to get their first colony.

Beginner's Ant Guide: http://forum.formicu...-for-beginners/

Formicarium pictures: http://forum.formicu...-and-outworlds/

 

How to find queens (this is for more northern locations, but gives some ideas for finding them in more urban areas as well): http://forum.formicu...queens +alberta

 

You will be amazed at how many ants you can find just in the city park, under a log, in a branch, etc.

With the fire ant thing about them being bullet proof, do you mean with all or most Solenopsis or just actuall fire ants?

[Alza]

what happens if a queen escapes and starts a colony in your area and it spreads ? that would actually be cool, in my area we have nothing but argentine ants