3 replies to this topic

[Canadian anter]

I want to see if I can make an outworld for subterranean ants to farm root aphids or mealy bugs on. I was wondering, what plants DO they use?

[Antsinmycloset]

Seemingly, based on the size of the Lasius claviger colony back home, subterranean aphids (or something similar) are fine with tall fescue. There's nothing else for meters in any direction from their nuptial flight entrances, a few weed stragglers aside, that could be acting as a host.

Concerning individual plants, a causal surfing of Googling suggests a surprisingly robust amount of different aphids genera that hang out with Lasius, all of which I would imagine having their own preferred plant or plant type. I think you might have to do some local searching to really get a good idea of your options, but I'm seeing a lot of weedy, easily grown plants. It certainly sounds feasible.

Is this just an experiment for fun? I can't see how you could actually observe the ants in any meaningful way.

Edited by Antsinmycloset, March 20 2017 - 6:38 PM.

[Canadian anter]

well, I found that they can use "corn, cotton, and smartweed roots seem to be the most common hosts of the corn root aphid. Other hosts include broomcorn, crabgrass, dock, foxtail, knotweed, mustard, pigweed, plantain, purslane, ragweed, sorghum, sorrel, squash, and wheat roots." http://ipm.ncsu.edu/...oot_aphid.html 

I was thinking either a flat outworld or multiple small containers filled with dirt and the plants

[MichiganAnts]

 Lasius flavus have a massive mound in my backyard next to a cotton tree. and they have TONS of root aphids. so I'm guessing its both the tree roots and the crabgrass