8 replies to this topic

[teek]

Hello all, I have been lurking for a few weeks now and have finally ordered my first batch of anting materials as well as my first formicaria. 30 years old and working in IT for a number of years..


I have NEVER kept ants before, except possibly one of those vertical ones you got as a kid that didn't last more than a month.

The random playlists from YouTube led me down a rabbit hole a few months ago and I have been trying to convince my wife since that this will be fun.

My prayers for this years nuptial flights are that I can start a good Myrmecocystus/Honeypot colony. If I cannot find one I will go with anything other than this area's native fireants (Pogonomyrmex maricopa). This is mostly because of my other pets and...Despite accepting I will get stung when keeping ants, I dunno if I am ready for that.

In terms of what I have gotten as a starter setup, I have gone with the following:
*Plastic Test Tubes for anting and initial founding - http://a.co/8G26m3g
*Plastic petri dishes for feeding and easy cleanup once in outworld (If I get more than one species I may use them as founding formicaria too)- http://a.co/fPfmkZy
*Atom Formicarium (Style - https://tarheelants....icarium-style-b
*Mini Hearth - https://tarheelants....cts/mini-hearth

I also have some fluon on order, forceps, cotton, trowel for digging, etc.

My plan is to keep an eye on the mountain/hiking area near me for rainfall and go out hunting that day/evening/next day depending on work schedule.
The area has plenty of hills and since my goal species (Myrmecocystus) like to found on hill crests (according to something I read somewhere, I can't find the source anymore), I figured it would be a great location. Plus it is desert, making those founding chambers RELATIVELY easy to find... I hope.

Once found (either walking around or dug up with the trowel) I will use either the trowel, a stick/leaf, or forceps to get whatever I find into the testtubes with the plastic lids snapped on.

Once home I will get a test tube setup with water (and a bit of baked sand to prevent mites and since the videos I have seen show Myrmecocystus doing better with some sand) and transfer the queen. I am not sure if it would be better to transfer forcefully (dump into the new testtube) or let her do it herself (place the catching tube and the founding tube in an enclosed area and let her wander over) and then plug it.

I will do this for all I catch (and ID). As the water dries or develops mold I will do a transfer again (Enclosed container. The tube they are in and a new one with water/cotton/sand. Remove cotton in old tube and let them find the new one).

As the colonies develop, I will attempt to transfer the most promising to the Atom (Or my only myrmecocystus if I only get one). As they develop I will remove one of the nestmates to create an opening into the outworld of the Mini Hearth (with the formicaria blocked off for now). Once the colony is large enough I will remove the plug from the Mini Hearth formicaria and let them discover it themselves.

I do have some questions (if anybody reads this long post):
*I cannot convince the wife to let me breed/keep feeder bugs so I have a few thoughts: Pet store feeders and the pill bugs/worms from my backyard (all frozen to kill any mites). Thoughts on if they will do alright between pet store feeders, pill bugs, worms, honey, sugar water?
*Anybody else in the Phoenix area up for going anting together?
*Will the plastic testtubes potentialy cause issues?
*Best way to preclean acrylic/testtubes/petri dishes/outworld/formicaria?

Also, any review of my plans/setup would be GREATLY appreciated. I am only operating from videos and online reading right now, no experience... You guys are my Yoda, here.

[T.C.]

Welcome to the forum buddy. Unfortunately, pill bugs and worMs won't work for a protein source. I've tried them both and ants don't appear to like them. Would your wife let you have a cricket culture? Haha They like crickets and "live" mealworms. They don't like those dried out ones that go in the bird feeders.

The plastic test tubes work fine!

And I just use soap and water to clean everything.

Happy anting.

[Alabama Anter]

Welcome from the Deep South. For food, I would recommend fruit flies. No mess, No smell, and great nutrients.

[Jelly]

Welcome aboard!

 

As far as collecting your own feeder insects, some can be passive carriers of pesticides which can kill your colony. If you're grabbing them from your back yard be sure none of your neighbors have sprayed. Some insects (like termites and fruit flies) are more sensitive to pesticides than ants, meaning if they are found alive they must be pesticide free.

 

Good luck and happy hunting!

[XZero38]

The Pogonomyrmex species is actually a harvester ant species which use seeds as a food source.

 

What i did with my Myrmecocystus queen was transfer her manually from the snap cap vial into a test tube i just dumped her in there and plugged it up.

 

All my colonies i feed pet store crickets which i usually buy quite a bit and just keep them in a cricket keeper to keep them alive i also feed them wingless fruit flies which you can also purchase from pet stores and they are much easier to cultivate as you can keep them in glass or plastic containers.

 

I would look up a local science supply company that sells test tubes and snap cap vials. https://www.sciencec...26mL-P6315.aspx

 

The vials are much easier to carry around then test tubes and they are plastic so you don't have to worry about them breaking. I have small collections of them all over the place, my car, my desk at work, backpack i take hiking. That way you are always prepared if you randomly find a queen while you are out and about. They can survive inside the vials for a couple hours.

[Cindy]

Welcome! 

 

I agree w/ the idea of having a culture. Apart from feeding them wild insects and risking the possibility of infections / mites, culturing is probably more safe and cost-efficient in the long run. Maybe you can keep the culture outside of your house (?garage). I was told that flightless fruit flies are accepted by most ants and that they love to hunt them.

 

You can check out Josh's Frogs for feeder options. I have not ordered any cultures from this site, but it is recommended by THA. Apparently their cultures are known for being mold-resistant and mite-free.

Edited by Cindy, March 30 2017 - 12:34 PM.

[dspdrew]

Welcome.

[nurbs]

You're in Arizona? You will find tons of interesting species. Look for Novomessor cockerelli in the summer during the monsoons! Very large and very leggy.

[OmniusClone]

Welcome teek!
Apart from the heat, gotta say I'm pretty jealous. ☺ Arizona has some great ants, not the least of which is Myrmecocystus. You might even be lucky enough to get some Odontomachus clarus!
Good luck and happy Anting!