29 replies to this topic

[dermy]

Myrmica is a good species to start out with.

[AntsAreUs]

Crematogaster is a myrmicine, and the sometimes squirt formic acid.

I remember stepping into a colony that was moving location and I had my flip flops on!

[AntsAreUs]

Ok now lets stop talking about stuff, this is preffered beginner ants.

[AntsAreUs]

I would say Lasius, Tetramorium, Myrmica, Camponotus (they are slow I don't prefer them for beginners), maybe Solenopsis, Formica, Crematogaster.

[Crystals]

For my northern location, I recommend Formica, Myrmica, or Camponotus.   Of course, those are also the most common species. 

[AntsAreUs]

For my northern location, I recommend Formica, Myrmica, or Camponotus.   Of course, those are also the most common species. 

Why not Lasius, Lasius is very common and easy to keep.

[DesertAntz]

At the end of the day, shouldn't any common ants in one's location be easy to keep? 

 

My surrounding area is dominated by Solenopsis and Veromessor and those were the ants I targeted, although I missed the actual nuptial flights. 

 

And even though there is Odontomachus clarus out here, they aren't common and obviously probably need a little extra TLC than a more common species. 

[Gregory2455]

Odontomachus is not easy. Nor are Pogonomyrmex (other than the barbatus group), because you need to feed the queens, which are all super sensitive to movement and light.

[dermy]

Not to mention some people often have problems with the ants that are common everywhere, for some reason they don't do well in captivity. Such as argentine ants, I've heard some people just can't get them going. Yet others seem to get them going with little to no effort. It's all down to a more personal level. You have to see what species is good for you yourself, sure reading about others success is good but results vary greatly, especially when you live in a different area then the other person.

[AntsAreUs]

Not to mention some people often have problems with the ants that are common everywhere, for some reason they don't do well in captivity. Such as argentine ants, I've heard some people just can't get them going. Yet others seem to get them going with little to no effort. It's all down to a more personal level. You have to see what species is good for you yourself, sure reading about others success is good but results vary greatly, especially when you live in a different area then the other person.

Here's what you need to do, buy a ton of test tubes. Wait til' a nuptial flight. Catch every queen you see without wings. Have them each in seperate test tubes. Wait and if something  isn't right then do some experimenting.