8 replies to this topic

[spytim]

So i caught two Cyphomyrmex queens, one seems like she may have been damaged during capture the other is fine and in a test tube setup with some small brown object which teleported in (the fungus pod maybe?) I am curious how one cares for fungus growing ants and also can they be successful in a test tube setup or will i have to move her??? (You can't see her little brown thing in the photos) 

http://imgur.com/a/0Qx49

[cpman]

This looks like C. rimosus which farms yeast.

The colonies of fungus for this species look like yellowish transparent-ish granules.

The brown pellet could be the starter fungus or some detritus she picked up to feed her fungus.

This species mostly uses insect frass, so you'd have to provide that to a queen to get a successful colony.

[spytim]

Where can i acquire insect frass? also how quickly will she need it? 

[cpman]

They'll need it right away -- they need to forage during colony founding to grow the yeast garden.

Some people have suggested setting buckets out under a big tree -- there are oftentimes caterpillars there. You could also maybe use cricket frass, but I'm not sure about that.

[Connectimyrmex]

I think that she will feed the fungus with her feces until workers come. (At least that's what I think)

You can buy silkworms, which poop at a tremendous rate. You will need mulberry leaved, though.

Edited by Connectimyrmex, July 24 2017 - 7:09 AM.

[cpman]

I think that she will feed the fungus with her feces until workers come. (At least that's what I think)
You can buy silkworms, which poop at a tremendous rate. You will need mulberry leaved, though.

The only attine that does that during colony founding is Atta. All others need to forage.

[Connectimyrmex]

Oh, okay.

[Salmon]

You just need to find a caterpillar of some kind and feed it whatever plant its eating... it'll provide plenty of frass.

Setting buckets under a tree is also a good idea. Even more effective would be an old sheet or towel, which you can pick the frass off of. This is what frass looks like:



(It'll vary in size and color of course)

[Ants4fun]

I have seen cyphomyrmex carry bird poop back to their nest as well.

Edited by Ants4fun, July 24 2017 - 11:04 AM.