2 replies to this topic

[MatthewPL]

Guys i need your help!

I have lasius niger ants that are moving out from the test tube to the cork nest in my formicarium.

They began laying sand on the ceiling and outside the test tube.

It looks like this:                               

So what do i do?

Also they moved only 3 pupae in largest chamber (they have like 9 pupae), and they put the remains of a hollow cork in smallest chamber with lots of sand?

What does that mean?

Edited by MatthewPL, January 8 2018 - 12:56 PM.

[Ants_Texas]

The cork nest might be too big for them. If it is the proper size, then they're just customizing it to their liking.

[MegaMyrmex]

That's perfectly normal, especially for cocoon weaving species, but it doesn't mean that all cocoon making species use sand. If you have lota of big larvae, they use the sand to help them pupate a but more successfully. Even for non pupating species like tetramorium amd tapinoma have(in my experience) taken advantage of amy substrate when given to them(peat moss, coconut fiber, sand, etc). Many ants prefer living in sand or other substrates.