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recipes for ant nectar

Started By Diesel , Nov 14 2017 7:10 AM

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25 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Diesel - Posted November 14 2017 - 7:10 AM

Diesel

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Hi Guys,

 

looking to see what ppl are using for recipes for ant nectar? i have found most of my ants will consume honey water but could care less about my sugar water mixture. i also have a fussy Aphaenogaster colony that regularly refuses any sugar. protein, protein, protein. :) i guess having no social stomach there is no need  for a sugar diet. i dunno. but any recipes would greatly be appreciated.

 

currently keeping

 

aphaenogaster picea

temnothorax sp

tetramorium sp.


Edited by Diesel, November 14 2017 - 7:11 AM.

Ant Species kept

 

Temnothorax Longispinosus.-Journal(discontinued)-(formerly)

Camponotus Noveboracensis (formerly)

Camponotus Nearticus-formerly

Tetramorium sp.-formerly

​Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Queen & brood.-formerly

Tapinoma Sessile-Journal (3 queen colony)-formerly

​Tapinoma  Sessile #2 (2 queen colony)-formerly

Aphaenogaster Picea-Journal-active

Crematogaster sp.(Cerasi or Lineolata) Queen with 3 workers and brood-formerly

​Crematogaster sp. #2 (Cerasi or Lineolata) Queen with brood-formerly

Formica sp. polygenus-active 300+ workers-active

Formica Subsericea-active 25+ workers-active

Myrmica Rubra 400+ workers 3 queens-active

#2 Offline Hunter - Posted November 14 2017 - 7:34 AM

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you that despret :lol:


#3 Offline Bugdaddy - Posted November 14 2017 - 7:38 AM

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Have you tried hummingbird nectar? 


"And it was to my infinite despair and pain... That it was not the hornets that made honey."

#4 Offline Hunter - Posted November 14 2017 - 7:46 AM

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Have you tried hummingbird nectar? 

to high in sugar content for apeano


#5 Offline Diesel - Posted November 14 2017 - 8:02 AM

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even if my aphaenogaster won't eat it i will still make some once i can find a decent recipe i like that isn't overly complicated. i can still use it for the other colonies.


Ant Species kept

 

Temnothorax Longispinosus.-Journal(discontinued)-(formerly)

Camponotus Noveboracensis (formerly)

Camponotus Nearticus-formerly

Tetramorium sp.-formerly

​Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Queen & brood.-formerly

Tapinoma Sessile-Journal (3 queen colony)-formerly

​Tapinoma  Sessile #2 (2 queen colony)-formerly

Aphaenogaster Picea-Journal-active

Crematogaster sp.(Cerasi or Lineolata) Queen with 3 workers and brood-formerly

​Crematogaster sp. #2 (Cerasi or Lineolata) Queen with brood-formerly

Formica sp. polygenus-active 300+ workers-active

Formica Subsericea-active 25+ workers-active

Myrmica Rubra 400+ workers 3 queens-active

#6 Offline Bugdaddy - Posted November 14 2017 - 8:11 AM

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Have you tried hummingbird nectar? 

to high in sugar content for apeano

 

 Why not dilute it?


"And it was to my infinite despair and pain... That it was not the hornets that made honey."

#7 Offline Diesel - Posted November 14 2017 - 8:22 AM

Diesel

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i don't want to buy it. store bought varieties often have other elements that may or may not harm my ants. if something happens to them then i will only have myself to blame. not to mention I'm too cheap to buy something i can easily make on my own.


Ant Species kept

 

Temnothorax Longispinosus.-Journal(discontinued)-(formerly)

Camponotus Noveboracensis (formerly)

Camponotus Nearticus-formerly

Tetramorium sp.-formerly

​Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Queen & brood.-formerly

Tapinoma Sessile-Journal (3 queen colony)-formerly

​Tapinoma  Sessile #2 (2 queen colony)-formerly

Aphaenogaster Picea-Journal-active

Crematogaster sp.(Cerasi or Lineolata) Queen with 3 workers and brood-formerly

​Crematogaster sp. #2 (Cerasi or Lineolata) Queen with brood-formerly

Formica sp. polygenus-active 300+ workers-active

Formica Subsericea-active 25+ workers-active

Myrmica Rubra 400+ workers 3 queens-active

#8 Offline Bugdaddy - Posted November 14 2017 - 8:47 AM

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i don't want to buy it. store bought varieties often have other elements that may or may not harm my ants. if something happens to them then i will only have myself to blame. not to mention I'm too cheap to buy something i can easily make on my own.

Fair point, I didn't think of that.


"And it was to my infinite despair and pain... That it was not the hornets that made honey."

#9 Offline Hunter - Posted November 14 2017 - 8:52 AM

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Have you tried hummingbird nectar? 

to high in sugar content for apeano

 

 Why not dilute it?

 

yea you could try but it might still be


#10 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted November 14 2017 - 11:46 AM

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Clear hummingbird nectar + cricket fat + water = good ant food. My formula works with A. rudis.


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#11 Offline ultraex2 - Posted November 14 2017 - 1:46 PM

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I've found that my Aphaenogaster love apples for sugar - I've tried honey, solid sugars, etc. and they don't really like them.


#12 Offline Hunter - Posted November 14 2017 - 2:14 PM

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apples is good but the acid and nitraites is not good for smaller ants


#13 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted November 14 2017 - 7:35 PM

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My A. rudis & picea colony loves

1. My ant food recipe

2. Cricket leg with honey

3. Peach juice

4. Most fruit


Hawaiiant (Ben)

Keeper of
Miniature Labradoodle
Baby Wolf Spider
Mud Dauber wasp larvae
Ochetellus Glaber
Solenopsis Geminata
Brachymyrmex Obscurior
Cardiocondyla Emeryi
Tetramorium Bicarinatum
Plagiolepis Alluaudi
Anoplolepis Gracilipes
Technomyrmex Difficilis
Pheidole Megacephala
Aholehole fish
Cowrie snail
Sea Fan Worm
100+ sea squirts
Tree seedlings
Ghost Crab
Day Gecko
Small Fat Centipede
Endemic Lacewing larva
Vernal Pool shrimps

#14 Offline ctantkeeper - Posted November 14 2017 - 8:14 PM

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Hi Guys,

 

looking to see what ppl are using for recipes for ant nectar? i have found most of my ants will consume honey water but could care less about my sugar water mixture. i also have a fussy Aphaenogaster colony that regularly refuses any sugar. protein, protein, protein. :) i guess having no social stomach there is no need  for a sugar diet. i dunno. but any recipes would greatly be appreciated.

 

currently keeping

 

aphaenogaster picea

temnothorax sp

tetramorium sp.

Woah, hold on there. Although Apeanogaster workers are incapable of trophylaxis, they (like most if not all captivity reared ant species) need carbohydrates. the protein rich food sources aid in brood development, while carbohydrates aid in keeping adult productivity up. Finding a balance between both is extremely important. Only offering your ants protein food sources can lead to protein toxicity, which is often fatal. I would recommend trying a wide range of different carbohydrate rich food items.


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#15 Offline drtrmiller - Posted November 14 2017 - 9:08 PM

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The Aphaenogaster species I had loved Sunburst Ant Nectar.  Unfortunately, it's out of stock until January, 2018.


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byFormica® is the manufacturer of the iconic nectar feeders and Sunburst Ant Nectar.
byFormica ant products always deliver consistent performance, convenience,
and reliability, making them among the most beloved ant foods and kit enjoyed by
ant keeping enthusiasts worldwide. For more information, visit www.byFormica.com.

#16 Offline nurbs - Posted November 14 2017 - 10:18 PM

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I make this for buyers who ask for it. Most ants love it except harvester and seed foraging species like Pogonomyrmex, Veromessors, and Novomessors. For those, small sliced apple bits work great.

 

Ingredients:

1 part hummingbird nectar

1 part pure organic honey

2 parts bottled water

Pinch of sea salt

 

 

zwdTGJml.jpg


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#17 Offline Diesel - Posted November 15 2017 - 5:57 AM

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thanks guys. i appreciate it. i will be giving them seeds as well ctantkeeper. just trying to find the correct variety of soft seed they can chew.


Ant Species kept

 

Temnothorax Longispinosus.-Journal(discontinued)-(formerly)

Camponotus Noveboracensis (formerly)

Camponotus Nearticus-formerly

Tetramorium sp.-formerly

​Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Queen & brood.-formerly

Tapinoma Sessile-Journal (3 queen colony)-formerly

​Tapinoma  Sessile #2 (2 queen colony)-formerly

Aphaenogaster Picea-Journal-active

Crematogaster sp.(Cerasi or Lineolata) Queen with 3 workers and brood-formerly

​Crematogaster sp. #2 (Cerasi or Lineolata) Queen with brood-formerly

Formica sp. polygenus-active 300+ workers-active

Formica Subsericea-active 25+ workers-active

Myrmica Rubra 400+ workers 3 queens-active

#18 Offline Hunter - Posted November 15 2017 - 6:44 AM

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i use 1ml of grape concentrate, 2 cricket body's, 1 mealworm, 1ml water, 1/4 o apple or 1in of banana, 1/2ml beat-juice. mix and blend all in a juicer or blender


#19 Offline Hunter - Posted November 15 2017 - 8:07 AM

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everything but my camponotus like it


#20 Offline Lazarus - Posted February 4 2018 - 7:20 AM

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The Aphaenogaster species I had loved Sunburst Ant Nectar.  Unfortunately, it's out of stock until January, 2018.


Still out of stock. Any idea when it will be available again?

My online ant spreadsheet

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