5 replies to this topic

[soulsynapse]

I feel like there's a fair bit of discrepancy in information regarding humidity and optimal nest values.

 

Test tubes (correct me if I'm wrong) are evaluated to be at 95% humidity at almost all times, but for some reason ant keepers assume certain species want less than that for their actual nests. Different species are able to thrive at different humidity levels according to what everybody says but almost all species found successfully in 95% humidity conditions. While, yes, this does suggest that founding conditions closest mimicking a recent rain is optimal, why are they less than optimal outside of flight conditions?

 

Anecdotal but I recently flooded my novomessor nest on accident and I was worried for the brood, the queen immediately laid a huge clutch of eggs within three days.

 

 

This post very clearly shows my lack of experience and testing with humidity, so please help me understand why people shoot for certain humidity ranges for different species.

[Batspiderfish]

It seems to me that a lot of the numbers are made-up. As long as they have access to a humid and dry place, backup test-tubes and foraging areas, a colony will manage moisture levels on its own. I've never seen a species turn down a nest that is "too humid" (and not flooded).

[AntsAreUs]

My Camponotus subbarbatus moved out of their nest after I watered it. Not sure if this counts for anything.

[CoolColJ]

My Camponotus consobrinus queen stays near the entrance cotton, this species like it really dry, they can nest in bubble wrap based on a video from someone else
 
Polyrhachis tend to nest in trees, so yeah they like it dry. When I put my P.femorata into a Minihearth the brood stayed in the corner opposite the water tower.
I recently read of someone seeing a Polyrhachis australis nest inside a plastic chair - pretty dry there

Edited by CoolColJ, September 13 2018 - 2:23 AM.

[DaveJay]

My Camponotus subbarbatus moved out of their nest after I watered it. Not sure if this counts for anything.

Both of my Camponotus consobrinus queens moved out of their chambers after heavy watering, it takes weeks of drying before they move back in again, otherwise they sit out in the open with the larvae. The workers leave the eggs in the damp nests though.

I should mention that mine are in combined outworld and nest set ups with a coco peat/sand mix as substrate, similar to drews dirt box formicariums.

Edited by DaveJay, September 13 2018 - 12:14 AM.

[GeorgeK]

My liometopums did not move from their test tube to formicarium for ~5 weeks after water ran out. They kept brood going as normal, just with no water in test tube..