SirJet: (29. Jul 2008 17:12)

Counted over 20 nests in the area today, all under clays.

Some of the nests have lots of tiny white bugs running around inside, much smaller than an ant or any of the brood, are these a parasite?

Also noticed that at each nest site there where very few (if any) ants on the surface foraging, nearly all the ants where inside the nest out of view.

MrNixy: (29. Jul 2008 21:12)

100% Myrmica r ubra, they wont be seen much in day as they like to hunt at night. The small white things are probably mites, they arnt a bad thing in the wild as they clean up the rubbish the ants dont want but you don't want them in the farm, they breed like crazy.

I wish I could find some near me, hell, collect a nest and ill buy one from ya.

JimmyVe: (30. Jul 2008 00:30)

Yes probably Myrmica rubra . Like i said before, its not that they like to hunt at night. They also hunt during day, they only don't like really high temperatures, if it gets hotter than 25°c they are less active so than they will hunt at night.

You could collect a few workers and a queen from a big colony with more queens. That wouldn't harm the colony, just make sure you don't disturb to much of the colony.

SteveUK28: (30. Jul 2008 09:52)

mine are always out in the day but i dont see hardly any activity during the night..

SirJet: (30. Jul 2008 18:19)

Unfortunately the small white things are too small to photograph, but they don't appear to be on the ants themselves.

There are one or two huge colonies and a lot of smaller ones. Apart from the initial peak I'm leaving them alone and undisturbed.

SirJet: (31. Jul 2008 21:13)

I believe I have found out what the white things were.

Platyarthrus hoffmannseggi (white woodlouse)

JimmyVe: (31. Jul 2008 21:42)

Normally they don't harm ants.

kashmir79: (1. Aug 2008 10:39)

i have seen in the wild some of those white woodlouce living with ants. they seem to get along

SirJet: (12. Aug 2008 22:00)

Update:

I've started to see small winged males appearing recently, but not taking flight as of yet.

Also, when I checked the colony originally shown in the photos at the start of this thread today, I discovered that their nest had been completely abandoned... One or two other nests nearby have also been abandoned. Is this natural or did I disturb them too much taking a short look?

zachman030: (19. Aug 2008 10:49)

they are like mini tiny woodlouse? i have seens them there fast and pure white and like woodlouse without hardback ?