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cybrus: Help identify this specie (10. Dez 2012 01:56)

Hello,
I have caught this set of ants near my house (I'm from Portugal). I would like to know what specie it is and what kind of food I could give them. By the way, what is the best type of artificial nest I could give them.

http://imageshack.us/a/img163/5939/img20121007223104.th.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img641/688/img20121007190803.th.jpg

Thanks in advance,
Jóni

AntsNational: Re: Help identify this specie (10. Dez 2012 04:31)

This looks like a Camponotus species, I'm not sure exactly what kind it is though. You'd have to take a closer photo.. As for food, you could offer the colony sugarwater (a mix of 2 parts water, 1 part sugar) or honeywater (same style as sugarwater) and make sure to dissolve all of the sugar/honey via stirring. As for larvae and eggs, you will want to supply the colony regularly with crickets, mealworms, or any other soft-bodied insect prey. You can also try cooked egg and other things.

Check the Camponotus forum here:

http://www.antstore.net/viewforum.php?f=194

And check out any questions for beginners here:

http://www.antstore.net/viewforum.php?f=27

Good luck! :)

baumarkthammer: Re: Help identify this specie (10. Dez 2012 16:14)

How big are those ants?
I think it is most likley Camponotus vagus because it is the only big black Camponotus living in wood in southern Europe.
They are really easy to idendtify because they are really hairy (the gaster is) in comparison to Camponotus aethiops (the other big black Camponotus living in southern Europe). I also never saw Camponotus aethiops living in wood or under wood.

If you want a real identification and not a guess based on the nest type you should make closer photos and tell us the size of the smallest and the biggest worker.

cybrus: Re: Help identify this specie (12. Dez 2012 00:40)

Ok, I will try to make some closer photos. But I'm quite sure that you are right. They are quite hairy on the gaster.

By the way, I'm making a formicarium of plaster for them. What do you think? It will be good for them?

Thanks all for the help :).
Jóni