badman: (1. Jul 2008 15:33)

well like I said, my ligniperda aren't shy at all, the herculaneus are, but the ligniperda are usualy very active and post guards too. Still no signs of life.

kashmir79: (1. Jul 2008 21:45)

how many do you have in this colony. because young colonies hardly venture outside for the first few weeks

badman: (2. Jul 2008 07:49)

This is not a new colony there were 8 workers when I received them nearly a year ago and have 15-20 now. To be honest I have not found this colony to be scared by anything, they are more likely to act aggressively to anything unusual. until this incident they were digging new chambers to the nest, and loam was be deposited above ground. This activity has stopped as well.

Time to write this one off.

gabranth: (2. Jul 2008 13:17)

15-20 workers = young colony

badman: (2. Jul 2008 13:33)

Yes I know it is a young colony, but he asked if they were new, as in a few weeks old. I have had them much longer.

But to me this seems totally unlike their usual behaviour. The ligniperda are usually aggressive and they will be eating food 2 minutes after I place it in their basin. not seeing them for this long is worrying. I am concerned about the conditions of my farm too, It's possibly too wet.

kashmir79: (2. Jul 2008 21:55)

hold on are they in Soil/sand. because ligniperda only live in rotten dead wood hence the name ' Carpenter ants'.

you can have them in a y-tong too. i keep mine in a y-tong. also remember most ants are nocturnal.

i hope is well with them.

badman: (2. Jul 2008 22:12)

I know wood is ideal but my understanding is they can live in soil/sand nests aswell. The antshop page says they can too.

Mc_Lasius: (3. Jul 2008 10:20)

I have found an LIgniperda nest under a stone once, the nest was in soil.

(By the way, does anyone know how long it takes for ligniperda to go from newborn white to normal color)

badman: (3. Jul 2008 10:29)

My ligniperda were never completely white, they're mid section (the red bit) would be white for a few days, but the head and gaster would start out black.

JimmyVe: (7. Jul 2008 15:25)

(By the way, does anyone know how long it takes for ligniperda to go from newborn white to normal color)

Normally less than a week.