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badman: Don't Camponotus ligniperda like to dig? (4. Jun 2008 21:24)

My lig were deterined to live in the pipe connecting their basin to their XL antfarm, so I cut the section of pipe they were in and placed it onto the loam in the farm (less stressful than pouring them out onto it).

Since then they plugged up the pipe at both ends. I put on a lamp for light/heat during the day. When the lamp is on, they post a couple of guards, and they even piled up clay moisture balls on one side of the pipe to block light from the lamp. But they haven't dug down a single millimeter. The XL tank is huge but they aren't interested. The farm is full of a sand/loam mix, which is kept moist.

I used the same technique with my Camponotus hercul ea nus who were living in a pipe, I cut the pipe and left it in a basin and within 2 days the colony had moved out. This basin was filled with humus though which is much looser than the compact loam.

Do Camponotus ligniperda not like to dig or do you think they do not like loam. Maybe the colony is happy where it is?

miszt: (4. Jun 2008 22:09)

If they are happy where they are, they wont move, basicly lol once the colony outgrows the space it has, they will move :) early colonies always stay in a tiny nest, and build up the workers, before risking building a larger nest, a smaller one is easier to defend, and less likly to be spotted by an enemy

Spore: (5. Jun 2008 07:33)

My camponotus ants love to dig, but they did block up there test tube befor moving out. Camponotus i belive like to nest in wood sometimes, so maby they would nest in some if given the chance. :-k

ashhad1: (5. Jun 2008 07:46)

I suggest you to just make a starter tunnel for them with a pencil and then wait until they start digging but as miszt said they will outgrow their space but ligniperda's grow so slow :(

SteveUK28: (5. Jun 2008 08:36)

Sorry badman, but Camponotus ligniperda aint rally diggers i dont think, mine moved into there log within a few hours of me putting them into the tank, i think they prefer ground nests, under stones and in dead wood. But im sure if they have no choice when they run out of space they will dig.

badman: (11. Jun 2008 09:22)

Ok I took Ashhad's advice and used a short pencil to make a hole. They started digging but only when I had the lamp on, and eventually (like 4 days) the queen has now moved. Although the larvae are still in the tube, guarded by one worker (guess they like the heat)

http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i1782619_untitled.JPG

Now I can connect the feeding area and hopefully they wont move back into the pipe again. Woohoo