Andie: Re: Messor barbarus (21. Apr 2011 21:21)

Cheers Bugsy :) Its amazing how clean the bottom part of the tube is so i'm lucky i can get some descent pics. The other end however has what looks like lime scale appearing on the sides so perhaps this is the "bread" they make or just pooh ? i don't know..

adam james: Re: Messor barbarus (21. Apr 2011 22:48)

looking good Andie , fantastic pictures i will enjoy very much following this thread :grin:

regards

Adam

Andie: Re: Messor barbarus (22. Apr 2011 22:20)

So today i decided to let them out into a small arena. I was suprised that they came straight out and within seconds were picking up dandylion seeds and taking them back to the tube. They totally avoided the sesame seeds. Its also interesting how they adopt an attack stance when they approach a seed as if they are going to sting it. Watch how they curl around their abdomen in the vid.

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http://www.hawgs.co.uk/files1/ants/messor/firstdayout.jpg
First worker carrying a dandylion seed.

SteveUK28: Re: Messor barbarus (24. Apr 2011 18:21)

I think mate that motion of what you think is stinging is most likely them laying a chemical trail for the other ants.. so they know this food.. carry it back type thing ;)

Andie: Re: Messor barbarus (27. Apr 2011 08:30)

Cheers Steve. And just an update on queen 2, she now has a few workers :~)

Andie: Re: Messor barbarus (15. Mai 2011 14:15)

Really pleased to see the first major appear just over 2 months after the first eggs hatched.

http://www.hawgs.co.uk/files1/ants/messor/1stmajor.jpg

As you can see they are still mainly being fed with dandylion seeds and a small ammount of foreign finch seed which they have trouble carrying. They are also taking dry bloodworm and tetramin tropical fish flakes together with fruit flies and the odd roach.

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adam james: Re: Messor barbarus (16. Mai 2011 07:21)

Looks fantastic mate , really nice thread you have here , i will be checking it often :grin:

Adam :D

SteveUK28: Re: Messor barbarus (17. Mai 2011 09:22)

great stuff mate... nice to see them doing so well :)

Andie: Re: Messor barbarus (28. Mai 2011 18:28)

Here's how i have the small arena which is one of the boxes i bought for my leaf cutters when i get around to buying them ....

One thing about moving these into the arena and opening up the tube is that it probably changes the conditions inside which was worrying me, but looking at the video the ants have piled up the seeds perhaps to control the humidity. There is not much activity outside which also makes me think that opening the test tube was not necessary yet but makes feeding so much easier. Its suprising how big the waste pile is considering so few ants.

http://www.hawgs.co.uk/files1/ants/messor/arena.jpg

Andie: Re: Messor barbarus (26. Jun 2011 13:17)

First time i have seen the major outside of the nest, really impressive size but didn't stay outside for long before dissapearing back inside.

http://www.hawgs.co.uk/files1/ants/messor/major.jpg

http://www.hawgs.co.uk/files1/ants/messor/major2.jpg

The entrance to the Test tube is crammed with rubble with a tiny entrace just big enough for them to gain access.

http://www.hawgs.co.uk/files1/ants/messor/dirtynest.jpg

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