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Queen arrived today, although package was crushed the testtube was intact. She has no eggs (that I can see) but she is an active little critter! I took a brief glimpse in a darkened room and her reation to the little bit of light was to try and look for a route out of the testtube! Pacing up and down.
If anyone has experience of Messor Queens that arrived without any workers - info on what was successful would be apprechiated ie when to try a little food / honey water etc.
Her formicarium is ready to go , im sure it will be many weeks/months before she'll need it - antstore classic starter set + plenty of seeds etc
If I have time Ill post a pic or two.
Gary
Messor species are very sensitive to stress, specially the queen. Best to leave her alone as much as possible. Keep here in the tube and (if she is already awake) give her a nice warm place. +- 26°c
It is difficult with these species to start from 0 (without workers) but not impossible. Check up on her once a week and give her a little bit of food.
Small insects and honey (ore other sweetness), not sure se will accept it but you can try.
I hope she will be laying eggs soon. Good luck.
I have placed the tube in a box on a shelf above a constant temperature radiator - the temp is reading 24.5C - warmest place in the flat. I have a 7w heat mat available which i am going to use under the formicarium (once it is in use) as its location will be only 21-22C.
Ill try some honey/water mix in a tiny dish in a few days, will not disturb her until then.
Cheers
Gary
Try not to use the heat mat underneath the farm. If it gets to hot (if the ants think it is to hot for them) ants will try to go further down, like in nature they dig there selfs deeper underground, so if you use the mat underneath the farm they will cook them self. (Probably not with a 7w mat but i think you've got my point here ;) )
You read my mind - It was my intention just to use it for the foraging area / basin. :grin:
Hi Gary,
Jimmy has already written everything important.
I would still like to supplement that Messor ebeninus start claustral.
Later if the first workers are there, you must offer to the ants also grains - honey and insects are not sufficient. :eat02:
Happy antkeeping! :D
Greetings
Thanks Uta - can you explain 'claustral'.
Gary
it just means that the queens doesnt need any food until the first workers are hatched out. after that, they will open the nest and begin to look for food.
Makes sense - cheers
Quick update on the queen -
She has been kept at a steady 25-27c in a quiet dark-ish place. Checking on her maybe every 4-5 days. No sign of eggs yet but she moves around the tube when i inspect her, then she just heads to towards the damp/cotton-wool and sits there again.
Hopefully I wont have to wait too long for eggs!? :roll:
Gary