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Hello folks
I am a secondary school teacher and I am looking at starting an ant colony at work as a bit of a Biology topic (and because it looks real fun!!)
I'm going to order a starter set C from here and have narrowed my ant choice down to either Myrmica rubra or Lasius niger. A really active, hardy species would be best to show the students, would either of these be a sensible choice? I only have a limited space in my teaching lab too so a huge colony isn't really feasable either :cry:
Would I need anything other than what comes in the starter set (apart from ants :P )
Also, from what I have read, this is not an ideal time to start a colony :( .. is it not possible to establish a colony or just not advisable at this time of year?
Many thanks
Klem :D
Hi and welcome
Ant colonies don't generally take up much space unless you have a really big colony or certain exotic species.
In my opinion, rubra will be better for your needs.
You would be better waiting till Spring though.
I have to agree with damon, that it would be better to wait till spring. However there is nothing stopping you from making a project and starting to build a nice nest and hunting ground for them. I would also advise getting a colony with multiple queens :)
either Myrmica rubra or Lasius niger. A really active, hardy species would be best to show the students, would either of these be a sensible choice?
L. niger! It's faster and harder to kill by mistake (for example - over dry)
Unfortunately in that type of nest, it may be hard to observe small colony( but possible :wink: ).
Consider taking ANTSTORE starter set - labyrinth and later think about own Y-tong nest .
Would I need anything other than what comes in the starter set (apart from ants :P )
No :wink:
Also, from what I have read, this is not an ideal time to start a colony :( .. is it not possible to establish a colony or just not advisable at this time of year?
It's possible, but colony may be not so active...
sorry for my English ;)
wow thanks for the fast replies!
That information really helps, I'll get the starter kit C ordered and let my year 7's make it more homely until spring :)
If I wanted multiple queens would I just order 2+ from the online store and add them at the same time? (sorry if that sounds dumb)
Do you just have to water the nest part periodically or the whole thing?.. do you spray it with a squirty/mist gun jobby?
hehe, no worries flan, your English is better than my Polish... thanks for your advice! :D
Again, sorry if this sounds dumb but how big do Myrmica rubra and Lasius niger colonies grow? and how long would it take for them to outgrow the starter set (assuming they progress well)
Thanks again! :)
Actually there is no M.rubra in store(but buy only ants with multiple queens already in colony) and L.niger cannot have more than one queen.
About humidity - faq
Probably after 3 years you will have to : connect similar nest/make nest from that glass basin/create own nest
awesome! thanks again :)
Where can I buy M.rubra colonies already with multiple queens?
Does each queen need its own nest box or am being a complete goon?
Thanks again :)
Where can I buy M.rubra colonies already with multiple queens?
Try marketplace , but L.niger is not that bad...
Does each queen need its own nest box or am being a complete goon?
No. Myrmica rubra queens tolerate each other.
Flan
Generally you need to keep the substrate moist for all ants. Not wet but damp. The easiest way to kill a colony is for it to dry out.
You can't add queens from different colonies, but if you buy a colony of M. rubra with multiple queens that would be good. Antstore are usually very helpful if you email them or speak to them on the phone.
I got a Myrmica rubra colony which supposed to be 1 queen and 11-25 workers but i got 2 queens and 13 workers!
I was very pleaased with it, unfortunatly 1 queen died... The other one is doing really fine!
I started this colony in september and normally they should have gone in hibernation period but because my colony was for a school project I kept everything at a temperature of 20-25 degree Celsius during day.(no heating at night) And now they have about 6-8 larvae and some eggclusters so they are really doing well for a period where they normally should rest. But if I were you I would start my colony in april in spring, at that period queens lay huge piles of eggs and the colony grows really fast.
Succes! :mrgreen: