JimmyVe: (13. Apr 2007 15:55)

Hi R3dFox, Messor barbarus don't need a heating lamp on ALL the time but make it with a thermostat so they have the temperature they need.

They are from the south of Europe so they need the temperate. And make sure not to disturb them to much (in de nest) the queen get stressed up really easy and stops laying eggs than.

In summer most of them keep a flight (the queens and 'kings' ;)) but if you want to capture a fertilized queen you need to catch one without there wings. They get up in the air to have 'sex' and than the drop on the floor and cut of there wings. These are the queens you need to take. If you take queens with wings, she is not been fertilized and she can not start a colony.

R3dFox: (14. Apr 2007 16:17)

Cool, thanks for the help.

Are there any species of ants with a soldier caste that dont need heat lamps at all?

sithmaster676: (14. Apr 2007 18:14)

what are lasius niger queens like at getting stressed as sometimes i cant help but move some of the tin foil i have around them to look at the colony will this affect her highness
Sithmaster676

R3dFox: (14. Apr 2007 19:21)

My queen dosnt seem to be bothered by anything. But then again im not too sure because as far as i can tell she hasnt even started laying eggs.

Oh and my ants kicked that Woodlouses arse...then ate it lol

JimmyVe: (15. Apr 2007 17:49)

Are there any species of ants with a soldier caste that don't need heat lamps at all?

I don't think so. ;)

@ sith: about Lasius niger queens. they don't get stressed easy.

@ r3dfox: how long do you have here now ? maybe she is not fertilized.

R3dFox: (15. Apr 2007 17:55)

If you read my other thread then ya know my queen is dead now.

I dont know if it was the heat that killed her....or is she been dead for a while.......So maybe shes been dead for a while and that would explain why no eggs lol

JimmyVe: (15. Apr 2007 17:58)

I just red it. ;)

I would guess it wash the heat. But in deed maybe she wash already dead.

R3dFox: (15. Apr 2007 18:31)

i think it was the heat. Because the colony has been fine, living in the test tube and doing the same things every day.

But when i came home today they were all out of the test tube. and just sitting there. none of them were even moving.

sithmaster676: (15. Apr 2007 20:27)

that sorry to hear about your queen red :(
but im glad that lasius niger queens don't get stressed easily
Sithmaster676