Varban: (23. Jul 2007 21:31)

What do they require so much that makes them hard to keep?
Next type of ants i want to give a try are Pogonomyrmex but that will be a while :)

Skippy: (23. Jul 2007 21:38)

I dont know ,hard to keep mean - optimal humidity ,temperature ,climate changes and food by climate (springs ,summers) ... if you dont making this thinks good ,they´ll die very quickly ;) ,like Myrmica when is in dry climate :lol: . Also ,ants hard to keep have queens ,easy to stress ,like Camponotus nicobarensis ,and when is stressed ,no eggs - no new ants ,no colony ;) :)

Pogonomyrmex is not hard to keep ,somethink between Messor/Tetramorium ;) ,very hungry ant :lol: - it can eat much food per week ;)

Skippy

Varban: (23. Jul 2007 21:46)

True, they seem to require the same type of food, temperature and humidity as my messors but they are also huge. Specially the barbatus ones and they have the strongest poison there is, which i still havent found out why they have it. They are granivores so they have pretty strong mandibles already and they don't really hunt prey since they subside on seeds. Oh well one of nature's mysteries :)

btw any news on the test tubes?

JimmyVe: (24. Jul 2007 07:42)

It are also harvest ants like Messor sp. , i wash looking on the net why they have such a powerful sting but i can not find it... Here you find a list of stings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schmidt_Sting_Pain_Index) from Hymenopteran, very nice info i think. ;)

Varban: (24. Jul 2007 20:55)

Hehe they rank 3x on a scale of 1 to 4 :P
Exciting I shall get some, raise a colony and put some workers at my boss' desk at work.

JimmyVe: (25. Jul 2007 17:15)

I think he would give you a raise for that. ;)

Varban: (25. Jul 2007 18:04)

What's the longest needle I can buy? I need to refill my test tubewith water and well its a pretty long test tube. :S

Varban: (25. Jul 2007 18:19)

K went to my local pharmacy and I cant get needles. Well I can but a pack of 100 :P anyone feel like sending me a long needle?

Skippy: (25. Jul 2007 18:22)

Try to steal one/two in hospital ,when they´ll getting blood from you :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: ;)

Dr.House: (25. Jul 2007 18:31)

that is the longest I know http://www.antstore.net/shop/product_info.php/info/p425_Kanuele-0-8-x-120-mm.html you can get by a doctor.
There are longer ones, but I've seen them only in labratory