Cecilia: Questions & Answers all about Lasius niger (7. Mär 2004 18:27)

I saw your exhibits at Museum fur Naturkunde in Berlin a couple of weeks ago and was quite impressed, and since my husband have forbidden me to get more aquariums (but didn´t mention formicariums!), well...
I have a couple of questions, though:
- Do I need a permit of some kind to order ants to Sweden?
- Can Lasius niger thrive in a plaster formicarium (it seems fun to build one) or do they need a "digging substrate"?

gonzobey: Hello and welcome Cecilia! (8. Mär 2004 10:16)

Inside the EU you don´t need a permission, but please talke before with your husband :O)

Lasius niger will thrive in a plaster formicarium or Ytong nest , if you want to watch them building a nest you can also choose the antfarm f.e. like this

http://www.ameisenshop.de/en/shop/pd-667187048.htm?categoryId=3 .

Please take some time to choose which kind of home keeping you want and inform you about the holding conditions. If you have any questions, be sure to get answered here the best as possible.

Greetings
Bianca

myrma: Help tips for Lasius Niger (28. Jul 2004 01:17)

Hi!
I got Lasius Niger in a system with 2 big jars and a hose between them, I captured several queens and soldiers outside, but today I see atleast 3 of the queens is dead :(

why did this happen, Yesterday everything was fine.

Or cant there be more than 1 queen?

I'll be glad for any help or suggestions

Best wishes from

Erik "Myrma" Persson

Martin S.: (28. Jul 2004 21:03)

Hello myrma,

welcome here in our forum.
I don't know exactly, what you mean. You have got Lasius niger in a system with 2 big jars and a hose between them. But Lasius niger have only one queen and no soldiers, it's monogyn. I think, you have another kind of ants. I don't know which kind. If I understood you correctly, did you add, other kind of ant to the ants in the container - correctly? When you have put two kind of ants together, than you have a problem - you saw it, three queens were killed.

Best regards
Martin Sebesta

myrma: (28. Jul 2004 21:27)

No this is the same specie, i captured from a nest (same nest) and I'm sure its the infamous "Lasius Niger".

But there can only be one queen?

Will the others die?

Best wishes

Erik "Myrma" Persson

I didnt realize i wrote soldiers in my first message, I ofcourse meant woookers, workers. Sorry for that.

Martin S.: (28. Jul 2004 22:47)

Hello myrma,

I think, you had captured different colony of Lasius niger. How I wrote in my first message, there is definitely only one queen by Lasius niger. If you now brought several colonies together (queens and workers), the workers kills the queens.

Best regards
Martin Sebesta

myrma: (28. Jul 2004 22:55)

Do they kill ALL or leaves 1 maybe?
So the conclusion is if im unluck that there is no queens left?

Martin S.: (29. Jul 2004 22:01)

Hello myrma,

is difficult to say. There is no statistics over it. But all are very often killed.

Best regards
Martin Sebesta

Marcawat: New to Ants! (4. Feb 2005 00:49)

Hi i'm new to ants and i thinking of getting some soon but i have few questions i like to ask first!

I want to get the Lasius niger type of ants because they are good for beginners. i was thinking of getting the Ant farm standart with the ant box 10x10x20 with a mixure of sand and loam and potters clay for the base. but what i want to know is about the lighting, heating, humidity and the ventilation needed?

Do i need Daylight bulb ,infrared heating element , UV sunlight compact or is nautral light ok?

Do i need to keep the temperature at a certain level?

What way do you need to moisture the tanks? what way do i go about this?

Do i need to have an air pump in my tank?

- Marcy

i know the question are prob simple but better to know now that later!

Martin S.: (4. Feb 2005 00:53)

Hello Marcwat,
:sign_welcome:
for Lasius niger you do not need the UV-, daylight or heater.
This you need only if you have tropical ants.
Now the ants are in the habination by 5 to 10°C.
The airpump is only good if you have a small container for your ants.
But you can use the potters clay to.

Greetings Martin :D

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