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stankenhar: Security with Myrmica rubra (10. Jun 2009 13:38)

I have L asius n iger so know a little bit about ant keeping. I am about to get some Myrmica r ubra (British Red Ant) and want to cover the feed chamber with stocking mesh / tights, I have this on my Lasius feeding chamber and none have escaped, but what I am wondering is if the Myrmica r ubra will, or can, chew their way through the stocking mesh, I prefer the mesh as I can put a cotton filled bowl underneath and squirt honeywater etc through without the risk of any ants escaping.
Stan

SteveUK28: Re: Security with Myrmica Rubra (10. Jun 2009 13:43)

Ok i can safely say ive never heard of this method ever.. I would have to suggest that you use either PTFE or Vaseline to keep them in the tank/chamber. But i do not think they would be able to chew through. But how can u give them protein without removing the mesh ??

stankenhar: Re: Security with Myrmica Rubra (10. Jun 2009 13:54)

Hi Steve, I will have two chambers, one for liquid, and one for fruit flies, the chamber for the fruit flies will be a round one with plastic lid, from one of the original ant farms that I started with, uncle remus or something like that. I have been squishing the fruit flies for the Lasius, will I need to do this for the myrmica or will they do their own dispatching, the fruitflies are flightless.

highered: Re: Security with Myrmica Rubra (10. Jun 2009 14:25)

I'm sure the mesh will be fine, you only have to worry about bigger ants like Formica ants 7mm plus as they have significantly bigger jaws.

SteveUK28: Re: Security with Myrmica Rubra (10. Jun 2009 14:54)

lasius and myrimica will kill and eat them without them being squished... Also you want to be feeding them more than just fruitflies. I would suggest getting some Crickets to feed them with aswell.
Just wondering but is there any chance of you posting up some pics of your setup please ?

stankenhar: Re: Security with Myrmica Rubra (10. Jun 2009 16:51)

Hi steve, I can't seem to fathom how to post pics, if you let me have your email then I could send them to you and maybe you could post them for me.

weiland: Re: Security with Myrmica rubra (11. Jun 2009 08:51)

I have had Myrmica sp. that escaped several times by chewing through a thin plastic film. That never happened with Lasius niger so I guess Myrmica have stronger mandibles or at least different break out behavior. I regularly feed my Lasius niger live flightless fruit flies and they kill them within minutes.

stankenhar: Re: Security with Myrmica rubra (11. Jun 2009 12:32)

I'll try putting in live fruitflies, this should save me having to clean out uneaten ones before they get mouldy.

stankenhar: Re: Security with Myrmica rubra (11. Jun 2009 16:37)

Also, Honey / water / sugar solution, any help on how much honey to water, or sugar to water, for a correct mixture, I also have some maple syrup which my lasius seem to ignore, should this be diluted?

highered: Re: Security with Myrmica rubra (12. Jun 2009 13:11)

Your plastic film must have been very thin then, the barriers that I use eg netting is normally ok with them, even though they are slightly bigger then Lasius niger. However I would have thought that they would not try to escape if they like their nest, eg you don't keep letting in light when you check on it, its hot enough but not too hot, if they have enough water and have enough protein and energy food.


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