R3dFox: Lasius niger nesting? (11. Apr 2007 16:34)

do L asius niger have to nest underground?

My colony are currently living in my arena, and im wondering if there is anything i can put in there for them to nest into or under?

Like if i get a log and drill a hole into it will they then expand it into a nest?

any idea?

JimmyVe: (11. Apr 2007 16:40)

Lasius niger most of the time nest underground. (in nature) you can keep them in a y-tong, gypsum or wooden nest if you like. (i prefer y-tong ;) )

I'm not sure but i don't think they will except your offer of the log. ;)
Are they now in a tube ?
If you take a walk in nature and you lift up a few rocks (or big logs) I'm sure you will find a colony or 2 underneath it. The queen is most of the time in the ground but the workers and the larva are beneath it. (to keep the larva warm.)

R3dFox: (11. Apr 2007 22:32)

Well this was just a thought. I may be getting some more clay off deadmeat on here. Which if/when i do i will refill my farm (3rd time lucky?! lol)

But i was just wondering if there was a easier option.

I am thinking of making my own display/nest. im not sure what im going to use yet. i was thinking cork? but do the ants eat it? I would use y-tong but not yet lol this is just a quick thing and my first project sooo...

Also, if i make this farm i was thinking of buying just a queen. What is it like starting a colony from just queen? i thought it would be interesting.

Sorry for the long post but i do have a few more questions...as usual lol.

1) are there any more exotic species out there that dont need heat lamp or anything? i would really like to have a species that have soliders.

annnnnd....this is the very important question.......who would win out of a fight between ants and a woodlouse????......ive been feeding them woodlice...getting them out of the garden, stabing them and leaving them belly up for the ants....But apparently one of these woodlouse didnt want to die, and its managed to get its way into the test tube...and the nest

So yea, woodlice dont EAT ants do they?

JimmyVe: (12. Apr 2007 17:05)

I don't think there are Exotic ants that need heating device. (they are joust to high temperatures)
But if you like a species with soldiers you can get some Pheidole pallidula or Messor barbarus there from south Europe and they to have soldiers.

About the wood lice, i don't think they eat ants but i don't now who is going to win the fight. I guess you ants have the advantage they are with more than 1. ;)

deadmeat30: (12. Apr 2007 17:10)

heat mats are cheap enough, wouldnt one of those do ok?

about the wood lice, the ants should be ok, they'll probberly flip if over and eat it from it belly.

Alan

JimmyVe: (12. Apr 2007 21:28)

You can use heat mats to, but i'm not so fund of them. (i'm trying one out wright now, maybe i like them anyway.;) )

mpir: (12. Apr 2007 21:34)

Also, if i make this farm i was thinking of buying just a queen. What is it like starting a colony from just queen? i thought it would be interesting.

Starting with just a queen means that you need to have a lot of patience. If there is no brood with the new queen it means that you will have to wait for at least 2 months (depending on species) for first workers. And not all of the queens are sucessful in founding a colony. So you might be disappointed. Nevertheless, it is an exciting and interesting time and if you are sucessful you can take a lot of joy and pride in it.

Good luck

R3dFox: (12. Apr 2007 23:14)

Messor barbarus is the ant that i was thinking of getting. But will they adapt to the english climate? because i dont want to have heat lamps on all the time and all of that business.

I like the fact they have soldiers, and sounds interesting that they eat seeds. While on the subject what seeds do they eat? or just any type?

I think if i get messor i will get the colony not just a queen.

Any simple species that are good to start with just a queen? Tho i am tempted to wait for all the flying ants (swarms?) to come out this summer and grab a few. I have a "red" ant nest in my garden, im not sure which species just whichever is common to uk.....So i may grab one, or a few because the red ants usually have more than one queen?

But if i do make my own and start from queen, then if it dosnt work out then least i have a nest free for a new colony

deadmeat30: (12. Apr 2007 23:37)

@ R3dFox: email me at deadmeat30@gmail.com and we can sort out this seramis.

Alan

R3dFox: (12. Apr 2007 23:44)

Cheers. So you going to sort out how much its going to cost? and how should i pay you.

Ill email you tomorrow. or email me if you like:

shabbatastic@gmail.com

as im off to bed now lol.

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