heeksy: Need help with Messor barbarus (9. Jun 2007 19:41)

Hello, i orderd a coloney of Myrmica rubra from another online antstore, but there was a delay in delivery due to a dispatch mistake. To say sorry they sent a Messor barbarus queen with my Myrmica rubra coloney.

The messor came with the queen and 3 workers (one maybe a soldier as seems slightly bigger size to the rest). I didnt expext them so i dont have a set up ready. It was a nice gesture but im a bit stuck because i have no idea how to keep them, but iv read up a bit.

The test tube has dried up so i cant put more water in the end behind the cotton wool. So i got a take away container and put some sand/loam left over from my starter set i bought from ant store, only about 10mm deep. then added another tube and coverd it with red foil to make it dark for the nest. I put the tube they came in into the takeaway container, pulled out the wool that blocked them in at the other end. I made this wet and left it by the entrance to test tube with some honey as well.

Iv left this small set up in a small box and closed it to keep it dark, im going to leave thim until i have made a better set up. There are some eggs i think that the queen seemed to keep picking up. I dont konw about larve.

Is it a good idea to feed them seeds yet, or anything else until larve appear? Maybe Grass seeds? Will room temprature be ok to keep them?

Iv seen pictures of people keeping them in test tubes i think, so maybe a small set up will be ok for now. its just feeding and temprature im worried about. Its warm at the moment, but my wife wont let me keep them for long inside the house, then they might have to go in the shed with the m.rubras.

Any help would be great, cheers
Ash

heeksy: (9. Jun 2007 19:51)

These are my first coloneys as well so im really stuck. The M.rubras seemed easy enough, i wanted messors but didnt think i would be able to keep them well. I want to try to keep both as iv got them now, so any advice would be a great help,
cheers

Kale^^: (9. Jun 2007 21:49)

Ytong-nest is suitable for them. As long as i know, it is.
If the colony has only a queen and 3 workers, the test tube should be enough for them until they have 5-10 workers.

heeksy: (9. Jun 2007 22:10)

would i need to keep it moist? i have a plaster nest i made ages ago. i might be able to get a breeze block from work on monday, iv never seen ytong anywhere in england to make a nest. what about temprature, they are living in our kitchen at the moment?

Kiam: (9. Jun 2007 22:18)

Hello Heesky

Me too I havent seen a ytong anywhere in england lol and yes you will need to keep it moist and about the temperature I dont know :P

I hope these help you :)

heeksy: (9. Jun 2007 22:47)

my wife is from slovakia we went to vist her parents and i could see ytong every where, truck loads of it. but try explaining to your missis parents when you cant speak there language, why you want to take a brick back in your suit case. maybe a breeze block will work, iv seen smaller ones they use for internal walls that might work.

Kale^^: (10. Jun 2007 00:01)

You can always buy piece of y-tong from antstore.

heeksy: (10. Jun 2007 06:02)

i would but the postage costs is expensive, if i new the messor was coming i would have orderd the ytong with my starter set for my m.rubras. does plaster stay moist ok with out going mouldy or anything, i could get a some today and make a small plaster nest.

darradar: (10. Jun 2007 09:23)

I have my Camponotus cruentatus in a plaster nest that I made, they are doing fine in thier, (see my thread) I would suggest adding sand to the mixture, it makes for a better more natural feel and helps to absorbe water better, I guess I used 25% sand with the plaster.

Good luck...

heeksy: (10. Jun 2007 09:54)

that seems like a good idea, is normal wall plaster ok or does it have to be plaster of paris

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