ANTSTORE World of Ants

[sithmaster676]

i suppose it wouldnt matter if they did eat them but i would like the colony to have a good footing in this world as at the moment they are only very small
any advice would be appreciated
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

if you want to do that, just put them in front of the tube where the colony is in and they will take them inside.
try first wit a few (5 or something) and maybe later you can do some more if they accept them. Make sure you don't harm the other colony by taking to much from them.
But like i sad, Lasius niger grows very fast.

[sithmaster676]

yeah i will make sure that the colony i take them from are at there peak and have plenty to spare but i will only take around 30-40 just to give mine a boast.
and one more question pupai dont eat do they ? it is the larva that eat? am i right?
Sithmaster676

[mpir]

That is correct. Only larva eats.

[sithmaster676]

so giving my colony a few pupai this would not increase the amount they ate just the amount of pupai. until they hatched then they would eat more
am i right?
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

For as i now. yeah your right.

[sithmaster676]

is there any chance that once they hatch they will turn against my colony or is this very unlikely?
Sithmaster676

[mpir]

I know that Lasius niger in nature does still pupa when opportunity occurs. A frend of mine (also ant keeper) has done this to boost the number of workers in his colony and it worked. I've no idea if it works for all the species though.

[sithmaster676]

i hope it does i think i will only place 5-10 extra ants in just to help them out when they come out of hibernation
and i would like to ask on quick question
what is the difference when placing sand into an ant farm or placing a mixture of sand and loam
is it better to have loam aswell
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

Loam keeps more water than sand, it is better for the nest. (if it meant to keep it wet) If you now what i mean.

I'm not sure it works for al species, ants have a nest smell that is connected to this colony and if the new larva gets this smell they will except them. If they don't get the smell they will probably kill them.

[sithmaster676]

so if the larva dont get the smell they will kill my colony am i right?
if so i may wait until my colony has increased in population maybe best around june,july once they have settled in.
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

about, if the larva don't get the smell, the workers will kill them.
If you want to boost your colony you need to do it when there are only i few workers. What i mean is, people boost there colony to get them started easy'er. if you have already 100 workers you don't need to boost them anymore.

[sithmaster676]

no i only have about 12 ants not including the queen so adding more pupai it may help them to get started next year.
have you had any experience on this.
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

No, i have not try it out myself, but i now people who did. And i must say, most off them suicided.
I'm not found of boosting. I just let them start there own way. Unless it is not possible. Some species need to have other workers as slaves.

[sithmaster676]

so is it not worth me boosting the colony or is it?
Sithmaster676