ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Gary D]

They arrived yesterday and I set up their new home last night. Woke up this morning and all the eggs and all but one worker and queen have relocated to a tree planter I filled with tree bark and clay pebbles - They have not found the entrance to the tube which leads to the nest area yet!

Do you think they will move again once they find the damp sand/loam in the nest area??

They seem happy enough and I think I see a ghost ant already!

[JimmyVe]

Looks like they are doing fine. They will move eventually. But it could take a few days/weeks.

[Pugberto]

Great set up as I must say

[Gary D]

Update - They have truly settled in tree planter. Normally only 1 or 2 scouts venture out searching for food(?). They have ignored the (spanish) honey and they dont seem to be interested in the water I have now placed in there.

I found a dead worker in there this morning, I had noticed yesterday one of the them had a limp and didnt seem very active compared to the others, maybe injured in the post : (

Last night I placed a small half dead spider in the foraging area, the biggest worker had discovered it in a few minutes and promptly dragged it back into the tree planter, never to be seen again. Exciting to watch : )

Im just off outside of locate some more insects for them as honey is not apprechiated yet.

I will be keeping you posted....

EDIT UPDATE - Just spotted a worker in the connecting tube ....only a matter of time now - woohoo!

[miszt]

Ants dont eat insects, they are used to feed the larvae, you need to find a sugary substance that they will eat, otherwise they will run out of energy and die try just a simple sugar and water solution, fish flakes are sometimes enjoyed, you can mix them in with the sugar wter, or leave them by themselves, and will give extra nutiriants

if they dont need any sugar, they wont eat any honey, keep trying, they may deciede they like it, but try the sugar water aswell

[Gary D]

my understanding was that Protein (insects), fresh water and sugar (fruit/honey) were required. At the moment there is a drop of honey on the dish provided by antstore, fresh water/cottonwool , a bit of fresh pineapple and Ill place a small insect or two in everyday.

Do you think this is ok?

[JimmyVe]

Seems fine, but like miszt sad, try with some sugar/water, if they don't like the honey, but maybe they are just not hungry, that is also possible.

[miszt]

my understanding was that Protein (insects), fresh water and sugar (fruit/honey) were required. At the moment there is a drop of honey on the dish provided by antstore, fresh water/cottonwool , a bit of fresh pineapple and Ill place a small insect or two in everyday.

Do you think this is ok?

Yes they do need Protien from insects, but the adult ants dont eat it themselves, they take it back for the brood, the Larvae need it to grow Adult ants only need somthing sugary and water, and sum vitamins/minerals helps to (fish food)

Like jimmeyVe said tho, they may not b hungry

[sithmaster676]

the queen ant will eat insects as she needs protein to produce larger ants and soldiers but the workers and soldiers wont eat the insects they need sugar to keep there activities going but ants can last a long time without having to eat at all.
Sithmaster676

[Gary D]

Further update - They are moving into the nesting area - woohoo! Some crazy tunnel building going on.

[JimmyVe]

Good for you Gary D.
If they moved in, maybe you can place some pictures of there nest.

[amrik singh]

Hi,
It is true that adult ants must feed on liquids but many Myrmicinae like much oil from nuts and seeds. Adult can feed also on hemolimph (arthropod blood ) .Some Myrmicinae larvae also process solid food and regurgitate processed liquids to the workers. So sugars (in any separate form )are far from indispensable for many sort of ants. On the other hand for Formicinae like Lasius ,Paratrechina, Prenolepsis Oecophile ,Camponotus... the divers sugars constitute by far the biggest part of their food intake it is also the case for Dolichoderinae, Ponerinae and so... Ants like Tetramorium and Pheidole are doing very well on insects and seeds without any separate sugar.