ANTSTORE World of Ants

[JimmyVe]

Well Alan, if you have a male for me so i can get them together you can have here.

I think there is probably a very short live for here a head. If the workers don't kill here and she flies out, i need to kill here if not i hope she just keep on working in the nest like other workers.

[sithmaster676]

normally if the queens don't fly out of the nests due to the wrong conditions they stay in the nest underground and work just like a normal worker but with a longer life span
Sithmaster676

[Skippy]

Yes it is true ,I had 2 years ago Formica sanguinea big colony and they had young queens. Queens didn´t want to fly out and they stay in nest. Worker cut them all wings and they will to be normal workers. They came for food ,cleaning nest - doing normal work like workers.

Skippy

[sithmaster676]

yeah if they cant make there own colony join your mums lol
Sithmaster676

[Skippy]

"join your mums" lol ,I don´t understant

[JimmyVe]

what sith means if they can not move out to make there one colony they will stay with there colony (from there mother)

a bit like some humans do.

[sithmaster676]

yeah sorry i didn't write it so clearly
Sithmaster676

[Skippy]

Thanks ,now I understand what you wrote sith . Yes ,they stay in the nest and after that ,I couldn´t to research ,which of females is an original queen (the cca number of queens:100)

Skippy

[JimmyVe]

30/06/2007
A little update on this colony.

They are now (about) a 500 workers strong with a 50 soldiers, they are doing really great. After i saw the queen pupa nothing happened, just there daily routine. But that is nice to watch to.

[sithmaster676]

this colony sounds great jimmy im glad there doing well, i was wondering how much experience would i need to keep this species and how difficult are they to keep.
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

In my opinion, if you can successful keep a Lasius niger species and you have them for about 2 years, you can keep these also.
But like i said before, they are masters in escaping and they do need a good humidity and a good temperature.

I keep this colony in a sand nest, i give it water 2 a week to keep the nest moist, i have a heating lamp above the farm, in summer it is about 25-30°c and in winter about 10°c. They only have a small hibernation period (about 2-3 moths) and they have very strong jaws, chew through y-tong.

(if you have more questions just ask. )

[sithmaster676]

ok thanks for the great help as usual jimmy
so would sand be the best to keep them in if there jaws are so strong?
and what size nest do you keep your colony in ?
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

My pleasure

I'm not saying it is the best way to keep them, but maybe the easiest way.
If you keep them in a glass nest with sand/loam mix, you don't need to be worried they could dig out.

I keep them in a farm: 70*50*15 this is filed with sand/loam mix: 70*35*15.

[sithmaster676]

ok thanks again jimmy
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

No problem, did you already ordered your ants ?