ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Varban]

Ok
Obviously the roadblocks for my colony are going to be endless. Today I found out the cotton had leaked a bit. Most likely to the higher temperature. So all the eggs and larvae were in water, not under water, well the eggs were but in water. My sole worker was dead too, I assume he drowned. Thing is this was just next to the cotton so there was plenty of room in the test tube for the egg and larvae to be moved.
Anyway i tilted the tub up so the water goes back in the cotton, but should i consider my pile of larvae dead? The eggs should be ok I think, its just the larvae and water that i am confused about.

So yeah I am pretty much back on the start: test tube, queen, eggs, larvae and no workers lol

[JimmyVe]

Sorry to hear that Varban,

I think you used to little cotton. If the larva stays to long in the water they probably are dead. Also the eggs. They can take a little water but not for long.

[Varban]

Thanks jimmy

She hasnt dumped the larvae or eggs outside the test tube, nor has she eaten them so they might be ok. I will see what will happen in the next few days anyway. Hopefully all is good and new workers will show up soon.

[JimmyVe]

I hope so.

As long as she is taking care of them there is a change they are going to be okay.

[Varban]

well i have two puppae now and 4 larvae and a few new eggs. Guess they didn't drown after all!

Can messor barbarus "herd" other insects in their nest for honeydew?

[JimmyVe]

Good for you Varban.

I never heard of it. In my experience they don't keep other insects for honeydew. The eat insects and seeds, they like a bit of sweets to, but not to much.

[sithmaster676]

no Varben messor barbarus don't milk insects for honeydew as in there natural environment there would be no insects to milk
i think the main ant species that milks other insects is Lasius Niger
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

Ore Lasius flavus they do it to.

[Varban]

Well it doesnt matter that much on a positive side i have 3 puppae so the larve survived the little flood lets hope they hatch soon.

[Varban]

I am concerned the actual nest might be too dry, seems to have messed up my tube watering system. Plenty of water in my little lake above ground so hopefully they will get their water there or i will just leave an empty testube with water and a cotton burred in the antfarm forever
I mean spain and portugal are very dry places so the the whole thing should be pretty dry.

[JimmyVe]

That is an option. So if i'm wright they moved into the nest ? or are they still in the tube ?

[Varban]

"They" ? its just her 4 puppaes, 2 larvaes and 6 eggs atm no still in the test tube i prefer she stays there until i have like 10 workers so i know there is someone to look after her.

[JimmyVe]

Good thinking.
Okay i thought she already had workers. but if there are puppaes it will not take long before the first worker will come out.

[Varban]

Lol yeah she had 1 worker and it died, a new worker hatched and it died too after 3 weeks

Anyway a 5th puppae was formed today thats 1 larvae left and eggs. I hope all 5 hatch properly so i ownt have to wait another 6 weeks for a new cycle.

Anyway i upgraded the furmicarium. Bought a fresh bag of compost and replaced all the soil with nice soft brown compost. Took out the test tube from the tin foil and burried in the ground. It's much better now. If I want to take a peek i can just remove the soil above where the queen is and it wont disturb her from moving the tube around.
I also bought a bag of grass seeds. Planted a good few in the corner where the test tube is so i have some greeneries and put 2 in the test tube entrance. The reason why i put only two is so i can see if she will eat them.

Other than that i think the info for messor barbarus is wrong. From my observations so far my queen is much more active and lays more eggs when the temperature is around 20 - 22, not 25-30.

[JimmyVe]

Other than that i think the info for messor barbarus is wrong. From my observations so far my queen is much more active and lays more eggs when the temperature is around 20 - 22, not 25-30.

Well. i shall explain that a bit. They mean that the ants live in there natural habitat in 25-30°c but the queen in under ground (it is always colder under ground) so the queen will be there in a bit colder place. If you put here in to a tube and that tube into a area where it is 25°c it will be also 25°c in that tube. (i hope you understand now)