ANTSTORE World of Ants

[mpir]

@SteveUK28
Quite easy, actually. I heated up the end of the glass test tube over the fire. Then I just pushed it into the plastic and it melts away. The plastic tube conecting the two boxes is the same size as the glass tube used for making hole... so it is a perfect snug fit.

@kashmir79
The majors are great. They are walking around like bulldogs and like they mean business. It took forever for them to hatch. Much longer than the normal worker. But it was worth the wait.

[SteveUK28]

mmm i might just try out a simular setup

[darradar]

fantastic indeed, i cannot wait for my ants to wake up, though i was a little late in hibernating them, so i guess il leave them till march time...

[kashmir79]

how many days then for the Majors ?

cheers

[mpir]

First major appeared in my colony when it was about 70 ants strong. How long it took from egg to worker I can't really say as I only realized that I'm getting a major about half way through. But I can say that the last stage - pupa - took more then a month.

[SteveUK28]

Mpir... Did u start with a queen, How long did it take your colony to get this big?

[mpir]

I started 10.4.2007 with a queen, 5 workers and no brood whatsoever. By the end of the September colony was about 100 + workers strong.

[JimmyVe]

Very nice pictures. And a nice setup to. (for a starting colony) You see it sometimes it easy to make a good farm.

More than a month from pupa till major ? I think that is rather long. Maybe the temperature is a bit to low, that would explain it.

[SteveUK28]

ohh very nice mpir, I hope my queen comes along.. if i can manage to get a colony that size by September from just a queen il be impressed.

[ant dude]

ohh very nice mpir, I hope my queen comes along.. if i can manage to get a colony that size by September from just a queen il be impressed.

good luck on that steve

@mpir:very nice set up and ants btw

[SteveUK28]

yes im def gonna need some luck Alex... But i feel lucky lol so fingers crossed...

[mpir]

More than a month from pupa till major ? I think that is rather long. Maybe the temperature is a bit to low, that would explain it.

Well, I checked my diary and I first noticed the big pupa on 12.8.2007 and the first major hatched on 10.9.2007. So it is not a whole month. You could be right about the temperature. All year long I kept them at room temperature 20 - 25°C with no extra heating.

Thanks for coments everyone.

[SteveUK28]

How would it be best to heat them then?? Pls dont say a heat mat lol
Would a lamp do the job with a small wattage bulb?

[ashhad1]

Why wats wrong with heat mats, since I might buy one

[kashmir79]

heat mat..and a light

probaly both