I think that you could streatch, say, a baloon over the pot and have a hole where the plant will grow through and fill it up, preventing the ants from getting to the soil but still having access to the plant .
Ok guys ive got myself a colony of Lasius emarginatus on the way now...
Im gonna keep them in the test tube for some time untill ive sorted out a home for them.. Ive been thinking a lot about this aphids on the rose tree and i def think im gonna have 1. Prob keep them in 1 basin with sand/peat mix with wood and stone so they can choose where to nest.. Then have gravel and fine sand in the other tank with the rose in the middle... Prob in a pot with gravel at the bottom and gravel at the top.. I was thinking about the baloon method.. but how would you water the rose?? Anyway.. What u think of my ideas ???
well sry i cant get any pics but i myself have a good starting colony with 17 workers and 30 or so eggs as of right now so far to answere your first ? they are fine in captivity although every time i open the lid they try to get out but they only seem to be a little aggresive towards protien food as for 2 i've heard thounds to millions so its kind of up in the air but for 3 it appears to be moderit 4 my other colony appears to be doing fine in a basin enclosre 5 never had lasuis niger so idk hope that answeres a few of your questions o and you can keep them in light so long as your queen and colony are just starting out that way if u have them in a display type farm they wont try to hide themselfs behind a wall of dirt