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Post by jeoff82 on Jun 13, 2017 16:36:28 GMT
I have ordered a Messor barbarus queen from Ants Kalytta. Last time I tried to keep this species was around 7 years ago and it was a complete failure. I'll try again now I have a bit more experience keeping different species. So this will be a new journal and if anyone has any pointers on keeping this species let me know. I am sure there is loads of info around here on them as they seem fairly common. I am planning on keeping them in my new style petri grout nests and can link up foraging areas and new areas.
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Post by jeoff82 on Jun 28, 2017 20:16:32 GMT
The queen has arrived with some larvae Its hard to tell how much as there is a roll of tissue paper inside the test tube. But she is well and has brood so that is the main thing. I have put her in the dark and will not disturb her for a month to give her a chance. So will not be updating this one for a while.
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Post by jeoff82 on Aug 21, 2017 19:50:06 GMT
This queen now has 3 workers after 2 months, I try not to disturb them often as they seem very sensitive to light and vibration. There is some more brood so more workers will be here soon. They are inside a tube test linked to a small outworld, I have fed them a small amount of sugar water and some seeds. I do not have much experience with this species but I have got further this time round than I did before. I may try to fed them a dead cricket this weekend, hopefully they will take it.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Aug 21, 2017 22:34:49 GMT
It will get easier once she has 6 or 7 workers. Make any insects not too big and keep giving fresh seeds, I find mine don't touch honey or sugar water. Check out my old journals as they may help?
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Post by Wood~Ant on Aug 22, 2017 10:46:05 GMT
If you haven't already read through this, and don't mind wading through a long journal, then this will definitely help you to raise a very successful colony.  Spanish 7 sisters Messor barbarus |
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Post by jeoff82 on Sept 15, 2017 16:50:16 GMT
This colony has now reached 7 workers and seems to be doing well. I have only fed them seeds, maybe I should try give them a small insect in the next few days as they have never had one. Gonna put them in with the heat lamp as the days and night are getting noticeably cooler, at the end of September I think I will be leaving them at room temp until next year which is normally between 18-21c in my house.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Sept 15, 2017 17:34:17 GMT
My own colony love crickets, spiders and flies. I am trying them on freshly killed mealworm at present. The only thing they never ever touch is honey or sugar water, or any insects with a hard chitin.
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Post by jeoff82 on Sept 23, 2017 16:02:57 GMT
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Post by jeoff82 on Oct 8, 2017 15:10:33 GMT
I gave the colony a piece of actual bread today which they seemed to love. The queen went straight after it and started chomping it down into smaller pieces, the workers also joined in on feeding. I gave them a largish spider a couple of weeks ago and this has been completely consumed. They still have some brood and do not seem to be in any sort of hibernation or dormancy.
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