Mymica Sp. (5 queen colony)

[UKantz]

The second colony I got from my EU friend was a mymica sp. This colony has around 5 queens by his estimation and 50 workers and was offered for another good price, so I figured I'd pick this up also. I will update when the colony arrives

[UKantz]

The colony arrived today, I haven't had the chance to count all the queens, but I do believe there are 5, as well as 50 or so workers and a large amount of larvae. I'll update with pictures in due time.

[Wood~Ant]

Myrmica tend to nest in damp places, even boggy land, so try to make the set up as moist as possible.

[UKantz]

I attached the acrylic nest I bought for my Pheidole Spathifera (since they weren't interested in using it) and the colony has moved in overnight. They've chosen the chambers closest to the sponge, likely because as wood said, they do like damp nests.

[UKantz]

I've moved this colony into a picture frame set up I've been fashioning recently, as there were a few worker deaths that were unsettling to me. Since moving into this new nest there have been no more deaths and they are tucking into a fly currently as I type this. The brood pile is looking very good with plenty of eggs, larvae and pupae.

[deansyme]

Any pictures of the new set up and how you made it? Thinking of doing similar for my Myrmica.

[UKantz]

Here is one: 



Essentially the glass picture frame has a picture capacity of 20mm wide, which was enough to house small ants. The frame was open on all 4 sides, so I just used a grout gun to fill in 3 of the sides, though the same effect can be done with silicone. I then stuffed the top end with cotton to allow breath-ability, though this is only a temporary thing; obviously its not very practical to feed the ants, nor is it fair on them to live in here, so in a few days I'll have my hands on a few small glass fish tanks. These frames will then hopefully sit flush against the glass and I can remove the cotton allowing them to forage. Alternatively if I want to go the extra mile, I have a friend that has a glass saw I can use to cut out the shape of the picture frame, so I can just slot it inside.