Red ant journal

[deansyme]

not sure what species, but while out ant hunting for a colony of red ants, I hit gold when I turned a large stone to find the biggest colony I have ever seen of red ants. I collected as many queens on the surface as I could ( I never dig and disturb the nest) but most escaped.( there must have been 50+)..then collected some brood before collecting 200-400 workers..

I got home to find I managed to get 22 queens. I then got my set-up I have for them ready - 2 uncle Milton's ant farms which I fill the nesting area with cement, make sure it completely fills with no gaps when I place the other side on and then before it sets create the tunnels and chambers, making sure I have tunnels going to the expansions pods in case I need to expand in future
....this set up works so well for me. then I have the tubes leading to a small tank as a foraging area.

they settled in really well and the queens were laying after 2 days..I feed them a high protein (lots of bugs) and sugar water diet.

its so good to be able to watch everything that happens in the nest ( I have red card taped at the top so its dark in the nest but easily lifted for viewing)..and now after 2 weeks there is a lot of brood..I have added a second foraging area as there is a lot of workers and will add a third nest for them soon..I hope to create a lovely super colony set up, and will keep tabs on the wild nest for future top ups if need..

[Wood~Ant]

Hope you don't mind me posting on your journal Dean, but I thought you might like some input?

The strongest probability is that you have Myrmica ruginodis, as they do have many queens and are found in many parts of Scotland.
Less likely, but not impossible are} M. rubra, M. sulcinodis, M. scabrinodis, M. sabuleti; and the least likely would be M. lobicornis

[deansyme]

Jun 23, 2008 9:47:48 GMT Wood~Ant said:

Hope you don't mind me posting on your journal Dean, but I thought you might like some input?

The strongest probability is that you have Myrmica ruginodis, as they do have many queens and are found in many parts of Scotland.
Less likely, but not impossible are} M. rubra, M. sulcinodis, M. scabrinodis, M. sabuleti; and the least likely would be M. lobicornis

of course I do not mind mate..thanks so much ....they are doing very very well.

also my Lasius niger colony is doing very well as too my formica lemani.

I am also awaiting arrival of a Camponotus maculatus Queen, and Polyrhachis dives Colony courtisy of ade from antsectopia.com/

[iamantcrazy]

wow dean youv'e had some good luck ;D