My ant nest

[joe]

This is one of my nest which contains a red ant queen, sorry I don't know the Latin name:

i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/redclaw1412/DSCF1153.jpg


Inside:

i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/redclaw1412/DSCF1154.jpg


i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/redclaw1412/DSCF1156.jpg


This one contains a l Niger queen and about 4 workers they have just started to venture out:


i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/redclaw1412/DSCF1151.jpg


These are ant nest in my garden:


The red ant ones:
i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/redclaw1412/DSCF1158.jpg

i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/redclaw1412/DSCF1160.jpg


i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/redclaw1412/DSCF1161.jpg


L Niger nests, there are normally eggs on the surface but not today:

i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/redclaw1412/DSCF1166.jpg

Note there are red ants in with the Niger's:
i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/redclaw1412/DSCF1168.jpg

And this one:

i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/redclaw1412/DSCF1169.jpg


i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/redclaw1412/DSCF1171.jpg


Another one of my nests, this one is big with 1 queen about 60 workers and 50 eggs:


whole tank:

i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/redclaw1412/DSCF1174.jpg

The stone in witch the nest entrance is:


i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/redclaw1412/DSCF1175.jpg


Some of the eggs:

i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/redclaw1412/DSCF1176.jpg

i59.photobucket.com/albums/g294/redclaw1412/DSCF1177.jpg


Sorry about the quality of the pictures, my cameras not very good anyway enjoy

[Jenny]

Joe you have done well in placing those pics on the forum, glad you made them links due to the size, also too many open, slow the surfing of the forum down

I like your set up, and hope it does well. But watch for the fungus build up it is starting to happen on that big stone, a danger to ants

It's fascinating when you see two species mix together, we have rubra and flavus mix here sometimes on the one stone. I have seen niger, flavus and rubra all in the same vicinity. Those yellow ones look like flavus. rubra and nigers tend to fight to the death if too close, nigers usually win!

[joe]

Cool thanks I manged to find a queen rubra yesterday, because there were a few mating flights, well shes dug a tunnel so hopes up.

[Wood~Ant]

Joe, remove those leaves from your set up, as they will only rot and cause problems later.
Stones, twigs and live grass is OK; but you also need to wipe off the excess condensation with a paper towel. British ants don't need very high humidity; and you'd be surprised at how dry their nests become near the surface.
Just spray a little moisture when the soil looks very dry on top; and take out those big leaves as they are totally unnecessary

Good set up otherwise nest mate

The "Red Ants" are actually Lasius flavus, otherwise known as the "Yellow Meadow Ant." These little ladies often appear as an orangey red in colour, and may be mistaken for Myrmica rubra; but those in your garden nest are definitely flavus and not rubra!

[joe]

Thanks wood will remove the leaves.