Myrmica Rubra keeping

[buzz]

So in trying to keep my daughter interested in our ants we now have a daily visit of all the kids in the street

even had to make labels up to put on the nests so the kids know what they are looking at LOL

Anyway, I ordered up 2 plastic aquariums with a view to re-homing the 2 colonies from the antworld, but have on the advice of others on here postponed that - so I now have 2 free homes!

Admittedly I sure have the bug now and am keen to fill these 2 empties and was thinking of putting Myrmica rubra in one of them.

From what I have read on other posts they are not too hard to keep, like damp soil/sand mix and thrive on protein like flies etc. Was looking at making a set up in the plastic aquarium with the damp soil etc, making it escape proof and putting a stone or wood inside for them to dig around and under.

Anything I am missing - we have honey, wax worms and sugar water for the others - now just need to keep getting some flies

[Kyle]

Myrmica rubra do well in more or less anything you put them in as long as its damp/moist, and get a nest with 3 queens and they will grow similar to that of a L.niger. as for food they really love anything sweet, but of course protein is needed for the larva and queen(s) to lay eggs.

Some people do seem to find them a bit awkward to keep but myself found them very easy

[Wood~Ant]

Nov 6, 2009 15:56:41 GMT buzz said:

So in trying to keep my daughter interested in our ants we now have a daily visit of all the kids in the street

even had to make labels up to put on the nests so the kids know what they are looking at LOL

Anything I am missing - we have honey, wax worms and sugar water for the others - now just need to keep getting some flies

I can imagine all the kids reading the labels, and then asking if you are charging an entrance fee ;D
It will be like a mini-zoo with all of your daughter's school chums coming round for a look at your ants.

I only use labels for ants or plants I can never remember the Latin names for, another method is to stick a small coloured star on a set up; and then keep a notebook to say which colour represents what species.

That way a yellow star * can be for L. flavus, red * for Myrmica and so on.
Myrmica will inflict a painful sting if provoked, so don't let small children handle them without adult supervision. Although it is a quick way for kids to learn to respect tiny ants by getting stung, it burns for several minutes unless you apply sting relief ointment or bathe the area in cold water

[Zarbi]

They will actually live in boggy areas and tolerate damper places than many other ants, as their nests are often found under stones, rocks and even large bits of tree bark. Even in shady areas you can find Myrmica nests, while most other British native ants prefer to nest in full sun.

[Black Ant]

If you haven't already seen these pics, check out this
www.anthillwood.co.uk/redants2.htm