Leptothorax acervorum

[bobdol]

I received this colony from Ant store a couple of days ago after ordering Temnothorax nylanderi

I don't really mind as Leptothorax are an interesting species that are very similar to nylanderi in their behaviour habits...
I am absoulutley certain they are not Temnothorax as, they are larger than the wild temnothorax colony I've seen and a different shape as well as the fact the queen is not the right shape or big enough to be a Temnothorax queen.

I am making a tiny cork nest for them as, they are nesting in a piece of bark at the moment which I can't see into

[bobdol]

These ants are really strange and have so far rejected these nests-
Cork nest, Acorn nest, Walnut nest and carefully positioned bark nest...

They are nestled under some leaves at the moment and, I plan to let them nest wherever giving up hope to be able to see into the colony

They don't seem to be eating much rejecting insect food, although I believe they have been eating some honey as well as drinking plenty of water.

[bobdol]

These guys are still elusive although I do see the odd worker running around I have no idea where they are nested...
I did remove a dead worker yesterday which is a shame but hopefully it was just old age as she was a very dark ant.

[bobdol]

This colony seems to have dissapered...
I placed the two remaining workers in a test tube today but I could see no sign of the others

This species and the temnothroax colony seem very hard to keep...
I think I will add the remaining brood to my other temnothorax colony which consits of 7 workers and a queen.

Please move to the dead ants midden,
Thanks.