afraid of light

[nod]

Hi

I think my ants may be afraid of light because I only see my worker ants out at night when the lights off, and when I turn my light on to have a look they quickly run back into the nest. Is this normal from worker ants?

[Wood~Ant]

What is actually making the workers run is the sudden light change. Imagine if you will, you are in bed at midnight and it is totally dark, then suddenly the sun is blazing through your window at full zenith. You'd be startled too Nod.
So it not that your ants are afraid of the light, but the fact that it is not getting light gradually as it does when the sun rises at daybreak. The light of day comes and goes very slowly, and ants are used to this; but an electric light is on in less than a second, and will even make you jump if you don't know it's going to happen

Try looking at your ants in the daytime, or under softer lighting to avoid them becoming nervous

[nod]

Makes loads of sense cheers

[dragonfly]

I recently blew up big on this one...I purchased a single queen with no workers and no eggs and was slightly concerned that the container she was delivered in lacked a water source sufficient enough for a long term stay. All she had was a short tube and damp paper towel. I was concerned that she would not have adequate water reserves. I had a test tube and placed some water in it and a cotton wool bung. I then covered the test tube up with tin foil and placed it opposite the small container the queen resided in and which was exposed to the light.

Imagine my frustration and guilt the next day when I found the poor queen on her back dead was it the shock of the light I do not know but thankfully my first colony has done better-heaven knows I feel guilty now