L. Niger light

[Jonzii]

Hi Folks,

Recently attached the farm for my ants to the foraging basin, where they are currently living in a test tube. They haven't shown any interest in moving to it so far.

I decided to uncover the test tube so they were in the light and see if maybe they would go and look for somewhere else.

Will the queen be ok exposed to the light for a while? She doesn't appear to be stressed at all and has been uncovered for  a while now. Or would it be better to just leave them covered?

They are not in direct daylight, just the house lights when we are in.

Thanks!

[Wood~Ant]

Queen ants in particular will usually avoid strong light such as sunlight. By using strong light many ant keepers have managed to make the colony move, as ants like darker moist places. So you can try placing the set up in shade or total cover, but leave the test tube in very strong light and then wait until the ants decide they want to move to the more suitable environment of the main nest set up. 

[Jonzii]

Thanks wood ant. The farm is covered already,as it will be always.

So being in the light will not actually affect her then? I get the feeling that it may take a while before they go, which is fine as they can take all the time they need.

[Wood~Ant]

Mar 21, 2013 19:38:08 GMT Jonzii said:

Thanks wood ant. The farm is covered already,as it will be always.

So being in the light will not actually affect her then? I get the feeling that it may take a while before they go, which is fine as they can take all the time they need.

The light won't hurt her, but ants are like people, as some will up and move quickly while others take their time; but when a scout finds the nest and decides it is better for the colony, the rest will usually follow her fairly fast into where the better nest is.