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Post by UKantz on May 3, 2013 15:18:42 GMT
Well I was after 1 more new colony to start this year and was thinking about trying my 1st tropical species of ant - Monomorium Subopacum. This species is ment to be very begginer friendly, but a southern European species also caught my eye - Pheidole Pallidula  When I saw that Antdealer had a small colony of Pheidole Pallidula 40-50 workers for about £20.00 inc postage it sealed the deal, and have literally just ordered them. Hopefully they will arrive soon, and I am curious to see what colour my Pheidole will be (realy liking the yellow/red colouration of this species)  |
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Post by UKantz on May 10, 2013 18:09:05 GMT
My Pheds arrived today, and once again the postman kept me waiting until 5.00pm They are much smaller then I expected but have a lot of attitude and are very bold. My colony consists of around 100+ workers with soldiers numbering around 10 and 1 healthy queen, all the workers and soldiers are a reddish colouration with the exception of the queen. There is also 5 large piles of eggs- probably around 30 in each cluster, and there may be some pupae and larvae but it's hard to tell due to the masses of workers I prepared a takeaway box as there temperate home and are currently feeding on a mini cricket and some honey. |
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Post by UKantz on May 11, 2013 5:57:07 GMT
This morning I woke up to find that the Pheds had dug into the very thin layer of sand-loam layering the bottom of the takeaway box, this shouldn't be a problem as this is their temperary home untill I can get a perminant home sorted and escape proof, although it could make them harder to move. Don't fancy getting bit by one of those soldiers.  |
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Post by Wood~Ant on May 11, 2013 7:43:56 GMT
I can honestly say I've never had any trouble from my Phed colony, as neither the workers or soldiers have ever bitten or stung me; but you will need to make extremely tiny air holes in their permanent set up as they are fast and agile, making them great little escape artists.  |
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Post by UKantz on May 11, 2013 16:06:30 GMT
Today I purchased a mini worm world like set up and have filled it with a sand loam mix half way, after a hour the queen and brood have moved in underneath a small flat rock.
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Post by TenebrousNova on May 11, 2013 16:36:04 GMT
I can honestly say I've never had any trouble from my Phed colony, as neither the workers or soldiers have ever bitten or stung me; but you will need to make extremely tiny air holes in their permanent set up as they are fast and agile, making them great little escape artists. I have to concur. My old P.pallidula would squeeze through the airholes at night to bring out their dead, which they placed in a neat little pile next to their container.  Good luck with your colony, UKantz. They're not a very demanding species, and they're great to watch. You'll find that a single worker is capable of pulling a cricket by herself! |
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Post by UKantz on May 11, 2013 19:59:37 GMT
Thanks Timenova, I have recently witnessed the strength of these little ants as just a single worker dragged a dead spider to the nest. Another curious thing I have noticed is how much the abdomen of the soldier cast can swell up , almost to the size of their head. Almost like the repletes found in honey pot ant nests  |
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Post by deansyme on May 11, 2013 20:04:10 GMT
Good luck with them mate...keep us posted.
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Post by UKantz on May 12, 2013 17:23:44 GMT
Thanks Dean I just fed them a bluebottle which is easily 10 times the size of a worker, but after a few minutes a team of workers and soldiers savaged the fly, tearing off it's legs and carrying the various body parts down a highway of workers. The real challenge was trying to fit the main body down the nest entrance... xD |
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