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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2016 23:29:31 GMT
I've kept various ant colonies for about 4 years now and have never had problems with smells. However my pallidula colony is growing increasingly smelly. I'm not sure if it's because the numbers are going up at such a fast pace, that they are crowded, leading to smells? Anyone have an issues with their pallidulas and smell? They're fed the same, but admittedly are harder to 'clean out' because there are workers EVERYWHERE but there doesn't seem to be anything obvious. Any solutions? I have to find a solution quickly as my partner is putting pressure on me to get rid of them because of the smell!
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Post by Wood~Ant on Oct 27, 2016 7:54:41 GMT
There may be a build up of bacteria from ant faeces and other waste, as we had a colony of this species that began to give off a rather offensive smell. Are they kept in a soil set up you can access? You could try using a few drops of orange or lemon juice on the soil, as it won't harm the ants at all and should act as a disinfectant. Pine resin will do the same, or using a very diluted solution of pine disinfectant; but only put these on the soil or use on any particularly dirty areas where the smell is worse, and only in tiny amounts and NOT directly onto any ants if you can avoid it as it may remove their colony scent.
That's all I can think of, so good luck and hope you manage to cure this problem.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2016 9:28:04 GMT
Thanks for the input, Wood. They are kept in an acrylic nest but I think the smell is coming from their foraging area (a plastic box) which is completely swarmed with workers. Not sure there is anywhere in there that I could safely put drops of lemon juice without harming them.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Oct 27, 2016 18:50:43 GMT
Thanks for the input, Wood. They are kept in an acrylic nest but I think the smell is coming from their foraging area (a plastic box) which is completely swarmed with workers. Not sure there is anywhere in there that I could safely put drops of lemon juice without harming them. Try soaking a small wad of cotton wool in very diluted lavender scented perfume and just place it in a corner, it should not harm the ants and will give off a sweeter smell. |
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andavane
Nurse Ant 
Posts: 99 
Country: UK
Favourite Ant: All Messor spp, Lasius niger, L flavus, Pheidole palidula
I Like: Peaceful Meditation
I Am: Medically Retired
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Post by andavane on Mar 15, 2017 20:02:21 GMT
Have you tried having a colony of springtails on the go? They are called the 'clean-up crew' on some sites and cd perhaps help to digest the rascal waste.
I have just started a colony of these and will be watching them wt great interest.
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andavane
Nurse Ant
Posts: 99
Country: UK
Favourite Ant: All Messor spp, Lasius niger, L flavus, Pheidole palidula
I Like: Peaceful Meditation
I Am: Medically Retired
Likes: 34
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Post by andavane on Mar 19, 2017 18:26:59 GMT
My springtail colony is starting to multiply fast.
Rather like your pheidole colony.
It will be interesting to see what happen when I can gather a bottle-top of springtails and place them amongst the pheidole.
They get smelly because of the build-up of fæcal matter and other waste which is normally taken into the soil and recycled through their many organisms.
This can't happen with an acrylic barrier so other ways of re-cycling are worthwhile exploring.
I have a method of introducing small pots of fresh, green growing sphagnum moss.
This is the moss said by legend to have been used in the Crimean War where soldiers' gaping wounds were packed (¿dressed?) with the live moss.
The wounds are said to have healed beautifully with no infections (antibiotics hadn't come on the scene yet!)
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