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Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 17, 2018 8:24:45 GMT
I think I am not alone in this problem, but I find a lot of my ant colonies keep dead decaying insects in my acrylic nests far too long. It would be a simple matter to remove the decayed food if only my ants took it out into the foraging arena, as then I could remove it using a pair of forceps. The trouble is that I cannot open the nests or it would mean that all the ants will escape. So I have to be patient and wait for them to bring out the dried up bodies, or in some cases soggy carcasses.  |
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Post by TenebrousNova on Jun 17, 2018 8:57:27 GMT
I know the feeling. This is one of the reasons I've introduced springtails to my nests, in the hopes that they can help clean up the ant's messes.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 17, 2018 9:12:31 GMT
I know the feeling. This is one of the reasons I've introduced springtails to my nests, in the hopes that they can help clean up the ant's messes. Might need to get some. Can they live in an acrylic nest, and where did you get yours from? |
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Post by deansyme on Jun 17, 2018 9:27:42 GMT
You find them in leaf litter etc. If you have a spare jar you can collect some and put some vegetation and they should breed so you would have a steady supply.
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Post by jeoff82 on Jun 17, 2018 9:39:58 GMT
I use millipedes and crickets but rarely use acrylic nests.
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Post by deansyme on Jun 17, 2018 17:41:55 GMT
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 17, 2018 23:04:36 GMT
I don't seem to get springtails in our garden, the soil gets very dry here.
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shadowynne
Nurse Ant 
Posts: 84
Country: UK
Pets: Many, many pets...
Favourite Ant: Lasius flavus
Likes: 63
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Post by shadowynne on Jun 19, 2018 10:23:53 GMT
I was just working on an update for my hoffmannseggii thread that pertains to this.
I added soil to my rubra nest which in an acrylic nest has always led to fungal problems in the past, but since the inclusion of the hoffmanns there is no fungus to be found anywhere.
I do understand this is of limited use to you but I thought I would mention it.
On the springtail front, I can probably help you out man. My property is very damp and full of leaf litter. I have been meaning to go on a hunting excursion for more hoffmanns, and I do come across a lot of springtails as well, I would be happy to collect some for you if you want.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 19, 2018 10:35:01 GMT
shadowynne, thanks for the offer. I was wondering if they can live inside an acrylic nest, but then 2 of my nests have mites which do fine and even though they cling to the ants, they only seem to eat decaying food and not bother the ants one bit.
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shadowynne
Nurse Ant
Posts: 84
Country: UK
Pets: Many, many pets...
Favourite Ant: Lasius flavus
Likes: 63
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Post by shadowynne on Jun 19, 2018 12:57:03 GMT
Springtails live in acrylic just fine, as long as there is moisture. I find that in my set ups they tend to hang around the water tubes and oasis reservoirs.
I will go a-hunting tomorrow if weather permits. I will see what the pooter poots!
As an aside. I regularly find 2 distinct groups of Springtails in the vicinity of ants on my hunts. a large grey springtail which is always on the far boarders of ant territory, (and is eaten with great relish by my ants whenever introduced) and a very tiny white springtail that I frequently find coexisting with Lasius.
I am trialing the latter with great success in my colonies. Only downside is I find these guys in much smaller numbers.
I also do have a small colony of tropical white Springtails and I could probably spare a pinch of those for you to try.
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