lost the will to live?!

[Nadv8]

Hi all... does anyone have a little advice?

my Myrmica rubra colony which had moved in about 5 weeks ago which id ordered from Antstore just seem to be dying off! 2 weeks ago the last of the brood had been born, including about 7 winged males, and 1 winged princess. Now in the last 2 weeks I have been finding dead workers on the surface - averaging 2 dead workers a day! They haven't bothered eating anything in the last week and I'm trying my damdest. I'm keeping the water supply topped up and occasionally spray small amounts of fine water over the top. Last night I toped up the water and rewatered the sugar-spounge and they all went mad. All the flyers left the nest (and as they do, trying it on with every non fertile unlucky lady), and what seemed like all the workers were out sipping on the water and running about. Even both queens were out the nest! Has anyone faced issues like this before? Should I really be seeing dead ants every day?

They'r kept inside, out of direct sunlight. 31degC (max) during the day, 20degC at night. Is it getting too hot under ground?

Thanks
Dave

[nepenthes]

sounds like you have a moisture problem, try giving them allot more moisture (spraying a good amount every night until they stop spazzing out when you spray) Then do a regular liberal amount of misting after that.

What kind of food are you giving them? What I would do is find out when you're local M. rubra fly and then let you're alates go after a good rain (find out all you can about their mating flights)

I'm sure some one Else knows about the flights more than I do as I don't have them (not locally yet at least) over hear in the states.

Good luck.

[Jenny]

We collected 2 rubra colonies from our local hills last year. They were both collected at the same time, and placed in identical set ups. The larger colony had fatalities everyday just like yours, until it faded out completely. The smaller did well and continued its growth.

It is very hit and miss with rubra's, you only need to spray the sides of the set up gently and have the peat/sand moist but not soaked.

The flights are at this time of year, after humid hot weather when we have had a shower. They are usually to wards the late afternoon with little or no wind.

[anttastic]

To be honest I find Rubra hard to keep myself . As I've had quite afew dead workers.

Chris