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Post by antsengland on Jun 10, 2011 18:44:09 GMT
As you may know, I have caught 2 beautiful F.rufa queens from Cumbria, I remember the place where I caught them now, a lovely spot named Lodore Falls. I am starting a new journal of the colonies life as me as there sort of 'God' .I will be providing pictures and info as much as I can through the course of the colonies existence. 2nd June 2011 - Formica rufa nuptial flight at Lodore Falls, Cumbria. I find 2 beautiful queens & tube them up. 11th June 2011 - Everything seems to be fine, both queens have decided on their territory, one queen at one side of the tube & the other at the other side. Attachments:
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Post by lotsofants on Jun 10, 2011 19:01:25 GMT
Hi ants england, I don't know if you've said it some where else on the forum but how will you provide the things they need e.g wood, size of colony and their big hunger for food? P.S good luck with the queens
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Post by antsengland on Jun 10, 2011 23:04:09 GMT
I'm sure I'll manage when the time comes. I sell crickets and breed them & my grandfather has cut down trees in his garage . I'm sure this will be hard but if I can't handle it, I would probably have to release them into the wild but I will probably be fine. I'll just go with the flow
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Post by TenebrousNova on Jun 11, 2011 10:28:52 GMT
Wood Ant has had experience with Formica rufa before, so he might help if needed. Good luck with these!
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 11, 2011 13:36:33 GMT
Feeding Formica rufa isn't the problem, it is their size and speed. They can run up a glass or plastic tank wall in less time than it takes you to say "help" As these ants are found in a mix of woodland leaf litter and fine sandy soil, they make their huge thatched mounds mainly from bits of pine needles and other forest vegetation. Mites can be a major problem for these ants when kept in captivity, and mildew soon forms if the thatch gets damp. So they require a lot of constant fresh air and enough warmth to keep the nest temperature fairly high for brood development. They are fascinating, but in my honest opinion are best when kept short term and best seen in the wild
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Post by antsengland on Jun 11, 2011 14:54:19 GMT
Thanks for your advice Wood Ant.... I have a huge and I mean huge glass tank from around 40 years ago when my father kept insects. The problem with this though is that it doesn't have a lid, so I was wondering if F.rufa could climb over vaseline or talc ?? Attachments:
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Post by TenebrousNova on Jun 11, 2011 14:58:36 GMT
Good looking queen, and she seems to be getting on well brood-wise.
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Post by antsengland on Jun 11, 2011 15:33:48 GMT
thanks everyone for all of these helpful comments... I'll attempt to create a lid of some sort ... & I hope these Pupae will hatch any time soon. suddenly there is going to be an explosion in this colony ;D
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Post by antsengland on Jun 11, 2011 15:35:27 GMT
I have just bought myself a 400 x digital Microscope from maplins... hopefully I can get some super close pictures and videos of my F.Rufa's
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Post by antsengland on Jun 11, 2011 16:48:41 GMT
sadly, my Microscope that I bought was for windows XP .... I'll have to get a new one so for now I will be using my camera... also some great news, It looks like one of my queens is eclosing the first worker
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Post by antsengland on Jun 11, 2011 16:55:16 GMT
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Post by lotsofants on Jun 11, 2011 16:56:44 GMT
I am sorry to hear that about the camera using the wrong software, I'm guessing you would get a refund But when you get the right software camera, the quality of the video will be very good.
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Post by antsengland on Jun 11, 2011 17:32:24 GMT
they will hopefully allow me to have a refund... I will see tomorrow.... .. The worker has nearly eclosed, as soon as it has pic will be uploaded.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Jun 11, 2011 17:41:02 GMT
Congratulations on the soon-to-be Worker One.
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Post by antsengland on Jun 11, 2011 17:49:01 GMT
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