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Post by TenebrousNova on Aug 20, 2011 18:18:26 GMT
I've become quite fascinated by these 'acorn ants' recently, and since there is little information about them here, I'm trying to find out as much as possible about this species. I might get a colony eventually if they turn out to be suitable. Does anyone here have experience with this species, as like Pheidole, they seem quite easy and fascinating to keep? I prefer tiny species to the larger ones, even though they are good escape artists. If they are a suitable enough species, then I might well buy a colony one day if their requirements are simple enough to meet. I'm currently looking around several websites for information on Temnothorax. There seems to be a colony available from Antstore, they don't seem to be in stock at World of Ants and Ants Kalytta.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Aug 20, 2011 18:28:12 GMT
I've just read the journal on your website. A peaceful species, hm? I can't say I've seen one of those before.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Aug 20, 2011 19:22:06 GMT
I've become quite fascinated by these 'acorn ants' recently, and since there is little information about them here, I'm trying to find out as much as possible about this species. I might get a colony eventually if they turn out to be suitable. Does anyone here have experience with this species, as like Pheidole, they seem quite easy and fascinating to keep? I prefer tiny species to the larger ones, even though they are good escape artists. If they are a suitable enough species, then I might well buy a colony one day if their requirements are simple enough to meet. I'm currently looking around several websites for information on Temnothorax. There seems to be a colony available from Antstore, they don't seem to be in stock at World of Ants and Ants Kalytta. I have kept them as this video shows, and I think my old journal on this species might be in the Dead Ants Midden board
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Post by bobdol on Aug 21, 2011 8:49:44 GMT
I'm just ordering the smaller colony from antstore ;D I've always wanted this species as I like the little cute ants rather than the big ugly ones I've ordered two of the acorn nests on antstore to house them in:) They are only 3 pounds each so if they work this will be a cheap nest... Plannning on melting a plastic hole the size of the acorn attachment in a plastic tank I have, then filling it with leaf litter/wood and attaching to another basin which is attached to an ant world which should soon contain L niger
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Post by TenebrousNova on Aug 21, 2011 9:31:26 GMT
Yeah, I'm hoping to decide whether to buy a colony by the end of this week. I too prefer smaller ants for the 'cute' side of things, but my Pheidole still like to play little tricks on me whenever I feed them. Hang on, I ended up putting this in the wrong board. Didn't realize that Temnothorax were native to Britain.
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Post by bobdol on Aug 21, 2011 17:41:25 GMT
Yea its one of the british species we never see as they are so small and like to live in woods rather than housing estates ;D
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Post by Jenny on Aug 22, 2011 8:15:12 GMT
The colony we had produced lots of winged males and females (young queens), but as they didn't forage for food and workers slowly died off, Wood felt sorry for them and released them into out garden by an old lilac tree. He has seen the odd one about since but no sign of the main nest.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Nov 21, 2011 10:52:49 GMT
Sorry for the bump, but I think its appropriate- I can confirm that I'm getting a Temnothorax colony within the next few weeks. I have two questions though. 1. One source (World of Ants) says that Temnothorax is polygynous. Is this true? 2. Can they be safely be kept with a small Lasius flavus colony if there's enough space, since both are quite docile? Thank you.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Nov 21, 2011 11:07:35 GMT
Sorry for the bump, but I think its appropriate- I can confirm that I'm getting a Temnothorax colony within the next few weeks. I have two questions though. 1. One source (World of Ants) says that Temnothorax is polygynous. Is this true? 2. Can they be safely be kept with a small Lasius flavus colony if there's enough space, since both are quite docile? Thank you. 1) Some species of Leptothorax and Temnothorax (both very closely related) may be polygynous; but I believe T. nylanderi is monogyn only, and colonies usually only come with 1 queen even if winged sexuals are present. 2) You may find they will live with other ants, but being so tiny you probably won't see much of them if they placed in with another larger species, as these are ants that make a nest inside an acorn.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Nov 21, 2011 11:15:49 GMT
I see, thank you for the information. It'll probably be a T.nylanderi colony that I'm getting, so it will have one queen after all.
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Post by Zarbi on Nov 21, 2011 17:52:55 GMT
Most Temnothorax seem to be monogynous from what I have seen and read if it's any help
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Post by TenebrousNova on Nov 21, 2011 19:04:36 GMT
Thanks Zarbi, thanks Miles. That was interesting.
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Post by IceWhyte on Nov 21, 2011 21:04:36 GMT
How do you pressume that guy gets moisture to the ants including the queen?
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Post by IceWhyte on Nov 21, 2011 21:30:28 GMT
Really? In wood?
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Post by Wood~Ant on Nov 22, 2011 10:43:05 GMT
Hi I found a really nice video of the closely related Leptothorax in a really cool nest. I just thought you might be interested in it. Thanks for sharing this video link Miles, I know that nests can be made from cork but would never have thought of using a soft wood. Makes sense I suppose as many ant species do nest in soft or rotting wood in the wild, and wood is a good natural material to cut
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