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Post by UKantz on Jun 4, 2012 16:47:08 GMT
Well after the fall of my 2 previous messor queens (1 sold the other died due to fault of my own) I decided to try again. I just ordered 1 queen 11-25 workers from antstore. I intend there diet to be meal worms, mealy beetles canary seed and grass seed. At the moment I have no set up ready for them so they will stay in the test tube once they arrive.
Just to let you know I was debating to either get Tetramorium caespitum or Pheidole pallidula, but my love of messor got the better of me so this was the colony that I (in the end) chose. ;D
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Post by UKantz on Jun 12, 2012 15:33:26 GMT
The messor barbarus arrived today!  The packaging was very good, so good that the had cello taped the bung to the test tube. I cut the bung free and pulled but it was wedged in. I pulled quite hard before it popped out and a major fell on my lap, luckily I didn't get bitten and she was returned shortly after. There was 20 workers from what I could count as unfortunately 7 minors had died in transport. I have placed the test tube into a foraging pot with a thin layer of sand, some seeds and a mealworm. I saw some workers carrying eggs but there was no larvae or pupae. They are drinking from the water test tube. The casts are as followed: 1 queen- as always ;D 10 Minors- make the majority of numbers, and do the majority of the work. 4 medias- less than I expected and help the medias in day to day chores, also crack open seeds. 4 majors- act as guards and help crack open seeds 2 super majors- I never expected to have them in such a Young colony  , they are the queens royal guard. I will post pictures and video soon, especially of the super majors. |
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Post by UKantz on Jun 12, 2012 17:39:58 GMT
All of the workers have had a drink from the test tube, and the minors are collecting all the grass seed which seems to be there favorite. Although I like the super major workers I am pretty sure there not meant to be in a colony this Yong . There around the same size of the queen and seem rather clumsy stumbling over the workers queen and brood, they are proving useful as they helped dice up the mealworm though and spend the majority of the time just outside the test tube or drinking from the reservoir. Can someone confirm if I'm meant to have these super major workers so early as I'm not 100% sure. I will post pictures and video as soon as my macro lenses arrive (maybe some time this week)  |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 12, 2012 18:20:20 GMT
If you have big super-majors, then this colony is at least 18 months old or older, as supers usually arrive in a colony during its second year of development. Where did you get this colony from? It isn't a newly founded one that's for sure.  |
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Post by UKantz on Jun 12, 2012 18:23:41 GMT
I got them from antstore, I selected the 11-25 worker option as that was the only one they had. I will be quite upset if this isn't a newly founded colony you don't recon this queen may have been boosted with brood? I did notice after purchasing that messor barbarus was out of stock again.... |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 12, 2012 18:35:44 GMT
I very much doubt the colony was boosted, and both of my very first Messor barb colonies came from Ant Store; and my silver tank colony is still very much alive and kicking after being with me for about 5 years now. In fact Messor barb queens live for around 15 years, so the colony queen is still quite young even if she is about 6 or 7. Your queen I think is no older than 2 years from the size of her colony, and it is often better to have a slightly mature established colony as then there is less chance of it failing |
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Post by Welsh Ant on Jun 12, 2012 18:52:25 GMT
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Post by UKantz on Jun 13, 2012 6:40:41 GMT
This morning I woke up looked at my messors only to find they had dumped all the seeds outside the test tube and all the workers inside pulling at the water reservoir tissue. This was a sign they want to dig so have placed a small plastic container filled with soil/sand and placed their test tube of top of it, there are little ramps if they want to go and explore in there out world. I guess I'll just have to wait and hope for the best.... |
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Post by UKantz on Jun 13, 2012 16:02:25 GMT
When I got home I was pleased to see that the queen has begun digging, the workers try to help but just seem to be a obstacle to her. The 2 super major workers stay in the now empty test tube but I'm sure they will move out when the time is right.  Video is being uploaded as I type (my macro lenses arrived too) |
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Post by UKantz on Jun 13, 2012 17:16:42 GMT
I have read a lot about this ants strength but it doesn't hit home untill you actually see it, I placed a fly into there box and within literally 10 seconds a little minor found it. But what I didn't expect was the little minor to haul the hugely compared fly to the nest where all her nest mates took interest in it, especially the super major who are feasting of the fly now. This has to be my faverout ants I'm keeping to date for such small size they are mightily strong. |
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Post by UKantz on Jun 13, 2012 18:05:44 GMT
This will be the last post for a while as I have posted far to many times in 1 day  A much better part 2 will be coming soon ;D |
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Post by UKantz on Jun 18, 2012 16:15:37 GMT
Well they are collecting seeds and are eating flyers and mealworms, but I found a dead minor and media this morning.  Some footage of a super major carrying the dead media. |
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Post by UKantz on Jun 23, 2012 15:47:17 GMT
I just moved the messor over them into a larger set up as the little tub they were in looked as if it was about to cave in. In the process there was little or no ant bread or brood to be seen and there were at least 2 more dead workers. Things are not looking promising. |
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