Post by antsengland on Apr 29, 2012 12:32:46 GMT
2 weeks ago I received my colony of Lasius Emarginatus from Antstore, they eventually had them in stock after a long while which is very suprising 
, They were in the usual test-tube set - up & contained about 15 workers & a few eggs.
The set - up for my formicarium is extremely simple & the ants love it, Half of the tank consists of soil + compost mix, & then the surface of the formicarium consists of leaf litter from the forest floor, with a few pine - cones & pine - needles etc etc.
I placed the test - tube into the formicarium. The ants were very wary of their new surroundings, they only set foot at the lip of the test - tube, but they wouldn't leave.
The next day I came back to see that the whole colony had moved out of the test-tube & had begun digging their new nest underneath a piece of wood. To this day they are extremely active, they love the small crickets that you buy from any pet store, if any of you haven't tried before, they love egg yoke mixed with honey.
The only problem I have been witness to is the fact that my huge & everlasting growing colony of Formica Fusca seem to always have around 2 workers lurking around the Emarginatus enclosure, although they don't seem to attack each other when they meet. I keep a close eye on what they are up to. I also need to purchase a new lid for the Fusca Formicarium as they seem to be escaping sometimes.
other than that, the Emarginatus colony is doing extremely well, they have to be my favourite European ants so far due to their extreme activity. I have attached a picture of my Formicarium, hope you enjoy
, They were in the usual test-tube set - up & contained about 15 workers & a few eggs.The set - up for my formicarium is extremely simple & the ants love it, Half of the tank consists of soil + compost mix, & then the surface of the formicarium consists of leaf litter from the forest floor, with a few pine - cones & pine - needles etc etc.
I placed the test - tube into the formicarium. The ants were very wary of their new surroundings, they only set foot at the lip of the test - tube, but they wouldn't leave.
The next day I came back to see that the whole colony had moved out of the test-tube & had begun digging their new nest underneath a piece of wood. To this day they are extremely active, they love the small crickets that you buy from any pet store, if any of you haven't tried before, they love egg yoke mixed with honey.
The only problem I have been witness to is the fact that my huge & everlasting growing colony of Formica Fusca seem to always have around 2 workers lurking around the Emarginatus enclosure, although they don't seem to attack each other when they meet. I keep a close eye on what they are up to. I also need to purchase a new lid for the Fusca Formicarium as they seem to be escaping sometimes.
other than that, the Emarginatus colony is doing extremely well, they have to be my favourite European ants so far due to their extreme activity. I have attached a picture of my Formicarium, hope you enjoy
