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Post by Antkeeper on Jan 9, 2015 11:27:55 GMT
I have finally decided to take the plunge after so many years studying and keeping native species, to trying something a little bit more exotic. I have ordered a Queen Messor barbarus from CG ants (I have heard bad things about them, but I am willing to give them a chance for a first time buy of them from me). I have just a few questions on my new species: The Queen, I assume will arrive in a test-tube with no brood. Will I just continue on with hibernation in the test-tube until the Spring (I know they need a slightly higher temperature than the UK natives to survive 10-15oc and room temperature during the rest of the year)? No shed for this colony, she will have to stay in the house!  Do I need to feed her during this Winter time with seed, insects or honey water or all three?! I will start a journal, plus photos when she arrives.  |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jan 9, 2015 12:16:00 GMT
In most deliveries live queens ants are sent in a test tube. Sometimes they may have brood, but this depends on how warm they have been kept and when they were caught in the wild and placed into captivity.
I have always offered a few seeds to any new single Messor barbarus queen, as although they can raise brood on their own body reserves, their jaws are strong enough to crack open seeds and make ant bread, which both larvae and adults eat.
Keep her somewhere dark and warm, and disturb her only long enough to check to see if there is any mould or dirty damp cotton wool which may infect any eggs. It is better to do this for 30 seconds 3 times a day than for 2 minutes once a day, as long periods may cause undue stress.
Only start to offer insect food when she has a few workers, but being a Harvester Ant species seeds are more essential.
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Post by Antkeeper on Jan 9, 2015 19:31:48 GMT
Will a canary mix with grass seed added in do as a staple diet when there are workers too?! Will they take some honey-water?
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jan 10, 2015 0:01:20 GMT
Will a canary mix with grass seed added in do as a staple diet when there are workers too?! Will they take some honey-water? I always use canary mix as we have 2 of them, so it is always in our home. Forget the honey water until the colony is really large, as mine prefer sipping droplets of plain old water with no added sugar. |
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Post by Antkeeper on Jan 10, 2015 1:38:58 GMT
I was reading Shane's Messor barbarus journal and it is a great read. In the five years has that Queen gone from a brown to a brighter red? I have heard you can get a slightly different colour version in Queen Messor's.
So starting out Wood, Messor barbarus don't take any sugar?
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jan 10, 2015 8:51:32 GMT
I was reading Shane's Messor barbarus journal and it is a great read. In the five years has that Queen gone from a brown to a brighter red? I have heard you can get a slightly different colour version in Queen Messor's. So starting out Wood, Messor barbarus don't take any sugar? The queen can range from all black to black with a red head or almost completely red all over, though the colour of the queen does not effect the colour of her workers, as an all black queen can still produce red headed major and super-major workers. I have never known my Messor to touch sweet liquids like honey or sugar water, but they will nibble bits of apple and other fruit like pear, strawberry and banana. |
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Hibernating
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2015 10:16:00 GMT
You can order a specific red Messor Queen from AntsKalytta. I got mine from them but I decided not to hibernate but I am wishing I did now as Messor Queens like to have a rest before they begin founding their colony.
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Post by Antkeeper on Jan 11, 2015 23:51:24 GMT
My Messor barbarus Queen is due this week, so I will keep you guys updated when she arrives. Having some brood would be a bonus! I will post a photo of her colour too!
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