17 replies to this topic

[Amazant]

Just an hour ago I saw an Argentine ant colony moving and saw two three queens so I decided to catch one while the colony was still moving. I caught some larvae and around 10-15 workers. So far they are in an outworld connected to a nest but right now they are gathered around the queen. I know these ants can be hard to take care of but I would like to know some tips on keeping them. I know they are good at escaping and are highly polygynous and invasive. Should I collect more workers in the morning? Is there any useful trap? So far I’ve used honey to lure them. Thanks for any help.

Edited by Amazant, August 27 2019 - 2:01 PM.

[Manitobant]

Argentine ants aren't found in Kansas. What you probably have is tapinoma sessile, the odorous house ant. They are pretty similar to Argentines although much smaller and release a disgusting stench when threatened.

[Amazant]

When I see odorous house ants they are much smaller and the ants I have caught today are also different and similar to Argentine ants mostly because of the queen having a Gaster that seems to be pointing up like some other workers. They look exactly like this genus Linepithema humile. If you need a picture I can get one.

Edited by Amazant, August 16 2019 - 8:15 PM.

[ponerinecat]

Get a pic. Also, hard to take care of? You can dump several hundred queens and a few thousand workers together, only feed them honey and they occasional protein, and they will thrive. Personal opinion, but they are the most boring ant species. They do nothing that interesting and just run around. Large colonies are fun to observe, like maybe doromyrmex level, but it takes a lot of fused colonies to get that big quickly. They will also reproduce within the nest, so a lot of new queens. Sorry if I sound negative, but I find small, monotypic, generalists kinda disappointing to keep. Good for beginners, though, and they farm aphids.

[Amazant]

Thanks for the information I’ll get a pic soon right now they ere scattered in there water and nesting tubes with the queen and the majority of the workers in a connection tube.

[Amazant]

Argentine ants aren't found in Kansas. What you probably have is tapinoma sessile, the odorous house ant. They are pretty similar to Argentines although much smaller and release a disgusting stench when threatened.

You may be right about them being tapinoma sessile but they could also be brachymyrmex I don’t think they are Argentine ants anymore because now there Socail stomachs have caused there Gaster to become pretty large.





Some pictures

[ponerinecat]

Tapinoma sessile. Argentines have large social stomachs, but they have a longer thorax. Brachymyrmex tend to be a bit more compact.

[Manitobant]

Definitely tapinoma sessile. Still a very fun species to keep that grows like crazy!

[ponerinecat]

Purdue wanted some specimens, you could send some to him.

[ForestDragon]

Tapinoma are awesome they also reproduce in nest

[ANTdrew]

Don’t waste your time keeping Tapinoma, just my opinion.

[Martialis]

Agreed with Antdrew. They always escape. Seriously: I’ve tried it.

[Manitobant]

It is true that tapinoma are escape artists, but I've had great luck keeping my tapinoma melanocephalum (which are even better escape artists than sessile) contained in a tar heel ants mini hearth that is in turn contained in a small plastic container. I'm assuming that would also work with a test tube, just put the whole setup in the dark and they will be fine. I've only had 2 escapes since I got them, and that was only because I didn't secure the formicarium lid tight enough. They didn't breach the container any of these times though.

Edited by Manitobant, August 18 2019 - 6:40 PM.

[Amazant]

It is true that tapinoma are escape artists, but I've had great luck keeping my tapinoma melanocephalum (which are even better escape artists than sessile) contained in a tar heel ants mini hearth that is in turn contained in a small plastic container. I'm assuming that would also work with a test tube, just put the whole setup in the dark and they will be fine. I've only had 2 escapes since I got them, and that was only because I didn't secure the formicarium lid tight enough. They didn't breach the container any of these times though.

Do you use fluon and did you fill the container with water and then put fluon around it or something? Thanks for all the advice, I’ll try my best to keep them but if I can would it be okay to give them back to the colony? I’ve introduced like 20 more ants to there colony and they are doing well and no escapees except for when I added some new ones and those got out.
Also do you need a picture of the setup?
Also ANTDrew why don’t you recommend keeping them just because they easily escape?

Edited by Amazant, August 19 2019 - 3:20 PM.

[Manitobant]

It is true that tapinoma are escape artists, but I've had great luck keeping my tapinoma melanocephalum (which are even better escape artists than sessile) contained in a tar heel ants mini hearth that is in turn contained in a small plastic container. I'm assuming that would also work with a test tube, just put the whole setup in the dark and they will be fine. I've only had 2 escapes since I got them, and that was only because I didn't secure the formicarium lid tight enough. They didn't breach the container any of these times though.

Do you use fluon and did you fill the container with water and then put fluon around it or something? Thanks for all the advice, I’ll try my best to keep them but if I can would it be okay to give them back to the colony? I’ve introduced like 20 more ants to there colony and they are doing well and no escapees except for when I added some new ones and those got out.
Also do you need a picture of the setup?
Also ANTDrew why don’t you recommend keeping them just because they easily escape?

I havent tried fluon and I don't use water, just a setup Inside a container.

[Amazant]

What do you use as a berries then?

It is true that tapinoma are escape artists, but I've had great luck keeping my tapinoma melanocephalum (which are even better escape artists than sessile) contained in a tar heel ants mini hearth that is in turn contained in a small plastic container. I'm assuming that would also work with a test tube, just put the whole setup in the dark and they will be fine. I've only had 2 escapes since I got them, and that was only because I didn't secure the formicarium lid tight enough. They didn't breach the container any of these times though.

Do you use fluon and did you fill the container with water and then put fluon around it or something? Thanks for all the advice, I’ll try my best to keep them but if I can would it be okay to give them back to the colony? I’ve introduced like 20 more ants to there colony and they are doing well and no escapees except for when I added some new ones and those got out.
Also do you need a picture of the setup?
Also ANTDrew why don’t you recommend keeping them just because they easily escape?

I havent tried fluon and I don't use water, just a setup Inside a container.

What do you use as a barrier then?

Edited by Amazant, August 21 2019 - 6:31 PM.

[Amazant]

How do you edit the title?
The Tapinoma have some eggs now and have all moved into the test tube and the queen is looking good. Also the workers are clustering around the queen but more of them are clustered around something I can’t see maybe they are just resting or something but they are all doing good and have settled down.

[NickAnter]

Click "Edit" on the first post, the "Use Full Editor."  You will then be able to edit the title.