7 replies to this topic

[Mandelstam]

Like many others I caught my first queens (Lasius niger) late this summer. One is doing quite good with around 10 workers. The other one is still sitting and brooding over her brood...

 

Anyway, I wanted to ask for some quick advice. The first queen with workers is currently in a pill bottle as that was the only thing I had available when I noticed the nuptial flight. By the time I got some test tubes she had already laid eggs and so I didn't want to disturb ber anymore. But since a few days I've placed the pill bottle next to a covered and prepped test tube for easier observation and with a fresh water source. 

 

They refuse to move though. The pill bottle is under a bright led spotlight and all that's left of the water is the moist cotton. The opening of the covered test tube is close by and I even put a small bridge out of a thin hemp rope between the two. Today I noticed that the workers had started "digging" tunnels in the cotton to escape the light I'm guessing. They also accepted a dwarf white isopod. They have a few times went up to the opening of the bottle but never further than that. 

 

I know I shouldn't force anything and I guess I'm just looking for confirmation that they will move when they want to and need to. Right?! 

 

/Anxious ant noob

[Mercutia]

I find a lot of young colonies often are very reluctant movers. If there's no concern about the pill bottle other than the added time for maintenance for adding water to the existing cotton I would suggest to let them be. 

 

What I've found with being too forceful with moving them is that more times than not they are too stubborn to know what's good for them and you end up cooking out or drying the ants. If by any means you NEED to force them out of the pill bottle, dump the queen and workers into the test tube and manually extract the brood very carefully and very gently with a toothpick. VERY GENTLY. I would only suggest this as a last resort desperation tactic.

[Mandelstam]

I find a lot of young colonies often are very reluctant movers. If there's no concern about the pill bottle other than the added time for maintenance for adding water to the existing cotton I would suggest to let them be. 

 

What I've found with being too forceful with moving them is that more times than not they are too stubborn to know what's good for them and you end up cooking out or drying the ants. If by any means you NEED to force them out of the pill bottle, dump the queen and workers into the test tube and manually extract the brood very carefully and very gently with a toothpick. VERY GENTLY. I would only suggest this as a last resort desperation tactic.

 

Thank you! I'll let them be and let them sort it out. I'll leave the covered test tube in their outworld where I placed the pill bottle too. They seem to be doing fine and have started eating and that's what's most important to me right now. 

[AntsDakota]

You SHOULD consider moving them when mold and/or bacteria almost or completely carpet the surface of the cotton, or whatever you're using to retain moisture.

[ANTdrew]

I bet they would jump at the chance to move into a soil nest. That’s one approach you could consider, but it may not be the best for observing your first colony.
In general, though, I agree with just leaving them put and trusting their judgement. I have a big Crematogaster colony that has lived in the same dried up test tube since I founded the colony. They won’t move for all the tea in China.

Edited by ANTdrew, September 17 2019 - 2:00 PM.

[Wa.Va]

I bet they would jump at the chance to move into a soil nest. That’s one approach you could consider, but it may not be the best for observing your first colony.
In general, though, I agree with just leaving them put and trusting their judgement. I have a big Crematogaster colony that has lived in the same dried up test tube since I founded the colony. They won’t move for all the tea in China.

Lasius niger doesn't like a dry nest. Crematogaster can survive with no water for a long period. Big difference I think. Yet small lasius niger colonies will be stubborn to move anyways. U can attach a second test tube. But as long as the colony does not move, they are fine..

[ANTdrew]

Facts

[Wa.Va]

I'm just scared that u will stress out the colony using a light to let them move. Because now it's close to hibernation time. So the ants are going to search naturally a deeper moist soil.