Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Ants moving to a new chamber every day?


  • Please log in to reply
11 replies to this topic

#1 Offline AntLoverAdam - Posted May 26 2018 - 2:20 PM

AntLoverAdam

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 52 posts
  • LocationCanada Toronto
Hello,

My Myrmica Rubra colony are always moving chamber to chamber every single day. There currently housed in a ant kit size 2 nest. They have 20 workers. Any idea why?

#2 Offline Shifty189 - Posted May 26 2018 - 9:40 PM

Shifty189

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 168 posts
  • LocationSouth Florida
It’s normal for this kind of thing to happen. They are chasing the perfect temperature and humidity.

#3 Offline Serafine - Posted May 27 2018 - 12:09 AM

Serafine

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,782 posts
  • LocationGermany

Myrmica like it very very moist. I'd consider giving them a test tube (with a straw as entrance) which is probably a better place for them than a fast-drying acrylic nest.


  • noebl1 likes this

We should respect all forms of consciousness. The body is just a vessel, a mere hull.

Welcome to Lazy Tube - My Camponotus Journal


#4 Offline Jadeninja9 - Posted May 27 2018 - 12:41 AM

Jadeninja9

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 552 posts
  • LocationSan Francisco Bay Area, CA
If you do what Serafine says, just don’t do the straw as entrance. They can move into the straw and you won’t be able to see what goes on in there. It can also be hard to get a head count and brood count if they move in there.

#5 Offline AntLoverAdam - Posted May 27 2018 - 7:58 AM

AntLoverAdam

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 52 posts
  • LocationCanada Toronto

Myrmica like it very very moist. I'd consider giving them a test tube (with a straw as entrance) which is probably a better place for them than a fast-drying acrylic nest.

I am hydrating the nest every day. I don't want to move them back to a test tube since I recently moved them into the nest. Will there be any consequences if I don't move em back into a test tube? Thanks.

#6 Offline noebl1 - Posted May 27 2018 - 8:45 AM

noebl1

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,128 posts
  • LocationNorthern Massachusetts

If you do what Serafine says, just don’t do the straw as entrance. They can move into the straw and you won’t be able to see what goes on in there. It can also be hard to get a head count and brood count if they move in there.

 

I do this technique with several ant species and never seen it happen.  My straws are usually barely 1/2" long going thru the cotton ball, so not sure how it would obscure much?  The straw technique is great as it's a smaller "more natural" opening, and if you add any substrate to an outworld, they can open/close/adjust the opening of the straw which is a bit more natural for them to what happens in the wild.


  • rdurham02 likes this

#7 Offline AntLoverAdam - Posted May 27 2018 - 2:38 PM

AntLoverAdam

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 52 posts
  • LocationCanada Toronto
I have another question. Is this nest too big for my Myrmica Rubra colony? There taking half of a chamber. There's two chambers. There always scatter across the nest. If it is should I move them back into a test tube? Thanks.

Edited by AntLoverAdam, May 27 2018 - 2:40 PM.


#8 Offline rdurham02 - Posted May 27 2018 - 2:45 PM

rdurham02

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 93 posts
  • LocationPortland, Maine

 

If you do what Serafine says, just don’t do the straw as entrance. They can move into the straw and you won’t be able to see what goes on in there. It can also be hard to get a head count and brood count if they move in there.

 

I do this technique with several ant species and never seen it happen.  My straws are usually barely 1/2" long going thru the cotton ball, so not sure how it would obscure much?  The straw technique is great as it's a smaller "more natural" opening, and if you add any substrate to an outworld, they can open/close/adjust the opening of the straw which is a bit more natural for them to what happens in the wild.

 

Yeah, it works well for some of smaller ant as well, such as Temnothorax sp. However, I usually use some aquarium airline tubing or vinyl tubing for larger ants instead of straws since that is what I tend to have lying around in my supply drawer.  :D


  • noebl1 likes this

#9 Offline Leo - Posted May 28 2018 - 2:42 AM

Leo

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,508 posts
  • LocationHong Kong

My leptogenys moved nests 12 hours  :D


Edited by Leo, May 28 2018 - 2:43 AM.


#10 Offline Serafine - Posted May 28 2018 - 3:57 AM

Serafine

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,782 posts
  • LocationGermany

If you do what Serafine says, just don’t do the straw as entrance. They can move into the straw and you won’t be able to see what goes on in there. It can also be hard to get a head count and brood count if they move in there.

If the ants move into the straw then your test tube is too large. I've done that with several species though ranging from large (Camponotus) to itsy (Solenopsis fugax) and they NEVER even tried to nest inside the straw. Ants often happen to nest inside vinyl tubing due to humidity, airflow and temperature reasons however this is not the case with straws.

The only thing that ever happened was that my Camponotus (which are a meditarranian species) sometimes stored their pupae inside the straw while I use a red light to heat the outworld (that is however very unlikely to happen with Myrmica).

 

And yes, the straw as entrance is necessary because it allows to plug the test tube with cotton which keeps the air inside the test tube humid and prevents rapid evaporation of the water in the tank (which is especially important for ants that like a moist nest like Myrmica does). I've had 20x200mm test tubes that lasted for over a year.


  • noebl1 likes this

We should respect all forms of consciousness. The body is just a vessel, a mere hull.

Welcome to Lazy Tube - My Camponotus Journal


#11 Offline AntLoverAdam - Posted May 28 2018 - 6:02 PM

AntLoverAdam

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 52 posts
  • LocationCanada Toronto
Can anybody answer the other questions I had about moving the colony? Thanks.

#12 Offline YsTheAnt - Posted May 29 2018 - 5:32 PM

YsTheAnt

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,435 posts
  • LocationSan Jose, CA

Can anybody answer the other questions I had about moving the colony? Thanks.

Leave a test tube in their outworld, leave it and the nest dark. If they feel the nest is too exposed, they will move into the tube.

Instagram          Journal           Shop





0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users