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Do Tetramorium Store Seeds?

tetramorium seeds

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#1 Offline TKD102 - Posted June 25 2020 - 9:49 AM

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I've started keeping a colony of tetramorium (about 5 workers, 20 on the way) and was wondering if they had any seed storing behavior? Say I give them a few seeds with soft husks, will they store them until they break them down or just not accept that many? Thanks


Currently Keeping:

Tetramorium Immigrans


#2 Offline TheMicroPlanet - Posted June 25 2020 - 9:52 AM

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I often see tetramorium carrying off small birdseeds, but i'm not sure if they store them.


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#3 Online ANTdrew - Posted June 25 2020 - 9:57 AM

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They will haul them into the nest to feed the brood, but after a few days they take them out into their trash pile. They are incredibly neat ants in my experience.


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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#4 Offline Mdrogun - Posted June 25 2020 - 10:01 AM

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Most ants will eat seeds to some extent. Often times, seeds are incredibly oily or full of protein and ants can detect that even if they're not a granivorous species. I'm not sure if Tetramorium immigrans is considered a granivorous species, but they certainly don't mind taking in seeds every now and then.


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Currently Keeping:
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis

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Forelius sp. (Monogynous, bicolored) "Midwestern Forelius"
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#5 Offline TKD102 - Posted June 25 2020 - 10:16 AM

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They will haul them into the nest to feed the brood, but after a few days they take them out into their trash pile. They are incredibly neat ants in my experience.

Thanks that's what I was looking for


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Currently Keeping:

Tetramorium Immigrans


#6 Offline AntsDakota - Posted June 25 2020 - 11:05 AM

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Most ants will eat seeds to some extent. Often times, seeds are incredibly oily or full of protein and ants can detect that even if they're not a granivorous species. I'm not sure if Tetramorium immigrans is considered a granivorous species, but they certainly don't mind taking in seeds every now and then.

I’ve heard several times about granivorous behavior in these (on this forum).
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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version


#7 Offline TKD102 - Posted June 26 2020 - 9:30 AM

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Most ants will eat seeds to some extent. Often times, seeds are incredibly oily or full of protein and ants can detect that even if they're not a granivorous species. I'm not sure if Tetramorium immigrans is considered a granivorous species, but they certainly don't mind taking in seeds every now and then.

I’ve heard several times about granivorous behavior in these (on this forum).

 

Maybe I'll just give them a bunch and see what they do. I'll post my results here guys  (y)


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Currently Keeping:

Tetramorium Immigrans


#8 Online ANTdrew - Posted June 26 2020 - 9:40 AM

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Hemp hearts are a favorite for my colonies. They also love chopped up sesame seeds.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#9 Offline TKD102 - Posted July 11 2020 - 8:10 AM

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Alright so I gave them a bunch of seeds a few days ago and they're not seeming to store them. I've found they dragged a few pieces into their nest, but the workers are constantly working on breaking them down. The rest of the seeds are just in the outworld waiting for them.


Currently Keeping:

Tetramorium Immigrans


#10 Online ANTdrew - Posted July 11 2020 - 8:22 AM

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What kind of seeds? Hemp hearts and chopped up sesame seeds work the best for mine.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#11 Offline ponerinecat - Posted July 11 2020 - 9:59 AM

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Alright so I gave them a bunch of seeds a few days ago and they're not seeming to store them. I've found they dragged a few pieces into their nest, but the workers are constantly working on breaking them down. The rest of the seeds are just in the outworld waiting for them.

Perhaps they don't want to use too much energy on them? Especially if you're already providing enough nutrients for them in other food. Ants usually won't take more than they can eat.



#12 Offline TKD102 - Posted July 11 2020 - 7:47 PM

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Perhaps they don't want to use too much energy on them? Especially if you're already providing enough nutrients for them in other food. Ants usually won't take more than they can eat.

Ohh that's probably it. I already give them like crickets and some grape jelly every few days.

 

What kind of seeds? Hemp hearts and chopped up sesame seeds work the best for mine.

I gave them some lightly ground flax seeds. Although probably the reason why they only accepted a little is because they're a small colony of around 30 workers.


Currently Keeping:

Tetramorium Immigrans






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