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Can I feed my ants mosquito larvae/pupae

Started By steelplant , Sep 5 2020 10:46 AM

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#1 Offline steelplant - Posted September 5 2020 - 10:46 AM

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I've got a bunch of mosquito larvae in a jar of water. Can I feed them to my ants? From what I've read, the pupae float on the surface for a few days, so that would be the easiest life stage to feed them. 

 

If not, I'll rig something up to catch the mosquitoes as they hatch out. Which of course could go horribly wrong.


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#2 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 5 2020 - 11:18 AM

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I’d say yes.
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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.

#3 Offline FSTP - Posted September 5 2020 - 11:29 AM

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why do you have a jar of mosquito larva? just curious. 


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#4 Offline steelplant - Posted September 5 2020 - 2:29 PM

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Thanks Antdrew. 

 

FSTP, I saw them wriggling in rainwater collected outside and thought I'd grab them and hatch them to feed to the ants. But then thought it might be safer to feed them as larvae/pupae. They got tipped into the jar, leaves and all, and the tannins have turned the water a gentle brown. With a light on them they're like an exotic aquarium. Better than sea monkeys even lol. Very lively. 


#5 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 5 2020 - 2:49 PM

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Let us know how this goes. My yard is mosquito central, so I could try it out.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#6 Offline steelplant - Posted September 5 2020 - 3:42 PM

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Let us know how this goes. My yard is mosquito central, so I could try it out.

 

Will do.


#7 Offline Antkid12 - Posted September 6 2020 - 4:39 AM

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I fed my Pheidole morrisii some mosquito larva yesterday. They instantly ate it.


Ants I have: Tapinoma sessile(2 queen colony). RED MORPH Camponotus neacticus(now has pupae!), Tetramorium immigrans (x3), Aphaenogaster sp, Temnothorax sp, Brachymyrmex sp.   possibly infertile   :(,  Ponera pennsylvanica, and Pheidole morrisi!  :yahoo: 

 

Other insects: Polistes sp. Queen

                    

Ants I need: Pheidole sp., Trachymyrmex sp., Crematogaster cerasi , Dorymyrmex sp. Most wanted: Pheidole morrisii

 

                    

                   

 

 

#8 Offline DerkaDoesGaming - Posted September 6 2020 - 5:44 AM

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 Great idea. Mosquito's are a pain... lol

 

God: Created Ants...Created Humans... Created Mosquito's

Humans: damn Mosquito's

Ants: Feed us

Humans: Puts larva in jars.. feeds Ants..

Ants: Thank you humans :) 

God: Good job!  :D  


Edited by DerkaDoesGaming, September 6 2020 - 5:47 AM.

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#9 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 6 2020 - 7:56 AM

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Great idea. Mosquito's are a pain... lol

God: Created Ants...Created Humans... Created Mosquito's
Humans: damn Mosquito's
Ants: Feed us
Humans: Puts larva in jars.. feeds Ants..
Ants: Thank you humans :)
God: Good job! :D

Just dropped an Amen.
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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.

#10 Offline DerkaDoesGaming - Posted September 6 2020 - 8:04 AM

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Praise God for Ants!

 

Great idea. Mosquito's are a pain... lol

God: Created Ants...Created Humans... Created Mosquito's
Humans: damn Mosquito's
Ants: Feed us
Humans: Puts larva in jars.. feeds Ants..
Ants: Thank you humans :)
God: Good job! :D

Just dropped an Amen. 

 


Formicast Website! Check it out HERE! 

 

 

#11 Offline steelplant - Posted September 8 2020 - 4:25 AM

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I fed my Pheidole morrisii some mosquito larva yesterday. They instantly ate it.

 

Just tried some with my myrmica and she didn't seem interested. May I ask how you catch them? I used a tea strainer and other half not best pleased.


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