6 replies to this topic

[Queen]

1) I recently took my colonies off heat to get them ready for diapause. I noticed they start to take their eggs and larva everywhere as if they're searching for a heat source. They continue to be quite active even with heating removed. Would you guys keep the heat on all winter then (not hot but slightly warm)? I am from Southern California

 

2) I noticed a huge infestation/growth of booklice in one of my colony. I see a small pile of what looks like sand but its actually booklice larva wriggling about when I poke it. I understand booklice means no harm and are in fact beneficial to the colony as they eat waste and other organic matter (mold and fungus), but is there a point that you guys feel enough is enough and start to clear them out? if so, how do you guys clear them out? 

 

3) At what point would you consider is the mini Hearth XL to be too small for a colony and the colony needs to be moved into a bigger formicarium? I have a colony of V. Pergandei in it, and right now its occupying about 75% of every space of the nest (floor, ceiling, walls). What would be the next tier in size? The Labyrinth?

 

 

Thanks!

[ZTYguy]

I can answer your third question and you should move them out when the brood blankets the floor or you can barely see into the place.

[Queen]

I can answer your third question and you should move them out when the brood blankets the floor or you can barely see into the place.

Thanks!

[OhNoNotAgain]

1. What ants? It depends on where they came from/what species. Desert species you can keep heating, though some people advise giving them a break (but turn down the heat gradually).

2. No clue. I'm told grain mites are not a problem, too, but (1) I hate them and (2) every colony with them has coincidentally not done very well.

3. Next size up would probably be a Fortress or Fallen Fortress. But I'll warn you when I was heating my single-queen Veromessor pergandei colony, they outgrew the Fallen Fortress within a couple months and I moved them to a Labyrinth. Which they have now also completely outgrown. I no longer heat them and just let them do whatever at room temperature (about 80 F in summer, low 70's in winter).

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, December 5 2020 - 10:14 AM.

[Queen]

1. What ants? It depends on where they came from/what species. Desert species you can keep heating, though some people advise giving them a break (but turn down the heat gradually).

2. No clue. I'm told grain mites are not a problem, too, but (1) I hate them and (2) every colony with them has coincidentally not done very well.

3. Next size up would probably be a Fortress or Fallen Fortress. But I'll warn you when I was heating my single-queen Veromessor pergandei colony, they outgrew the Fallen Fortress within a couple months and I moved them to a Labyrinth. Which they have now also completely outgrown. I no longer heat them and just let them do whatever at room temperature (about 80 F in summer, low 70's in winter).

 

Thanks!

 

For 1), I have:

V. pergandei

V. Andrei

P. californicus

C. Sansabeanus

C. US-CA02

 

The Camponotus aren't always active, but the others are always active.

[Zeiss]

The only ants that may need to be hibernated are C. sansabeanus if they were caught in high altitudes that regularly get super cold.  The rest don't need hibernation temperatures, but you can take them off heat and leave them at room temperatures.

 

Booklice aren't a problem for the colonies you are keeping.  They help clean up after the ants.

 

I would consider a colony outgrowing a nest when it's obvious they're crowded.

[Queen]

The only ants that may need to be hibernated are C. sansabeanus if they were caught in high altitudes that regularly get super cold.  The rest don't need hibernation temperatures, but you can take them off heat and leave them at room temperatures.

 

Booklice aren't a problem for the colonies you are keeping.  They help clean up after the ants.

 

I would consider a colony outgrowing a nest when it's obvious they're crowded.

Thank you!