95 replies to this topic

[Antcatcherpro3]

Formica Subsericea is my favorite formica speices. They just have this look and behavior that makes them really cool. I'm happy to see that you are getting a colony of them yourself.

 

Hi, Everyone - I’m so happy to see this particular topic. I expect to receive a Formica subsericea colony from Tar Heel Ants soon. I’m new to ant keeping as an adult, but had colonies when I was a child.

[Antcatcherpro3]

They are very skittish, also.

[8NIN8]

How do you deal with their skittishness? Or is there anything that can be done?


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[Antcatcherpro3]

Not really. that's just how they are.

But one of my workers almost escaped the tube the other day because it was scared. but i got it back. They are very fast.

[Antcatcherpro3]

Update: My colony now has 2 small larvae. I am fed them a little sugar water today also.

[Kaelwizard]

Update: My colony now has 2 small larvae. I am fed them a little sugar water today also.

If they have larvae they need protein. Once they have an outworld, give them a constant supply of sugar (via a feeder or something of the sort) and feed them protein occasionally.

Edited by Kaelwizard, March 11 2021 - 9:14 AM.

[Antcatcherpro3]

Ok. I gave them a mealworm just now.

And I have liquid feeders.

[Kaelwizard]

Ok. I gave them a mealworm just now.

And I have liquid feeders.

👍

[Antcatcherpro3]

I am expecting a small colony of messor structor to be here soon also.

[Kaelwizard]

I am expecting a small colony of messor structor to be here soon also.

That’s illegal. Messor structor is a European species. Please tell me you didn’t order them off Etsy. I told you in a different thread not to do that.

[Antcatcherpro3]

I didn't.

[Antcatcherpro3]

They were the type from tarheel ants. I ment pogonomyrmex. Before I knew about the ordering I had a colony of messor and they died. Every ant I order dies so I probaly shouldn't have spent 80 dollars on ants because I couldn't find just the queen.

[Kaelwizard]

They were the type from tarheel ants. I ment pogonomyrmex. Before I knew about the ordering I had a colony of messor and they died. Every ant I order dies so I probaly shouldn't have spent 80 dollars on ants because I couldn't find just the queen.

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis is a lot different than Messor structor... Anyway, I thought you said the only ant you ordered had been Pheidole?

[Antcatcherpro3]

Well I before I got to this forum I should've done research on if ordering ants is ok. Why is it ok to order pogonomyrmex, is it because they don't cause trouble to the enviorment if escaped or released?

And how fast do they grow?

[Antcatcherpro3]

And I am sure I've had a colony of messor before.

[Antcatcherpro3]

And I've just forgotten. Looking through my photos on my phone I saw pictures of messor, but anyway they died. I shouldn't order ants if they always die with me. That pheidole that I ordered last year, I got an extra, and I put the queens together, and they ripped eachother apart.

[Kaelwizard]

Well I before I got to this forum I should've done research on if ordering ants is ok. Why is it ok to order pogonomyrmex, is it because they don't cause trouble to the enviorment if escaped or released?

And how fast do they grow?

 

I believe it has something to do with the fact that the little worker only ant farms utilize them, so they were already being shipped around. They are also common in the western US, hence their common name.

And I am sure I've had a colony of messor before.

I didn't mean that you didn't have them, I just thought that you had said you had only ever ordered a Pheidole colony, so it confused me when you said you also ordered a Messor colony.

[KitsAntVa]

You should read some care guides about it on the internet and check out some journals on here. Make sure they have seeds at all times but despite what everyone says they will do amazing if you feed them protein such as crickets fruit flies and dubias.

[Antcatcherpro3]

How fast do they grow?

Because I will also need to order a new formicarium depending on how  fast they grow.

[Kaelwizard]

How fast do they grow?

Because I will also need to order a new formicarium depending on how  fast they grow.

They aren't the fastest growing, but when provided with lots of food they can grow a LOT faster.