6 replies to this topic

[Leptomyrmx]

I recently hear about hide beetles, a small beetle that feeds on meat. They're about 9mm long apparently, and the larvae would be even smaller. I've been looking for a while at small 'snacks' I can feed my ant colonies, things they can eat quickly without making too much mess. I've been using pinhead crickets a lot but crickets are hard to cultivate, I just buy a box of them and freeze them currently.

 

Going off topic a bit, are there any other small (>1cm) feeder insects available in Australia and not to hard to take care of?

 

Thanks!

[ANTdrew]

Yes, you could.

[Mettcollsuss]

I've got some dermestid beetle stowaways in my dubia bin that I often feed off to my colonies. In my experience, they're not my ants' favorite insect, but they won't refuse them either. The main con I've noticed about dermestid beetles as feeders is that their larvae are covered in bristly hairs that can make it hard for some ants to get at them, but that can be countered by cutting them in half.

[PaigeX]

I recently hear about hide beetles, a small beetle that feeds on meat. They're about 9mm long apparently, and the larvae would be even smaller. I've been looking for a while at small 'snacks' I can feed my ant colonies, things they can eat quickly without making too much mess. I've been using pinhead crickets a lot but crickets are hard to cultivate, I just buy a box of them and freeze them currently.

 

Going off topic a bit, are there any other small (>1cm) feeder insects available in Australia and not to hard to take care of?

 

Thanks!

Start a fruit fly culture. can make a few generations out of one container. 

[Leptomyrmx]

Yes, you could.

 

 

I've got some dermestid beetle stowaways in my dubia bin that I often feed off to my colonies. In my experience, they're not my ants' favorite insect, but they won't refuse them either. The main con I've noticed about dermestid beetles as feeders is that their larvae are covered in bristly hairs that can make it hard for some ants to get at them, but that can be countered by cutting them in half.

 

Thanks!

 

 

I recently hear about hide beetles, a small beetle that feeds on meat. They're about 9mm long apparently, and the larvae would be even smaller. I've been looking for a while at small 'snacks' I can feed my ant colonies, things they can eat quickly without making too much mess. I've been using pinhead crickets a lot but crickets are hard to cultivate, I just buy a box of them and freeze them currently.

 

Going off topic a bit, are there any other small (>1cm) feeder insects available in Australia and not to hard to take care of?

 

Thanks!

Start a fruit fly culture. can make a few generations out of one container. 

 

 

Let's just say my family have had some uh... bad experiences with fruit flies...

(our house was invaded once, they were everywhere... good ant food though. we're experiencing a second wave now)

My parents aren't too keen on me getting fruit flies, they're worried they'll escape.

[PaigeX]

 

Yes, you could.

 

 

I've got some dermestid beetle stowaways in my dubia bin that I often feed off to my colonies. In my experience, they're not my ants' favorite insect, but they won't refuse them either. The main con I've noticed about dermestid beetles as feeders is that their larvae are covered in bristly hairs that can make it hard for some ants to get at them, but that can be countered by cutting them in half.

 

Thanks!

 

 

I recently hear about hide beetles, a small beetle that feeds on meat. They're about 9mm long apparently, and the larvae would be even smaller. I've been looking for a while at small 'snacks' I can feed my ant colonies, things they can eat quickly without making too much mess. I've been using pinhead crickets a lot but crickets are hard to cultivate, I just buy a box of them and freeze them currently.

 

Going off topic a bit, are there any other small (>1cm) feeder insects available in Australia and not to hard to take care of?

 

Thanks!

Start a fruit fly culture. can make a few generations out of one container. 

 

 

Let's just say my family have had some uh... bad experiences with fruit flies...

(our house was invaded once, they were everywhere... good ant food though. we're experiencing a second wave now)

My parents aren't too keen on me getting fruit flies, they're worried they'll escape.

 

The fruit fly cultures bred to be flightless, so no need to worry on that.

[Kaelwizard]

Yes, you could.

I've got some dermestid beetle stowaways in my dubia bin that I often feed off to my colonies. In my experience, they're not my ants' favorite insect, but they won't refuse them either. The main con I've noticed about dermestid beetles as feeders is that their larvae are covered in bristly hairs that can make it hard for some ants to get at them, but that can be countered by cutting them in half.

Thanks!

I recently hear about hide beetles, a small beetle that feeds on meat. They're about 9mm long apparently, and the larvae would be even smaller. I've been looking for a while at small 'snacks' I can feed my ant colonies, things they can eat quickly without making too much mess. I've been using pinhead crickets a lot but crickets are hard to cultivate, I just buy a box of them and freeze them currently.

Going off topic a bit, are there any other small (>1cm) feeder insects available in Australia and not to hard to take care of?

Thanks!

Start a fruit fly culture. can make a few generations out of one container.

Let's just say my family have had some uh... bad experiences with fruit flies...
(our house was invaded once, they were everywhere... good ant food though. we're experiencing a second wave now)
My parents aren't too keen on me getting fruit flies, they're worried they'll escape.

The fruit fly cultures bred to be flightless, so no need to worry on that.

They are really good at jumping, so escape is still a possibility.