36 replies to this topic

[ZTYguy]

I keep to my word of Acromyrmex versicolor. They have yet to give me a true challenge but the down sides are that they are kinda boring to watch after a while. I’d prefer Atta but you know, you get what you get and then you pray to the sun god Ra to please make Atta permits accessible.

[bmb1bee]

I keep to my word of Acromyrmex versicolor. They have yet to give me a true challenge but the down sides are that they are kinda boring to watch after a while. I’d prefer Atta but you know, you get what you get and then you pray to the sun god Ra to please make Atta permits accessible.

I was thinking Acromyrmex too, but I don't really think they'd be that easy to keep. mamr123 was talking about beginner colonies. Although if you have the resources and proper setup for Acromyrmex, then I suppose it wouldn't be too hard to raise them.

[ANTdrew]

Novomessor for sale: https://www.formicul...ia/#entry217550

[Serafine]

If it's a colony for a classroom abundant urban ants are most likely your best bet (ants like Lasius niger, Tetramorium immgrans, Nylanderia fulva, etc.).

They're usually very durable, not too picky with nesting conditions and food, can get used to a good amount of disturbance and have the ability to bounce back from big losses.

[ANTdrew]

Nylanderia is a great suggestion. They’re small, but super easy and active.

[Mettcollsuss]

I was thinking Acromyrmex too, but I don't really think they'd be that easy to keep. mamr123 was talking about beginner colonies. Although if you have the resources and proper setup for Acromyrmex, then I suppose it wouldn't be too hard to raise them.

Attines are pretty easy to keep honestly. As long as you have an appropriate setup, just offer plant material, and don't let them flood or dry out. Acromyrmex don't grow as huge and hard to manage as Atta can, and even so both can be limited by just feeding them less.

[ZTYguy]

I’m about to wow all of you people with a colony I’m picking up. I won’t give any spoilers to my next Acromyrmex journal update but this colony has been living and thriving in a setup that probably none of you would even think of. It will be a privilege to keep this colony and I’m excited to aid my word of showing how Acromyrmex can be extremely adaptive and easy to care for ants. Expect an update at around 8pm tonight. Sorry for hijacking this post.

[CheetoLord02]

NOVOMESSOR. Novomessor Novomessor Novomessor.

I've said this before, and honestly I'd like to make a more in-depth topic about it, but in my personal opinion I think Novomessor are the best suited ants for captivity. They do not have a single trait that could be considered a negative in captivity. I'll touch on some really quick, especially focusing on positives for a classroom environment.

- Large. Novomessor are quite large, with mature workers being well over 1cm. This makes them easy and fun to watch and observe.

- Behaviorally interesting. These ants have unique and fun behaviors to watch, almost giving the colony a "personality"

 

- Extremely generalistic. If it's edible, these ants will probably eat it. From seeds, to meat, to fruit, you name it, they'll probably eat it.

- Fast, but easily controlled growth. You want a giant colony? With some heating and powerfeeding you can easily get over 4000 workers in a year. Want a smaller colony? With controlled feeding you can keep them at only a few hundred workers forever.

- No sting. Their bites aren't even particularly painful.

- No special care. These ants have no special requirements for housing, care routines, etc. Heating is good for them, but not necessary.

I'm probably forgetting even more pros to these ants, but this is just what I'm able to rattle off the top of my head. If you're lucky enough to live in the native range of these guys (or get a permit for them), it's practically a crime not to give them a shot.

[NicholasP]

My favorite ant species that I'd recommend for people starting out antkeeping in the Midwest will in almost every case be Camponotus pennsylvanicus. Not the prettiest. But they get HUGE majors compared to any other Camponotus in the Midwest. They also are to my knowledge the largest Carpenter ant species for the Midwest. I do also recommend Cautolasius like Lasius brevicornis and nearciticus once they're past workers because they're such gorgeous ant workers and their behavior is just like Acanthomyops.

[ANTdrew]

NOVOMESSOR. Novomessor Novomessor Novomessor.

I've said this before, and honestly I'd like to make a more in-depth topic about it, but in my personal opinion I think Novomessor are the best suited ants for captivity. They do not have a single trait that could be considered a negative in captivity. I'll touch on some really quick, especially focusing on positives for a classroom environment.

- Large. Novomessor are quite large, with mature workers being well over 1cm. This makes them easy and fun to watch and observe.

- Behaviorally interesting. These ants have unique and fun behaviors to watch, almost giving the colony a "personality"

- Extremely generalistic. If it's edible, these ants will probably eat it. From seeds, to meat, to fruit, you name it, they'll probably eat it.

- Fast, but easily controlled growth. You want a giant colony? With some heating and powerfeeding you can easily get over 4000 workers in a year. Want a smaller colony? With controlled feeding you can keep them at only a few hundred workers forever.

- No sting. Their bites aren't even particularly painful.

- No special care. These ants have no special requirements for housing, care routines, etc. Heating is good for them, but not necessary.

I'm probably forgetting even more pros to these ants, but this is just what I'm able to rattle off the top of my head. If you're lucky enough to live in the native range of these guys (or get a permit for them), it's practically a crime not to give them a shot.

I rest my case. If I lived out west, I’d be all about these ants.

[AntsCali098]

Nylanderia is a great suggestion. They’re small, but super easy and active.

I'd make to same argument for bracymrymex.

Edited by AntsCali098, August 28 2022 - 6:39 PM.

[bmb1bee]

NOVOMESSOR. Novomessor Novomessor Novomessor.

I've said this before, and honestly I'd like to make a more in-depth topic about it, but in my personal opinion I think Novomessor are the best suited ants for captivity. They do not have a single trait that could be considered a negative in captivity. I'll touch on some really quick, especially focusing on positives for a classroom environment.

- Large. Novomessor are quite large, with mature workers being well over 1cm. This makes them easy and fun to watch and observe.

- Behaviorally interesting. These ants have unique and fun behaviors to watch, almost giving the colony a "personality"

 

- Extremely generalistic. If it's edible, these ants will probably eat it. From seeds, to meat, to fruit, you name it, they'll probably eat it.

- Fast, but easily controlled growth. You want a giant colony? With some heating and powerfeeding you can easily get over 4000 workers in a year. Want a smaller colony? With controlled feeding you can keep them at only a few hundred workers forever.

- No sting. Their bites aren't even particularly painful.

- No special care. These ants have no special requirements for housing, care routines, etc. Heating is good for them, but not necessary.

I'm probably forgetting even more pros to these ants, but this is just what I'm able to rattle off the top of my head. If you're lucky enough to live in the native range of these guys (or get a permit for them), it's practically a crime not to give them a shot.

Sounds like they should've deregulated Novomessor for ant farms instead of Pogonomyrmex occiddentalis lmao 

[bmb1bee]

I mean, that sounds way better than letting 10 year old kids take care of big red ants that rate a 3 on the Schmidt Sting Pain Index.

[GrandAntKing]

An ideal setup for the classroom is to put the formicarium you are going to keep the ants in, in a small fish tank to be use for an outworld. It will give them a good view of any feeding and ant activity.

 At worse you will have the kids just poking the glass of the fish tank. (I have a younger niece who loves to poke the glass on the terrarium and the C. modoc just ignore it.)

The kids would be unable to move the tank around. You could put also put a lid on there to keep them from putting their hands in there.

Edited by GrandAntKing, August 28 2022 - 8:40 PM.

[dspdrew]

Yeah but Novomessor are so pricey and rare here in CA that you have to pay a small fortune for a colony. Their one of the rarest desert ants in CA.

 

Novomessor are not rare at all in the Mojave desert. What's rare are queens or colonies for sale because the queens are so hard to find. At least they have been very hard to find for the last few years.

 

I found about seven of them this season, and might have new colonies for sale very soon.

[dspdrew]

While those are common in the Mojave they fly at a time of year that nothing else flies at so they aren’t collected lot.

 

I'm not sure what makes you think these aren't collected a lot. I would say it is the exact opposite. They're simple to find. I have a colony of over 50 workers for sale right now.

[Kristijan]

Formica and Lasius (fully claustral ones) though Formica are sensitive to vibrations