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Lasius brevicornis keeping tips

lasius brevicornis ant keeping tips south dakota ants_dakota care

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#1 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 29 2022 - 5:39 AM

Ants_Dakota

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Good day everyone.

I have managed to catch a decent quantity of L. brevicornis queens this anting season and would like to hear from those of you who have kept this species before. Specifically, what is the best founding setup for them; does a plain test tube work, or do i need an insert or substrate. Secondly, it is well known these ants keep root aphids, something i have not seen attempted before by ant keepers in setups, so is this required for their survival or not. I assume, based off of L. neoniger, that in northern regions, such as South Dakota, L. brevicornis need to hibernate before laying eggs this spring. So that would explain no eggs yet. And finally, what heating is used on L. brevicornis, if any.

Thank you all!


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#2 Offline ColAnt735 - Posted September 29 2022 - 10:59 AM

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Good day everyone.

I have managed to catch a decent quantity of L. brevicornis queens this anting season and would like to hear from those of you who have kept this species before. Specifically, what is the best founding setup for them; does a plain test tube work, or do i need an insert or substrate. Secondly, it is well known these ants keep root aphids, something i have not seen attempted before by ant keepers in setups, so is this required for their survival or not. I assume, based off of L. neoniger, that in northern regions, such as South Dakota, L. brevicornis need to hibernate before laying eggs this spring. So that would explain no eggs yet. And finally, what heating is used on L. brevicornis, if any.

Thank you all!

A blank test tube will work although I have found them to be more successful when a little bit of substrate in the tube.  They are very shy so when the workers arrive don't make them travel distances to get food. Some food my colony likes are fruit flies, all sugar sources,  and sometimes they'll accept mealworms.


Edited by ColAnt735, September 29 2022 - 11:01 AM.

  • Ants_Dakota and lazyant like this

"If an ant carries an object a hundred times it's weight,you can carry burdens many times your size.


#3 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 30 2022 - 6:54 AM

Ants_Dakota

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Good day everyone.

I have managed to catch a decent quantity of L. brevicornis queens this anting season and would like to hear from those of you who have kept this species before. Specifically, what is the best founding setup for them; does a plain test tube work, or do i need an insert or substrate. Secondly, it is well known these ants keep root aphids, something i have not seen attempted before by ant keepers in setups, so is this required for their survival or not. I assume, based off of L. neoniger, that in northern regions, such as South Dakota, L. brevicornis need to hibernate before laying eggs this spring. So that would explain no eggs yet. And finally, what heating is used on L. brevicornis, if any.

Thank you all!

A blank test tube will work although I have found them to be more successful when a little bit of substrate in the tube.  They are very shy so when the workers arrive don't make them travel distances to get food. Some food my colony likes are fruit flies, all sugar sources,  and sometimes they'll accept mealworms.

 

did you hibernate yours, and are they on heat?


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#4 Offline ColAnt735 - Posted September 30 2022 - 10:45 AM

ColAnt735

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Good day everyone.

I have managed to catch a decent quantity of L. brevicornis queens this anting season and would like to hear from those of you who have kept this species before. Specifically, what is the best founding setup for them; does a plain test tube work, or do i need an insert or substrate. Secondly, it is well known these ants keep root aphids, something i have not seen attempted before by ant keepers in setups, so is this required for their survival or not. I assume, based off of L. neoniger, that in northern regions, such as South Dakota, L. brevicornis need to hibernate before laying eggs this spring. So that would explain no eggs yet. And finally, what heating is used on L. brevicornis, if any.

Thank you all!

A blank test tube will work although I have found them to be more successful when a little bit of substrate in the tube.  They are very shy so when the workers arrive don't make them travel distances to get food. Some food my colony likes are fruit flies, all sugar sources,  and sometimes they'll accept mealworms.

 

did you hibernate yours, and are they on heat?

 

I did not hibernate mine because they got eggs before diapause. In my experience they do better when not on heat.


  • lazyant likes this

"If an ant carries an object a hundred times it's weight,you can carry burdens many times your size.






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