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[AntBoi3030]

I'm just getting started with work on Lausis and mealy bugs' relationship. I've been trying to figure out a setup on how to keep them together. 

 

So far, I'm thinking of a setup where there is grass or some kind of vegatation on the top of a formicarium with an artificail nest beneath. I'm thinking there could be some kind of mesh above the nest that would allow roots to fall into the nest. I would leave a portion of the nest drier and warmer so the mealy bugs wouldn't go moldy. 

 

Does anyone know of this being done before?

 

Please let me know about any information you think might be helpful!

Edited by AntBoi3030, July 16 2025 - 10:21 AM.

[L.H]

I have tried this multiple times with most being unsuccessful. However, while pulling weeds out in a garden, I found tons of mealybugs being tended to by parasitic lasius on he root of a dandelion plant. This is probably because the dandelion plant has a taproot which makes it easier for mealybugs to get sap from. If you can find mealybug types that don't need roots like the ones in my journal it would be easier since you wouldn't need dirt. Those did eventually fail due to a lack of protein in which the ants turned on the mealybugs and fed them to the larvae. 

 

I would just try to find mealybugs on a a type of plant, then find a smaller plant of the same species. Then make like a small dirt box which you can plant the plant in. After that add the mealybugs in and it should work.

 

Some tips would be to not underfeed protein while raising mealybugs since they would eat the mealybugs and that if you want to see the ants actually tending to the mealybugs, start feeding them less sugar/honey water. Also make sure the plant stays alive.