2 replies to this topic

[Works4TheGood]

I have 4 new colonies. Each one is in a test tube, which is inside of a Tupperware container. I've noticing very little activity occurring outside of their test tubes. It seems unusual when I see any ant at all outside their tubes. Is this because the temp is now 70F? Or is this because the colonies are less than 20 ants? Or is this because they currently have all the resources they need and don't need to forage? If they are lack a resource, they'll proactively increase the number of foraging ants and their foraging range to find it, right

[antmaniac]

Temperature definitely plays a big part, so is the weather. If it is going to rain or raining, even if the colony is indoor, they usually don't leave the nest. In addition, I find that they need a lot more workers tending the brood vs the forage workers. For young colony, it would be little to none activity outside until they reach a certain worker ratio or colony really desperate for resources. Also the age of the worker play a part in workers leaving the nest.

[Crystals]

As Antmaniac pointed out, low temperatures equals low brood development, lower resource requirements, and lower foraging activity.

I find this common in most small colonies if they have easy access to food.

 

Even my northern species forage less if the nest is at 70F (21C).  Doesn't stop them, but it does slow them a bit.  Older colonies always seem to have a handful of workers who are dedicated foragers, which makes the foraging area seem busier.

 

Honest, in a year or two you will wish that they would all go back into the nest so you can properly clean the foraging area.