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[Ameise]

I've noticed some people here give their queens honey, some give them sugar water, and some give them maple syrup... but no one seems to clarify what those actually are to them.

 

What are the benefits/drawbacks of each?

 

When we say 'sugar water', what concentration are you usually making? Completely saturated?

 

When we say 'honey', what kind of honey? Filtered or unfiltered? Clover? I only have orange blossom honey.

 

When we say 'maple syrup', are we talking about real maple syrup? If so, Grade A, B, or C? If not, are we talking about maple-flavored corn syrup like Aunt Jemima's?

 

I haven't found answers to these.

[drtrmiller]

All the above represent sugars that are mostly utilized by adult workers as a primary form of energy throughout their diminutive life. While starving ants may be attracted to each, long-term receptivity will vary considerably depending on the final chemical composition and ratio of sugars to water.

While a sizable number of scientific and other articles do exist on the relative sweetness of various sugars to ants, as well as how other chemicals and compounds affect the phagostimulatory properties, much more research is needed to understand the optimal composition of sugary foods as they relate to keeping the multitude of species of ants alive and well in captivity.

Edited by drtrmiller, June 18 2017 - 3:26 AM.