13 replies to this topic

[Barristan]

I bought my colony in summer 2013 (1 queen, around 50 workers). Now I have more than 1000 (can't tell you exact number because I can't look into their nest)

 

They live in a nest which they wove with help of their larvae.

 

 

 

In 2013 the tank looked like this

 

 

I provide them with saw dust, earth particles, grass, moss so they can weave these materials together.

 

I feed mainly sugar water and dead insects but also sometimes fruits, honey, meat and fish. Today I fed them some cockroaches:

 

 

Interesting are also their threatening gestures:

 

 

 

But of course the nest weaving is their speciality:

 

 

 

Today I also managed to make a picture of a winged queen.

 

 

I haven't seen any males yet, I wonder why...

 

I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Some of you may have already seen them in the facebook group.

 

You can find additional photo's in my g+ photo album: https://plus.google....274640681350385

Edited by Barristan, January 14 2015 - 12:49 PM.

[dermy]

Wow those are some cool Pictures I love how the species makes it's own nest!

[dean_k]

Indeed, nice macro lens you got there. I guess they are similar to the Asian weaver ants.

[Barristan]

Thank you.

 

I guess they are similar to the Asian weaver ants.

 

They are from Asia.

[dspdrew]

Wow, nice pictures.

[drtrmiller]

I agree, the macro photography is particularly impressive.

 

It's a shame they've been given the opportunity to construct a natural habitat, and they've chosen to make something that looks like a bird's nest with a dead, decomposed ostrich in the middle.

[Barristan]

Thank you both.

 

Well I like the way they construct their nest it is something different from other ant species. However sometimes it is sad to not be able to look into their nest.

 

But even if you provided them with another nest typ they'd try to "customize" it so you can't look into it.

 

This is how the test tube in which they came to me looked like after few weeks:

 

 

There is one side I can get some look into the nest. It is the side facing to the glass and heated by the heating mat:

 

Edited by Barristan, January 14 2015 - 2:49 PM.

[dean_k]

One of the shots was so good that I couldn't pass it up, so I made it my avatar picture.

Edited by dean_k, January 14 2015 - 3:23 PM.

[dspdrew]

It's a shame they've been given the opportunity to construct a natural habitat, and they've chosen to make something that looks like a bird's nest with a dead, decomposed ostrich in the middle.

[Barristan]

deleted

 

Edited by Barristan, April 29 2017 - 1:24 PM.

[dermy]

I bet by now they just go right through all kinds of food!

[Barristan]

Tuna, baby mice (dead), eggs, salmon and of course different types of insects.

 

But I reduced proteins a little bit down from 10 adult cockroaches a day to around 4-5 every 2-3 days.

Edited by Barristan, September 18 2015 - 10:42 AM.

[dermy]

That's still quite a bit! It's always interesting seeing people feed very large Colonies and how creative they can get with the feeding

[Barristan]

deleted

Edited by Barristan, April 29 2017 - 1:24 PM.