The AntsCanada Ant Forum's

So I've had a roughly 50 strong colony of Myrmica Rubra since I bought them last November. Their numbers haven't grown that much but to be fair they haven't been getting the most protein so that's probably on me. Anyways, when I took them out of hibernation in February this year the queen laid a bun...

Hey!

I believe that P. Badius workers enclose at around 35-40 days (total). I don't know how similar they are though.

I think hot water and elbow grease is the guaranteed safest, if not the best, method and for cleaning anything. You might also want to use some vinegar to eradicate the pheromone trails.

So I've always been fascinated by multi-queen ant species but I live in the UK and I'm relatively new to ant keeping and didn't really like the idea of keeping a species that isn't already here. (I'm fine with invasive species that have settled though!) Any ideas for a relatively easy to keep, polyg...

Yeah I'll check the cotton. Also, they're definitely dark enough but how am I supposes to keep them warm without a heat mat. Would it be ok to put a hot water bottle in the drawer with them and change it a couple times a day. Thanks Lasius Niger do fine at room temperature (~24°c), but might apprec...

I don't see why it wouldn't work. I was thinking you could leave a floor between each colony and stuff it with cotton soaked in vinegar, which I believe stops ant pharamones, and that might stop them sensing each other. Good luck.

I think infertility was probably the reason. Still sucks though. Sad.

I believe MB himself has encountered this issue with some harder-to-keep species. Have you tried pushing some cotton into the holes with a needle or something?

Are the queen's kept in a dark, warm place? Also, make sure the cotton is pushed in enough that the water can come through it.