Feeding earthworms??
Moderator: ooper01
-
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2018 12:12 pm
Feeding earthworms??
Simple question: why do I never read about people feeding earthworms to ants? I see them eating them on the sidwalk all the time.
-
- Posts: 620
- Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2017 5:59 pm
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
Re: Feeding earthworms??
Simply because earthworms aren’t really nutritious and they could have been exposed to pesticides and/or carry lethal pathogens.
An ants' strength can be rivaled by few animals compared to relative body size.
- idahoantgirl
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
- Location: Idaho, USA
Re: Feeding earthworms??
Some people argue that since wild colonies eat earthworms, that it is ok. I like to remind people that the majority of wild colonies end up dying prematurely. Only the luckiest survive.
Proverbs 6:6-8
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
-
- Posts: 409
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2018 6:51 am
- Location: Canada
- Contact:
Re: Feeding earthworms??
How do you know that the majority of colonies end up dying prematurely? And even if that’s true how do you know it’s from eating bugs? Do you have any links to sources or studies done on this subject?idahoantgirl wrote: ↑Wed Aug 01, 2018 3:30 pmSome people argue that since wild colonies eat earthworms, that it is ok. I like to remind people that the majority of wild colonies end up dying prematurely. Only the luckiest survive.
Keeping:
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA
- idahoantgirl
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
- Location: Idaho, USA
Re: Feeding earthworms??
Studies have not been done as far as my knowledge, nor would it be possible to do such a study easily. I'm just saying that there is a reason that advanced ant keepers everywhere never feed their colonies insects from outside, including Mikey Bustos. And I think we all agree that he has plenty of experience and expertise. Especially for beginners who struggle to keep their colonies healthy, I take every precaution when giving advice. It's much better to be safe than sorry.
Here is a link to his video that addresses this topic. Start at 10:45
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEJFcxCILlQ
Here is a link to his video that addresses this topic. Start at 10:45
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEJFcxCILlQ
Proverbs 6:6-8
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile
-
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2018 1:06 pm
Re: Feeding earthworms??
I think it's okay to get insects from your backyard. First, look at the insect and make sure it looks healthy (I.e missing legs, excessive cleaning etc). Then, as a precautionary method, just drop the insects into boiling water before feeding and leave them to your ants. I've had no deaths from my colonies and almost all of them eat insects from my yard. It's not entirely by choice though.. I just don't have many places I can go to buy food for my colonies anyway.idahoantgirl wrote: ↑Wed Aug 22, 2018 11:21 amStudies have not been done as far as my knowledge, nor would it be possible to do such a study easily. I'm just saying that there is a reason that advanced ant keepers everywhere never feed their colonies insects from outside, including Mikey Bustos. And I think we all agree that he has plenty of experience and expertise. Especially for beginners who struggle to keep their colonies healthy, I take every precaution when giving advice. It's much better to be safe than sorry.
Here is a link to his video that addresses this topic. Start at 10:45
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEJFcxCILlQ
Re: Feeding earthworms??
Hey guys. I just wanted to point out that under laboratory conditions a Lasius Niger queen lived to 29 almost 30 years old with her workers hitting the 4 year mark.
This has to be clear proof that clean food and clean housing is better for ants.
This has to be clear proof that clean food and clean housing is better for ants.
Research is important before during and even after you have established a colony. There is always time to learn and to listen to others experiences. Live by this and your ants will thrive. Fail to do so and your experience may be brief.
Re: Feeding earthworms??
Also one last point. Do you randomly pick food off the street for your dogs or cats of fish? Just a thought.
Research is important before during and even after you have established a colony. There is always time to learn and to listen to others experiences. Live by this and your ants will thrive. Fail to do so and your experience may be brief.
-
- Posts: 1283
- Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:22 pm
- Location: South Dakota
Re: Feeding earthworms??
I don't feed earthworms to my ants because they are very good for the enviroment.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25
Re: Feeding earthworms??
in my experience i think that it would be somewhat ok for ants to eat insect from your yard as long as you know the limits and conditions i would take every precaution by boiling the insects and all that but really it seems lots of people feed their colonies wild insects and that's ok. their is a little more risk but really i don't think that all insects are crawling with pesticides because the reason that ants can't eat them is because they are a little more delicate when it comes to chemicals. that does not mean that all bugs are hardier than ants. many could be even more sensitive. all im saying is that wild insects are not bad but just a little more risky and personally i prefer just store bought mealworms.
Some of My Informative Sheets
https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=19099
Includes :
https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=19099
Includes :
- Ant Care Sheets
Queen Hunting
How To Identify Ants
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 27 guests