Tetramorium question
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Tetramorium question
I feed my Tetramorium sp. E a sunflower seed yesterday, and they liked it. What other seeds will this species eat? Also, do seeds count as protein or sugar?
- Batspiderfish
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- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
- Location: Maine
Re: Tetramorium question
Myrmicines like Tetramorium are able to make good use of seeds because of their ability to digest starches. Other ants, such as the Formicinae subfamily, can sometimes chew fats out of seeds, but mostly rely on sugar and insect protein to survive. Seeds are a good source of protein AND carbohydrates to most myrmicines, but these should ***** the usual insect/sugar diet, not replace it (excluding, perhaps, seed specialists like Pogonomyrmex, which still enjoy insects and sugar).
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.
Re: Tetramorium question
Very interesting, thank you. Do you know any other seeds they'll eat?Batspiderfish wrote:Myrmicines like Tetramorium are able to make good use of seeds because of their ability to digest starches. Other ants, such as the Formicinae subfamily, can sometimes chew fats out of seeds, but mostly rely on sugar and insect protein to survive. Seeds are a good source of protein AND carbohydrates to most myrmicines, but these should ***** the usual insect/sugar diet, not replace it (excluding, perhaps, seed specialists like Pogonomyrmex, which still enjoy insects and sugar).
- Batspiderfish
- Posts: 3315
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
- Location: Maine
Re: Tetramorium question
I've only tried teff.MCWren wrote:Very interesting, thank you. Do you know any other seeds they'll eat?Batspiderfish wrote:Myrmicines like Tetramorium are able to make good use of seeds because of their ability to digest starches. Other ants, such as the Formicinae subfamily, can sometimes chew fats out of seeds, but mostly rely on sugar and insect protein to survive. Seeds are a good source of protein AND carbohydrates to most myrmicines, but these should ***** the usual insect/sugar diet, not replace it (excluding, perhaps, seed specialists like Pogonomyrmex, which still enjoy insects and sugar).
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.
- idahoantgirl
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
- Location: Idaho, USA
Re: Tetramorium question
in AntsCanada-s video on teramorium he said that his ants love sesame seeds.Batspiderfish wrote:I've only tried teff.MCWren wrote:Very interesting, thank you. Do you know any other seeds they'll eat?Batspiderfish wrote:Myrmicines like Tetramorium are able to make good use of seeds because of their ability to digest starches. Other ants, such as the Formicinae subfamily, can sometimes chew fats out of seeds, but mostly rely on sugar and insect protein to survive. Seeds are a good source of protein AND carbohydrates to most myrmicines, but these should ***** the usual insect/sugar diet, not replace it (excluding, perhaps, seed specialists like Pogonomyrmex, which still enjoy insects and sugar).
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
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