Search found 16 matches

by KimNorway
Wed Sep 19, 2018 5:03 pm
Forum: Everything Else
Topic: What does facultively polygynous mean?
Replies: 5
Views: 3360

Re: What does facultively polygynous mean?

antnest8 is right in it meaning "optional". It also means the colonies in the wild might be found with 2 or more queens, but it might not always be. The problem is some of those species actually is "facultative polygynous" for a while founding a colony, and then might start kill each other. I also s...
by KimNorway
Sun Sep 16, 2018 3:20 pm
Forum: Everything Else
Topic: Antkeeping in sweden
Replies: 1
Views: 1516

Re: Antkeeping in sweden

from looking at the Norwegian "Artsdatabanken", it seems the most promising candidate is Myrmica rubra:
https://www.artsdatabanken.no/Pages/173159 (In Norwegian).
Some Myrmica in Trøndelag in Norway did fly in the middle of August, but you might be lucky. Only ant i know of who might fly this late.
by KimNorway
Sun Sep 16, 2018 2:20 pm
Forum: Ant Keeping for Beginners
Topic: Leptothorax acervorum questions
Replies: 5
Views: 3352

Re: Leptothorax acervorum questions

Thanks. I did try find a colony, and found a tiny colony of some dark colour Myrmica, i am guessing some of the tiny monogynous 100-150 ant colony size kind of Myrmica... I did put the branch in an tub with a barrier, and the ants basically just gathered all brood uncovered by lifting off some bark,...
by KimNorway
Sat Sep 08, 2018 7:20 am
Forum: Ant Diet & Nutrition
Topic: Semi clostrual queens more interested in fruit and honey over protein foods.
Replies: 8
Views: 5164

Re: Semi clostrual queens more interested in fruit and honey over protein foods.

I do not know the details of that species, but the general idea of ants is usually this: The adult ants as far I know do not digest protein directly, that goes to the larvae, which feeds protein in liquid form trough prophylaxis. So until the larvae hatches, the queens lays an occasional 'dead' egg ...
by KimNorway
Sat Sep 08, 2018 7:01 am
Forum: Ant Diet & Nutrition
Topic: Myrmica lobicornis 'group' food
Replies: 0
Views: 2147

Myrmica lobicornis 'group' food

I think i just found an entire colony inside a tree branch of an Myrmica with dark head and abdomen, and red thorax. As far I can read, they live as detrivores and collect nectar, so honeywayer and sugar water, but what kind of protein should I try for them? would frozen fishfood as mosquito larvae,...
by KimNorway
Fri Sep 07, 2018 4:59 am
Forum: Ant Care and Ant Keeping
Topic: Cricket or grasshopper leg?
Replies: 8
Views: 4535

Re: Cricket or grasshopper leg?

One of the approved import 'feeder' animals in Norway is a 'grasshopper', the migratory locust: Locusta migratoria. The famous "plague of Egypt" thing, actually edible and considered kosher. Eastern African ppl I think also eat them. This choice is a matter of location: for some of you guys, the mig...
by KimNorway
Thu Sep 06, 2018 3:12 am
Forum: General Ant Talk
Topic: Myrmicinae - Formica rufa, Eggs not growing.
Replies: 5
Views: 3061

Re: Myrmicinae - Formica rufa, Eggs not growing.

There is reports of Lasius genus too, so you could try Lasius neoniger pupae as well.
by KimNorway
Mon Sep 03, 2018 5:15 pm
Forum: Ant Keeping for Beginners
Topic: Leptothorax acervorum questions
Replies: 5
Views: 3352

Re: Leptothorax acervorum questions

http://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Leptothorax_acervorum
No, Temnothorax do not appear as far north as I live, while Leptothorax is documented as being common in the species descriptions for Norway.
by KimNorway
Mon Sep 03, 2018 10:31 am
Forum: Ant Keeping for Beginners
Topic: Leptothorax acervorum questions
Replies: 5
Views: 3352

Leptothorax acervorum questions

I did study some of my dead "myrmica" ants in a microscope, seems I was wrong. Likely the tiny ants are a Leptothorax species, most likely the common Leptothorax acervorum, one of Norway's most common ants. Question: is this a good candidate if i find a colony inside an acorn, a straw or reed of sor...
by KimNorway
Thu Aug 30, 2018 6:01 am
Forum: Ant Keeping for Beginners
Topic: Myrmica rubra question
Replies: 3
Views: 2535

Re: Myrmica rubra question

Thanks.
I see it mentioned around the web the simplest way to get Myrmica rubra is to capture one of the semi-claustral queens under a rock or something in sunny days. I will see what I can get. The only other type of ant i actually know of in my area is Formica rufa, a social parasite.