The AntsCanada Ant Forum's

I keep my colonies' test tubes in clear plastic food containers with an air hole in the lid. When I need to change a test tube, I put the fresh one in beside the old one. They will move when they want and that way I don't have to worry about it.

I buy food containers, that are relatively clear for viewing, at the dollar store. I cut a hole in the top and siliconed some fine mesh over the hole for air supply. They cost about $1.25 each and they are large enough to hold the test tube and provide forage room.

Success can depend on the size of the colony inhabitants. Be prepared to see a bit of shrinkage in the grout as it dries. I moved an Aphenogaster colony into a grout and frame nest and it took them half a day to decide that it sucked. They moved bag and baggage into the grout outworld (a thing of be...

Walnut is going to be pretty tough chewing. They usually like softer wood, like something with dry rot.

It might be easier to hibernate them in their present set up.

The one with the partially red gaster looks like my C. vicinus queen. She isn't as successful as yours.

Sorry Folks, I have no idea where these photos came from. I did a stupid thing and cleared some "old" photos, not realizing what would happen. It looks to me as if Imgur filled in with something that should not be here. I have reported the posts.

There are many different kinds of Camponotus. Each subspecies flies at different times. Where I am, C. laevigatus flew a week or two after C. modoc. Some fly later and some can fly twice or not at all if the environment doesn't support it. The nuptial schedules are a guideline.

It will likely be 2 years before the colony is large enogh to require formicariums. Formica sp ants are slow growers compared to some other species. They will be happy with a test tube set up in a small plastic food storage container. Cut a hole in the lid and use some fine metal mesh for air. Choos...

Is she likely to be a parasitic queen? I have a fusca group colony with no queen. Any chance of her accepting them or them her?