Red Harvester Colony
Moderator: ooper01
Red Harvester Colony
Hey yall, good morning, so my girlfriend and I just caught ourselves a few red harvester ant queens which had just lost their wings, and had started digging new dens. We currently have them separated in baby food jars. I've given them some sugar water and such. But we are on a tight budget so, I was wondering what would be the best practice would be to keep her, and them from stuff I can get at the local hardware store,
Yes I have kept ant farms of about 20-30 worker ants but never a full colony. I'm in new territory here ya know.
Yes I have kept ant farms of about 20-30 worker ants but never a full colony. I'm in new territory here ya know.
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- Posts: 71
- Joined: Sun Aug 20, 2017 4:07 pm
- Location: Mississippi
Re: Red Harvester Colony
That's great. Post some pictures. Use Vaseline for a barrier. Put a cotton ball in there with each one and put a few drops of water on it to provide some moisture. Don't soak it though. You'll need to put some small holes in the top for air.
Here is a setup that I used for nearly free. Use Vaseline for a barrier on the outer part. As for where they live in the area, that can be nearly anything with a small colony. The outer bowl is a washed roast beef container from the grocery store. Also, if you put sand and rocks in, boil them first to make sure they don't kill your ants.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
M.
Here is a setup that I used for nearly free. Use Vaseline for a barrier on the outer part. As for where they live in the area, that can be nearly anything with a small colony. The outer bowl is a washed roast beef container from the grocery store. Also, if you put sand and rocks in, boil them first to make sure they don't kill your ants.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
M.
Solenopsis Richteri x 2
Lasius Neoniger x 2
Camponotus spp. x1
Wish List:
Monomorium pharaonis
Lasius Neoniger x 2
Camponotus spp. x1
Wish List:
Monomorium pharaonis
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- Posts: 71
- Joined: Sun Aug 20, 2017 4:07 pm
- Location: Mississippi
Re: Red Harvester Colony
Oh, and for founding, put them in the dark and let them be other than for adding water on the cotton ball and the smallest drop off sugar water.
M.
M.
Solenopsis Richteri x 2
Lasius Neoniger x 2
Camponotus spp. x1
Wish List:
Monomorium pharaonis
Lasius Neoniger x 2
Camponotus spp. x1
Wish List:
Monomorium pharaonis
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- Posts: 51
- Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2018 12:52 pm
Re: Red Harvester Colony
Get a Rubbermaid bin, fill it with soil, drill holes and add some tubing. Make sure to keep the barrier at the top of the Rubbermaid bin constantly in check. Pogonomyrmex have a very distinct sting that can be very painful so make sure to wear gloves.
Pogonomyrmex like to dig deep nests so get a large Rubbermaid bin and fill it with lots of soil pogonomyrmex also really like seeds and are mainly graminivorous. So a healthy diet of seeds and the occasional insect for protein should be able to feed them.
As always, however, you should try setting up the queens in a test tube set up first before putting them into this new setup.
Pogonomyrmex like to dig deep nests so get a large Rubbermaid bin and fill it with lots of soil pogonomyrmex also really like seeds and are mainly graminivorous. So a healthy diet of seeds and the occasional insect for protein should be able to feed them.
As always, however, you should try setting up the queens in a test tube set up first before putting them into this new setup.
As always, wishing you well on your exciting ant adventure, Ants the Lowcountry.
- StormDancer
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Mon Aug 14, 2017 10:57 am
- Location: Southeastern New Mexico
Re: Red Harvester Colony
You can't put pogonomyrmex in a typical test tube set up. They are semi claustral and queens will need a sourceof protein and sugar constantly if they are to be successful at raising their first brood.
Learn to dance in the rain, because after there are queens to find!
Re: Red Harvester Colony
So, it's a few days later, and my girlfriend and I have caught 2 black harvester ant queens.
Messor pergandei. What do I need to know about these guys? do they need sugar water too?
And what's a good protein source?
Messor pergandei. What do I need to know about these guys? do they need sugar water too?
And what's a good protein source?
- StormDancer
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Mon Aug 14, 2017 10:57 am
- Location: Southeastern New Mexico
Re: Red Harvester Colony
I don't know a lot about them. Based on pics of the queens I googled, they are fully claustral. I could be mistaken.
Learn to dance in the rain, because after there are queens to find!
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