My Messor Barbarus colony :D
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 12:56 pm
Hi! I have two colonies of ants, first I've bought Lasius niger colony, a Queen and her 6 workers, few eggs. Then I've also bought Messor Barbarus colony, Queen and her 25 workers. I think that it is about 25, but it's hard to count them, they are very active ants! Now my Lasius Niger colony has it's hard times, 2 workers died, and there isn't any new worker, only eggs, cocoons and larvae, I've had one white ant, but I can't find it now, I fear it's dead. You can read about problems of this colony here:
https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=11312&start=10
But with my Messor Barbarus colony it's completly differend. I don't have any problems with them. More of that, today the've had their important day... They've moved from the test tube to the 3d print nest! And it happend so quick, that I hardly belive it! It's like they were just waiting for new home and reacted immidiately after plugging it! Next day after They've came to me Ive plugged their test tube into small out world. They were active there. This out world box has to exits, so I've used the other one to plug their nest using tubes. I've thought they will not be interested with it much, so I wasn't expecting they will move there so quick! First two small workers went there, then one a bit bigger. After that there was an army marching there to scout new terrain. After that almost everyone came back to their former duties, only 3 smal workers stayed in new nest. I thought that is all for today. I've left the room for about 2 hours. After I've came back, and uncovered new nest, I saw the queen and a lot of her workers inside new nest! Just like that! In the test tube there was only 3 workers, like they were inspecting the place if everything was taken away. But the brood was already in new nest only few seeds stayed in the test tube.
I must compare those two species, Lasius niger and Messor barbarus. I wonder why they are behaving so different... Is it because of their species? Or maybe it's because Messor barbarus is much bigger colony? 4 workers vs 25... Or maybe Messor barbarus simply liked new nest so much?
I was a bit worried if the Queen of Messors would be able to walk throught the tube 8mm wide (actually 6 mm, cause the outside size is 8 mm), I am sad I couldn't see their movement, I will not be abble to see her comming throught this tube any time soon. But I am happy to see that the colony likes theyre setup. And there will be more supprises, cause soon they will get bigger out World. Only I must wait what will happen to Lasius niger.
Btw, I have bigger out world ready to be plugged to the setup, but at this out world my Lassius niger have spent few days, only I've taken them out to make them change the test tube somehow (still nothing changed). Is it safe to give new colony the out world of the oler colony? I have plaster with sand there, and plastic plants. It looks OK but it's hard to sterilize.
My Messors second day, still in test tube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woOwaF_nSMI
https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=11312&start=10
But with my Messor Barbarus colony it's completly differend. I don't have any problems with them. More of that, today the've had their important day... They've moved from the test tube to the 3d print nest! And it happend so quick, that I hardly belive it! It's like they were just waiting for new home and reacted immidiately after plugging it! Next day after They've came to me Ive plugged their test tube into small out world. They were active there. This out world box has to exits, so I've used the other one to plug their nest using tubes. I've thought they will not be interested with it much, so I wasn't expecting they will move there so quick! First two small workers went there, then one a bit bigger. After that there was an army marching there to scout new terrain. After that almost everyone came back to their former duties, only 3 smal workers stayed in new nest. I thought that is all for today. I've left the room for about 2 hours. After I've came back, and uncovered new nest, I saw the queen and a lot of her workers inside new nest! Just like that! In the test tube there was only 3 workers, like they were inspecting the place if everything was taken away. But the brood was already in new nest only few seeds stayed in the test tube.
I must compare those two species, Lasius niger and Messor barbarus. I wonder why they are behaving so different... Is it because of their species? Or maybe it's because Messor barbarus is much bigger colony? 4 workers vs 25... Or maybe Messor barbarus simply liked new nest so much?
I was a bit worried if the Queen of Messors would be able to walk throught the tube 8mm wide (actually 6 mm, cause the outside size is 8 mm), I am sad I couldn't see their movement, I will not be abble to see her comming throught this tube any time soon. But I am happy to see that the colony likes theyre setup. And there will be more supprises, cause soon they will get bigger out World. Only I must wait what will happen to Lasius niger.
Btw, I have bigger out world ready to be plugged to the setup, but at this out world my Lassius niger have spent few days, only I've taken them out to make them change the test tube somehow (still nothing changed). Is it safe to give new colony the out world of the oler colony? I have plaster with sand there, and plastic plants. It looks OK but it's hard to sterilize.
My Messors second day, still in test tube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woOwaF_nSMI