Prenopsis imparis Care

[mutillidae7]

We captured 6 imparis queens yesterday and they are resting quietly in their test tube setups. However, I have heard they are difficult to raise successfully in captivity. Is there anyone whom has successfully kept a colony long term willing to offer information about the species challenges/quirks? Any species specific help or advise would be appreciated!

[Batspiderfish]

I'm not sure anybody has kept them long-term (at least not hobbyists.) I'd guess it has something to do with summer temperatures. If I decide to keep any this year, I want to put them in the fridge during the hottest months. In the wild, their nests are very deep, and they are not active during the summer.

[Martialis]

They can be highly polygonous as well.

[mutillidae7]

Good to know. Would putting them together increase their odds or just stress them more? They have been in individual tubes undisturbed for 48 hours now.

[Martialis]

I personally wouldn't put all of them together. Maybe just two or three.

[Serafine]

These are the perfect ants to keep in air-conditioned rooms. If your room gets hotter than 25°C though you'll have to put them into the fridge or a colder basement part. They die in environments hotter than about 25°C. Contrary to other ants however they will still be active at temps far below 15°C.

[mutillidae7]

I've got a fridge and temp probe ordered so I can keep them below 25C. If they haven't started laying eggs I will pair them up in the test tubes once it comes.