Pheidole Dentigula Food Preferences

Posts and questions relating to ant diet & nutrition. Let us know what you’re feeding your ants.

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Glowbug1236
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2019 7:08 am

Pheidole Dentigula Food Preferences

Post: # 64310Post Glowbug1236
Fri Sep 20, 2019 5:50 pm

Pheidole Dentigula seem to be very picky eaters!
So far the most success has been with flightless gnats. I think this has to do with a number of factors, besides simply being picky eaters!
1. They are a small colony. 2. Of moderately small ants, relative to Pheidole sizes. Hard to take down large prey.
Though even with tiny pieces (cut down), they simply will not touch, even seem repulsed by some foods, eg. Large roaches.

I had 20 gnats (live), in there this morning. Now there are 5. So they are hunting them down.
I didn't want to kill the gnats and have them sit and start to mold, and/or not get eaten, being that these ants do not seem to enjoy long dead food at all. And so im happy that the ants are actively hunting the food while it stays fresh (alive).
It is quite a sight to see an ant a quarter of the size of the gnat, dragging it across the moss, while also getting tossed around in the process.
Will power!

An update on food.. they enjoy Medjool Dates!
I've been concerned about their lack of interest in any sugars.

Anybody have Pheidole Dentigula? Or other Pheidole that are picky eaters?

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antperson24
Posts: 1226
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:01 pm
Location: North East Iowa

Re: Pheidole Dentigula Food Preferences

Post: # 98932Post antperson24
Sat Apr 29, 2023 7:29 am

Glowbug1236 wrote:
Fri Sep 20, 2019 5:50 pm
Pheidole Dentigula seem to be very picky eaters!
So far the most success has been with flightless gnats. I think this has to do with a number of factors, besides simply being picky eaters!
1. They are a small colony. 2. Of moderately small ants, relative to Pheidole sizes. Hard to take down large prey.
Though even with tiny pieces (cut down), they simply will not touch, even seem repulsed by some foods, eg. Large roaches.

I had 20 gnats (live), in there this morning. Now there are 5. So they are hunting them down.
I didn't want to kill the gnats and have them sit and start to mold, and/or not get eaten, being that these ants do not seem to enjoy long dead food at all. And so im happy that the ants are actively hunting the food while it stays fresh (alive).
It is quite a sight to see an ant a quarter of the size of the gnat, dragging it across the moss, while also getting tossed around in the process.
Will power!

An update on food.. they enjoy Medjool Dates!
I've been concerned about their lack of interest in any sugars.

Anybody have Pheidole Dentigula? Or other Pheidole that are picky eaters?
You could try maple syrup.
Why keep ants that aren't found in your yard?
There are so many fascinating ants right where you live!
I disagree with the keeping/buying of ants that aren't in your area.

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