Which barrier is best for TINY TINY ants

Discussions about the care and keeping of ants

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Bierschneeman
Posts: 153
Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2018 5:11 pm
Location: louisiana

Which barrier is best for TINY TINY ants

Post: # 47911Post Bierschneeman
Sun Aug 19, 2018 2:10 pm

I have a colony of 1.5mm workers.
I have yet to get an ID. but Ill guess one of the black tiny ants Like Monomorium minimum or Tertamorium... but these are just guesses.

I only had one barrier available when I claimed the colony from a plant pot, Olive Oil.

it seems to be working, they don't like trying to cross it. but I want to make sure I have the best barrier. I have heard the smaller ants have increased difficulty in barriers.
I have in house (NOW) talcum powder and Isopropyl Alchohol, Vaseline, and Olive Oil. I live in Humid Hot, Louisiana.
which do you think is best.

here is a picture of a worker. either for ID to help in decision, or to keep this thread from being boring. (its already posted in the ID center, so I am just here for barrier knowledge)
Image
Founding:
3 Solenopsis I/X
5 Tapinoma sessile
1 Nylanderia terricola/vivulda

Colonies:
1 Brachymyrmex patagonicus
1 Pheidole soritis
1 Tapinoma sessile

The difference between a hobby and a scientific pursuit, is detailed notes.

AntsDakota
Posts: 1283
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:22 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Which barrier is best for TINY TINY ants

Post: # 47920Post AntsDakota
Sun Aug 19, 2018 2:28 pm

That's not Tetramorium.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

Bierschneeman
Posts: 153
Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2018 5:11 pm
Location: louisiana

Re: Which barrier is best for TINY TINY ants

Post: # 47923Post Bierschneeman
Sun Aug 19, 2018 2:58 pm

AntsDakota wrote:
Sun Aug 19, 2018 2:28 pm
That's not Tetramorium.
not,
and also not Monomorium.
I found cocooned Pupae, just now which means they are not any of the subfamily Myrmicinae (which includes both.)
those were just guesses anyway, because I couldn't really see the petiole well enough to see structure, or if there was a second.
Founding:
3 Solenopsis I/X
5 Tapinoma sessile
1 Nylanderia terricola/vivulda

Colonies:
1 Brachymyrmex patagonicus
1 Pheidole soritis
1 Tapinoma sessile

The difference between a hobby and a scientific pursuit, is detailed notes.

MorbidBugg
Posts: 284
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2018 10:11 pm
Location: Orangeville

Re: Which barrier is best for TINY TINY ants

Post: # 47925Post MorbidBugg
Sun Aug 19, 2018 3:04 pm

Are those pointed mandibles or do they have tiny teeth? Also try messing with the brightness/ contrast in an editor and see if you can see eye shape/ position to Antena perhaps link to the image as well I find embedding the image is good for quick reference but the inability to zoom on the image can be quite the annoyance when trying to get the nitty gritty bits
Ants are life's most successful invaders. Understand and respect that power.

Bierschneeman
Posts: 153
Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2018 5:11 pm
Location: louisiana

Re: Which barrier is best for TINY TINY ants

Post: # 47933Post Bierschneeman
Sun Aug 19, 2018 3:24 pm

Yes she definitely has 8 segments in her antennae,
and her mandibles are toothless sabres.

I put new pictures of queen on my ID topic, not here because I want to keep the ID debate in the ID section, and keep this thread on Barrier recommendations.

link to ID thread.
https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=11052
Founding:
3 Solenopsis I/X
5 Tapinoma sessile
1 Nylanderia terricola/vivulda

Colonies:
1 Brachymyrmex patagonicus
1 Pheidole soritis
1 Tapinoma sessile

The difference between a hobby and a scientific pursuit, is detailed notes.

MorbidBugg
Posts: 284
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2018 10:11 pm
Location: Orangeville

Re: Which barrier is best for TINY TINY ants

Post: # 47937Post MorbidBugg
Sun Aug 19, 2018 3:31 pm

TBH your going to get alot of fluon recommendation as it seems to be the ultimate tiny ant solution
Ants are life's most successful invaders. Understand and respect that power.

AntsOfOntario
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2018 1:06 pm

Re: Which barrier is best for TINY TINY ants

Post: # 47973Post AntsOfOntario
Sun Aug 19, 2018 8:09 pm

Bierschneeman wrote:
Sun Aug 19, 2018 3:24 pm
Yes she definitely has 8 segments in her antennae,
and her mandibles are toothless sabres.

I put new pictures of queen on my ID topic, not here because I want to keep the ID debate in the ID section, and keep this thread on Barrier recommendations.

link to ID thread.
https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=11052
I'm going to guess it's Brachymyrmex Depilis based on your location. Species might be off but judging by the size the genus must be accurate.

Bierschneeman
Posts: 153
Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2018 5:11 pm
Location: louisiana

Re: Which barrier is best for TINY TINY ants

Post: # 47975Post Bierschneeman
Sun Aug 19, 2018 8:39 pm

NOT Talcum powder.
I I scooped up a couple of these Brachymrymex s up with the dirt for the Pheidole (possibly) set up.
I watched one Brachy, climb the side and walk right over the talc barrier.
Founding:
3 Solenopsis I/X
5 Tapinoma sessile
1 Nylanderia terricola/vivulda

Colonies:
1 Brachymyrmex patagonicus
1 Pheidole soritis
1 Tapinoma sessile

The difference between a hobby and a scientific pursuit, is detailed notes.

AntsOfOntario
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2018 1:06 pm

Re: Which barrier is best for TINY TINY ants

Post: # 47976Post AntsOfOntario
Sun Aug 19, 2018 8:58 pm

Bierschneeman wrote:
Sun Aug 19, 2018 8:39 pm
NOT Talcum powder.
I I scooped up a couple of these Brachymrymex s up with the dirt for the Pheidole (possibly) set up.
I watched one Brachy, climb the side and walk right over the talc barrier.
I'd just add a lid and bore a hole into it. Stuff it with cotton for some airflow and you should be okay.
Also I just read the part where you found them in a flower pot, I'm now confident it's Branchymyrmex.

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idahoantgirl
Posts: 1521
Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
Location: Idaho, USA

Re: Which barrier is best for TINY TINY ants

Post: # 48004Post idahoantgirl
Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:07 am

I agree that baby powder when mixed with rubbing alcohol, is somewhat innefective for small species. My Tetramorium could cross it. However, plain baby powder, (no alcohol and applied with a dry cotton ball lightly) works incredibly well for my Tetra.
Proverbs 6:6-8

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile

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