What food is favored among ants?
Moderator: ooper01
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What food is favored among ants?
Hey everyone! I’m new on the forum but one thing that i’m super excited about is there’s this ant colony right t my stand at work. I don’t know what they are but they have been big on the potato chips i gave them this morning.
What kind of foods to ants generally prefer? I saw them drag a moth into the nest earlier but thought they might like a sweet/salty treat. I left a bit of a sugar cookie for them along with a small crushed potato chip.
What else would they appreciate?
I’m stoled for these new work buddies!
What kind of foods to ants generally prefer? I saw them drag a moth into the nest earlier but thought they might like a sweet/salty treat. I left a bit of a sugar cookie for them along with a small crushed potato chip.
What else would they appreciate?
I’m stoled for these new work buddies!
- idahoantgirl
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- Location: Idaho, USA
Re: What food is favored among ants?
Ants need two types of foods, Protein and Sugar. Protein is used to feed the brood and the queen, and sugar is consumed by the workers.
As far as preferences, it just depends on the species and individual colony.
As far as preferences, it just depends on the species and individual colony.
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
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
Re: What food is favored among ants?
Also, you need to have a water source like a test tube for ants to drink out of. Try out different types of food like crickets, mealworms etc. and see what your colony likes.idahoantgirl wrote: ↑Fri Jun 29, 2018 9:30 pmAnts need two types of foods, Protein and Sugar. Protein is used to feed the brood and the queen, and sugar is consumed by the workers.
As far as preferences, it just depends on the species and individual colony.
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Re: What food is favored among ants?
Honey is usually a favorite. Just be careful to not add too much, because then the workers might drown in it. Use that as a source of sugar and mealworms, crickets and other feeder incects as protein
Keeping:
x1 Lasius Neoniger
x2 Crematogastor
x1 Lasius Neoniger
x2 Crematogastor
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Re: What food is favored among ants?
Haha you’re feeding wild ants. Love it.
Keeping:
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA
Re: What food is favored among ants?
Hiya, my Lasius have enjoyed one of those jelly pots (smells like treacle) and honey so far. I’ve brought a pot of wax worms for them to try, and I’m going to get some mealworms.
What about frozen fish food? I feel a bit strange feeding ant some crickets, as I’m rather fond of them.
Also, any reccomendation on how to pre-kill feeder insects to minimise “pain”? I’ve thought about dropping boiling water on them, then freezing any leftovers.
What about frozen fish food? I feel a bit strange feeding ant some crickets, as I’m rather fond of them.
Also, any reccomendation on how to pre-kill feeder insects to minimise “pain”? I’ve thought about dropping boiling water on them, then freezing any leftovers.
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- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2018 6:51 am
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Re: What food is favored among ants?
Freeze them.
Keeping:
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA
Tetramorium immigrans * Lasius Neoniger * Lasius Claviger * Messor Aciculatus * Myrmica Rubra * Camponotus Novaeboracensis * Camponotus Turkastanus * Pheidole Pallidula
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfFtn6RegZ3F1NdS1g08NA
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