Howdy people,
First post out of intro.
I've got a small pheidole colony. Started with a 3"x1" stick found at the park, with the queen inside and a dozen workers i guess.
Waited until it seemed they were all inside (checked several times of day and night).
Brought that to a mason jar at home and added store bought soil and moss from outside. (Making sure to cut the moss off with some of the wood it was on).
They have flourished! Had only a few majors before and now about 100 tiny red workers.
The majors are huge compared to them.
They only eat flies, and refuse almost anything else.
I have a question about aphids...
Do i need a specific kind of aphid? I put those yellow ones in there on the little plant, but turns out they are the toxic kind! Got them out quick.
What kind will these little red pheidole in South Carolina's need?
Where can i get them?
Also, i had invader ants, not sure which type (they were black/ with gray butts), eat through the paper towel at the top and killed a few dozen before i discovered what was happening while i slept.
Now i use the fibrous layer of a large bandage (the layer that touches your skin) stretched across and screwed down with the metal cap if the canning jar. Works well, no invaders get through.
Thanks for the info! Im very excited to fulfill a lifelong dream of having an ant farm.
Have grown quite attached to my tiny little world, calms my nerves to watch them.