Solenopsis invicta queens

[CJ's Exotics]

Good luck!

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

The workers have emerged, it will be time to start feeding in a day or so.

They are so cute, the moment you check in them they swarm out to try and get you.

 

[The Wild One]

Yes, it’s adorable when alien like insects are trying to bite your finger off. ?

 

[MissSkittles]

The workers have emerged, it will be time to start feeding in a day or so.
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They are so cute, the moment you check in them they swarm out to try and get you.

What do you feed them? The blood of your enemies? ?

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

What do you feed them? The blood of your enemies? ?

For now small soft bodied insects.

The first meal, the other colony is too nervous so I wont photograph them now, they need to eat

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

Added a mini outworld for them both, they are getting to the point where the added space will help them.

Just some pics of the colonies.

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

Lost one queen, it happens, starting a colony is hard on them, even in captivity. Other one is still doing well.

 

[MissSkittles]

Lost one queen, it happens, starting a colony is hard on them, even in captivity. Other one is still doing well.

Hmm...I actually feel kind of bad about that. RIP ant queen. What happens to her babies then?

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

Hmm...I actually feel kind of bad about that. RIP ant queen. What happens to her babies then?

The babies die, the workers become listless after a time as well.

 

[MissSkittles]

The babies die, the workers become listless after a time as well.

That’s sad. I don’t suppose they can be introduced into the other colony.

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

That’s sad. I don’t suppose they can be introduced into the other colony.

Nope, they will kill each other

 

[MissSkittles]

Nope, they will kill each other

That’s what I figured.

 

[MissSkittles]

@Persnickety Parson's how are your ants doing?

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

@Persnickety Parson's how are your ants doing?

The remaining colony seems to be struggling, not much I can do, they are eating and defensive, but their numbers are way too low for the species in general.

 

[CJ's Exotics]

The remaining colony seems to be struggling, not much I can do, they are eating and defensive, but their numbers are way too low for the species in general.

What are you feeding?

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

What are you feeding?

They get honey, sugar water, and various insects. Soft bodied ones are a hit.

 

[AmandaS]

I think the larvae stage is adorable!! And how she nutured her babiea. Ugh, too cute.

So sad the one queen died, and the other colony isnt doing so hot.

I never would have though so much went in to keeping ants! My daughter always asks me for an ant colony.

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

I think the larvae stage is adorable!! And how she nutured her babiea. Ugh, too cute.

So sad the one queen died, and the other colony isnt doing so hot.

I never would have though so much went in to keeping ants! My daughter always asks me for an ant colony.

Well you need to find a quern, check on hot and humid days, before and after storms or other changes of weather.

Sadly the other queen also died, it happens but it's frustrating too.

 

[AmandaS]

Well you need to find a quern, check on hot and humid days, before and after storms or other changes of weather.

Sadly the other queen also died, it happens but it's frustrating too.

How can my untrained eyes tell if it's a queen??

 

[CJ's Exotics]

How can my untrained eyes tell if it's a queen??

Larger size, basically like a larger one of the workers with an average size head and a large abdomen. They might still have wings a short while after mating, but usually not. You can google the ant species in your area and look at what the queens look like to know more precisely.