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Keeping antsAnts are fascinating insects and can do more than you might think at first glance!To get to know your ants better, I have put together some information for you.I wish you much success and fun keeping ants!If you don't know what to do, please get in touch via the contact form or via social media. ヅ
GeneralThey are almost everywhere in our ecosystem: ants - the secret world power. Ants represent the pinnacle of the evolution of social insects and the diversity includes around 14,000 species.This diversity of ants includes highly specialized species that have found a place in the fauna and flora in their own way.Of these recorded species, only around 175 species are found in Central Europe. These have been particularly well recorded and described thanks to renowned myrmecologists. So-called 'novelties' and 'sensations' on the ant bazaar should be treated with caution. In addition to a lack of knowledge about keeping them, direct sales are usually the top priority here, but a stable level of keeping and the well-being of the invertebrates are rarely the top priority. Within the insect order Hymenoptera, which also includes bumblebees, wasps and hornets, ants belong to the family Formicidae.
Structure and function The ant's body is divided into three parts: ➥ Caput (the head) ➥ Mesosoma (the middle part, formerly known as the thorax) ➥ Gaster (the abdomen) In most ant species, the following morphological distinction can be made: ➥ the gynes (full females) ➥ the males (not drones, as in bumblebees, bees,...) ➥ the sterile female worker caste This sterile female worker caste can be divided into subcastes depending on the species. ➥ Minor workers ➥ Media workers ➥ Major workers Depending on the species, there are also so-called ergatomorphic individuals in a colony. These function as egg-laying gyne, but look very similar to workers. They are only characterized by their function as gyne and otherwise hardly differ. The functional definition from a myrmecological point of view as queen is appropriate.
Technical terms in ant keeping ... and their meaning:Monomorphic means a relatively uniform size of the workers within an ant species. Lasius niger, Lasius flavus (right in the picture), Temnothorax nylanderi, Serviformica fusca, are just a few species that have a fairly uniform worker morph (=appearance).Polymorphic is divided into 2 to 3 subcastes. Here the workers sometimes differ greatly from each other. In addition to the size of the head, body and mandible, the functions are also divided differently. Atta sexdens, Camponotus ligniperda, Camponotus aethiops, Messor barbarus are species that are highly polymorphic. Many other species are included here.Weakly polymorphic species have clearly distinguishable workers, with highly polymorphic species the transition is fluid. More precise differentiation would take place in the millimeter range - or would have to be worked out scientifically. - Which is not expected in the near future. Camponotus pseudoirritans, for example, has only two subcastes, while Camponotus nicobarensis has three subcastes. The term soldier for the major worker subcaste is not always appropriate here, since these individuals can also have completely different tasks.
On the contrary, large major workers often serve as storage ants or defense in the field or in the nest.
The founding of a particular type has a multitude of differences. The first part deals with the form of founding.
Claustral or also known as claustral founding; stands for: Founding in a founding chamber isolated from the outside world until the first workers uncover exits and entrances to the outside world. The following applies to our home keeping: ➥Avoid disturbances during this phase. ➥ Avoid sources of disturbance (music, bass), (vibrations), (direct sunlight). ➥ Feeding is usually not necessary ➥ The founding chamber should be kept dark.
Semi-claustral founding, or also referred to as semi-claustral founding, stands for: Founding in a founding chamber that is connected to the outside world until the first workers take over activities such as foraging and brood rearing. In the transitions, queens can occasionally be found foraging [Manica, Myrmica].* The following applies to our home-keeping: ➥ Avoid disturbances during this phase. ➥ Avoid sources of disturbance (music, bass), (vibrations), (direct sunlight). ➥ Feeding is usually necessary and important! Note: With the Manica* genus, make sure that you look for a queen at the right time - and do not accidentally take a queen from a colony. The well-known swarm flight tables provide information about this.
Social parasitic founding, or also referred to as [social parasitic founding], stands for: social parasitism between two ant species. The social parasite originates from the same group. Two forms of social parasitism are distinguished: ➥ temporary social parasitism; the queen of a certain species is not able to found a colony on her own. Her solution is to gain a foothold in another colony (host) undetected. In this case, the host queen is often killed. The parasitic ant queen absorbs the scents beforehand and after a short time begins to lay her own eggs, which are cared for by the host colony - until there are only workers of the same species left. ➥ permanent social parasitism; the queen penetrates a host colony in a similar way to temporary social parasitism, but this form of social parasitism is tied to helper/host ants for life. A well-known example is the species Polygergus rufescens. Annual raids ensure a supply of "slave ants" - here called Serviformica.
Pleometrosis:[Pleometrosis]:During the founding phase, several queens of the same species come together.In monogynous species;
arguments for:➥ increases the chance of survival, ➥ increases the number of worker individuals arguments against:➥ queens select after founding and kill each otherIn polygynous species;
In favour: ➥ increases the chance of survival, ➥ increases the number of individual workers ➥ The queens usually continue a common strategy as a *colony. Against:
➥ In keeping animals at home, exaggeration is often the norm.
The second part is about the type of company founding. A separate page will provide comprehensive information about possible forms of founding.
Monogynous or also referred to as [monogyny].[Monogyny]: refers to the presence of a single mated and egg-laying (fertile) queen in a colony. The queen usually founds a colony independently.
Polygynous or also referred to as [polygyny].[Polygyny]: refers to the presence of several queens in a colony. These are usually several egg-laying queens.
Oligogynous or also referred to as [oligogyny].[oligogyny]: refers to the presence of several queens in a colony. Unlike in [polygyny], however, the queens are often spatially separated.An encounter is usually fatal.Well-known examples of [oligogyny] are; (ff.)➥ Camponotus ligniperda➥ Camponotus herculeanus➥ Lasius (Dendrolasius) fuliginosus
Examples:Lasius niger is strictly monogynous and forms claustrally.Lasius flavus is monogynous, but also oligogynous and forms claustrally.Lasius (Chthonolasius) umbratus is monogynous(*) and forms socially-parasitically via Lasius niger.Lasius (Dendrolasius) fuliginosus is polygynous, oligogynous and forms socially-parasitically via Lasius umbratus.Camponotus ligniperda is monogynous to oligogynous (rare) and forms claustrally.Myrmica rubra is polygynous and forms semi-claustrally. Manica rubida is monogynous, but once it reaches a certain size in nature the queens are polygynous and semi-claustral.Lasius umbratus:(*) In artificial keeping only one queen proves successful, so my assumption is that due to the scent transfer, similar to the host (Lasius niger), only one queen is tolerated. One indication is that the workers do not defend their own queen, or rather quickly remove the remains.Only one queen - the socially parasitic Lasius umbratus - takes over the colony and acts as the new fertile gyne.