West Coast Ants

09/17/2019

How do you identify the species of queen ant or if it is even a queen?
Well we use a dissection microscope for species identification.
Most queens one can identify just by size and the fact they have wing scars. Males may have wings or wing scars but have tiny heads as they are only meant to live a few days but if unsure just keep them for a few weeks and most males die within a week. If they survive and lay eggs they are queens.

09/17/2019

09/17/2019

09/17/2019

Some people ask how we set up our ants?
We use lab quality test tubes for the first year or so but we find our queens lay more eggs and are easier to maintain in a Formicarium. As a result we recommend moving them to one a bit earlier some people. Below is a pic of a Camponotus colony is an Omni Ants Canada Formicarium. This colony is much larger now and laid much more when moved to this unit. Love this setup for viewing and cleaning. You can however use everything from a test tube in a Tupperware container all the way up to this unit. Just make sure it is escape proof, is vented in some way and is easy to clean. As a result we don't recommend the full sand units as you can't clean then unless you force all ants out. After years of trying different units we avoid sand except in outworlds and any material that will grow mold. We prefer glass or plexiglass as a result as we can clean and always reuse.

09/17/2019

Curious about how to get started or can't find supplies. Drop us a line and see the list below of the species we currently care for.
Camponotus Herculeanus(Large Species)
Camponotus Pennsylvanicus/Modus(Large Species)
Tetramorium sp. E
Formica Podzolica
Lasius Alienus
Lasius Niger
From time to time Formica Ravida and other Camponotus species

Supplies
• Spare lab grade reusable glass test tubes (to transfer to clean test tube or start new queens)
• 16mm x 150mm glass Test Tube( Rimless) $1.50 (w organic cotton balls)
• 25mm x 150ml glass Test Tube (Rimless) $2.00 ( w organic Cotton balls)
• Test tube brush for 16mm opening $2.00
• Test Tube brush for 25mm opening $3.00

08/10/2019