Feeder Insects
Definition
Insects and other small invertebrates, such as crickets, mealworms, roaches and fruit flies, offered to ant colonies as protein, which the queen needs to lay eggs and the larvae need to grow.
Ant colonies run on two kinds of food: sugar for the workers and protein for the queen and the
Almost any insect works. The most popular choices are mealworms, which are easy to keep and great for beginners, crickets, which bigger colonies love, roaches like Dubia or Red Runners, and fruit flies, which are easy to breed on fresh fruit and vegetables. I feed my Lasius niger colony Gammarus, small freshwater shrimps, and they're happy with them too.
Even seed eaters appreciate some extra protein. Messor barbarus can live on seeds alone, but once the colony has grown, a few crickets, mealworms or fruit flies boost brood development. A freshly founded claustral queen, on the other hand, doesn't need any insects until her
In practice
- Size the prey to the colony: a fruit fly or a small piece of cricket for a young colony, whole insects for a big one.
- For small colonies, offer insects already killed (freezing works), and cut them open so the workers can get to the soft parts.
- Never feed insects caught in places that may have been treated with pesticides.
- Remove the leftovers after a day or two to prevent mold and mites.
