new pogonomyrmex occidentalis colony! originally my queen I caught and it loop right back to me!

[@joesolo7719]

Your commentary is very relaxing and therapeutic

[@myrmepropagandist]

You should feed them more seeds. Use protein only as a treat. They can, in fact, survive on seeds alone.

[@AntsFlagstaff]

That is not a good thing. Even if they can survive on seeds alone doesn't make it okay to only feed them seeds. They don't even eat just seeds in the wild the seeds that they collect out in the wild is for winter food. Other wise they go out and hunt or scaveng for incests while collecting seeds for the winter or also if its to hot out side to forage, then they will use the seeds as well. So that being said what I do is base my care on the wild and that works the best. So for pogonomyrmex its 50% seeds and 50% insects. It's also very good to give your ants a VARIETY of stuff.

[@Josephpriester590]

nice vid bro keep up the great work

[@Bradimus1981]

That is a lot of protein and sugar for an ant that mostly eats seeds.

[@AntsFlagstaff]

No its not actually lol🤣🤣🤣 this species CAN only eat seeds but they need a lot more (insect) protein than you actually think. Out in the wild they kill and bring back insects just as much as they collect and bring in seeds. Its actually not really good to just give them seeds, not only will they grow very slow with just seeds but they just simply need something else in there diet. And that sugar is not a lot for them. I have to refill that thing probably every 4-5 days because they drink it.

[@Bradimus1981]

@@AntsFlagstaff I mean, I believe you of course. Your colony seems to be doing very well. lol Most colonies I see on KZbin have more seeds and less of the goodies. I wonder if different species of harvester ants have slightly different needs or wants. If that makes any sense. No matter, I really enjoy your videos and I do not live far from you. I am in the Phoenix area. So I will stay in touch. I just ordered my first formicarium (besides some test tube starter stuff from AntsCanada years ago that I never used) and Formica subsericea queen & workers from Tar Heel Ants today. I am REALLY looking forward to getting into the hobby. I have wanted to do so for years.

[@noisiboy5149]

Nice video Buen video

[@FizzleFX]

Rule 1. put the camera down. shacky cam died with Blair Witch. ^^

[@sawmajbj]

Nice Messor

[@AntsFlagstaff]

This is not Messor

[@sawmajbj]

Sir i cant be fooled

[@sawmajbj]

I am 100%sure thats messor barbarus

[@AntsFlagstaff]

@@sawmajbj Messor is not in the USA this is pogonomyrmex occidentalis. Even says it in the title, I can't tell if you are joking or not. I hope you are but if not you need to study 10x more than you already have

[@mlk08012]

JB Ants is correct. No way P occidentalis could climb as well as these.

[@TheSevenboy127]

So do u trade ants for others?

[@AntsFlagstaff]

I do not sell, I am not a hobbyist. I am a entomologist and slowly turing my room into a more professional looking lab like the ones I work in at NAU and ASU university(s)

[@TheSevenboy127]

@@AntsFlagstaff sweet brother

[@RobertSmith-cu2jx]

I'll buy this colony

[@AntsFlagstaff]

Not for sale