All the species I have are quite good beginner species.
Yes, all collected here in Orlando, around my house.
) Certain species have queens that are semi-claustrel, meaining they need to forage while founding. Others have a specialized diet, like seeds. But for most of your standard Formicinae and Myrmicinae species, you need two base diets. A source of energy, or carbohydrates for the workers. Protein for the larvae and queen. Use 2 parts water to one part honey for the honey water. (Honey can be substitued with sugar) Protein can come in a variety of items. You can use crickets or mealworms from your local pet store, or catch your own. Different colonies have different preferences, and small colonies can especially be picky, give a variety of insects to find out what they like best. I find termites, mosquitoes, fruit flies, or cut up insect parts work best for young colonies. Once again, if you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer!
Yes and no. Some queens run out of their food stores quicker than others, like the Pheidole queen pictured above, but you honestly don't have to feed a Pheidole queen. There are queens that are semi-claustrel, meaning you must provide food, and then there fully claustral, these don't need food. I usually supply fully claustrel queens with a *small* drop of honey first, they take what they need if any at all. Once the first larvae have reached a size that they are easily visable, I offer a fruitly. That's usually it.
Plenty. I squish all the delate queens I see, they're worthless and the US would do better without them. I do have one colony of them though, it currently numbers at 1000, at only 3.5 months old. They are easy to rear but with the rate of growth, and the size of the colonies, makes the species hard to control in captivity.
