Leaf Cutter Ants...

[lucanidae]

Right on for the care info, and I second the genus Dasymutilla.......don't get stung, it'll hurt.

 

[sintakz]

So like.... what should I do for her, is she just gonna die out?

 

[Tleilaxu]

You may get six or seven months with her. (Three is more likely) They like honey and different types of fruits cut in half so they can access the juices. Remove the fungus and keep the humidity around 60 percent *room temps are fine* I would keep it.

 

[sintakz]

Should I stay away from citrus fruits like lemons and stuff? Lol anyone wanna buy a Cow eater? J/k... maybe a trade for something though....

 

[Tleilaxu]

A little won't hurt I know someone who had one and the "ant" liked grapes (cut in half) the shallow honey dish is mandatory. These make interesting pets, I seriously would hold onto her.

 

[sintakz]

You said that breeding is nearly impossible right? It is gonna suck to have her die.... I'll try and keep her as a pet. I am giving her the honey dish as we speak...er type.

 

[Tleilaxu]

It would be possible if we knew what species they used for their larva to feed on, and some even use different species for different genders, again these host species are unknown, once they are found breeding may become possible. I think she will last quite awhile yet.

 

[sintakz]

Ok she is showing some weird behavior IMO. Once I introduced the honey she hid under the cap. After that now she has burrowed under the substrate. Does she just want privacy?

 

[Tleilaxu]

Most likely. Give her time to settle, she will figure out the food dish concept quickly. Give her a hiding place like a piece of wood too.

 

[sintakz]

Alright will do. Thanks for all the help. I guess I should change the title of this thread...

 

[Tleilaxu]

LOL live and learn. good luck!

 

[sintakz]

Thanks. Lol time to think of a new name for her...or him....

 

[Tleilaxu]

Her, males have wings and cannot sting.

 

[Tleilaxu]

Lucky you! I just found this:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/13126

Apparently this species may target bumble bee nests, so if you want to breed it, you will need to start up a colony of Bombus fraternus.

 

[sintakz]

Lol my mom must love me right now. First I want to get a P. Marinus sling, then an Emperor Scorpion, now I need to start up a colony of bumble bees.

 

[Black Widow88]

Oh don't worry your mom will love you and kill you if you plan to hatch a bumble bee nest in your house. What I would suggest it that you go and find a nest in the wild and do something to it so that the bees won't react to you kidnapping their babies and put the larvae in the enclosure.

I'm wishing you lots of luck on this one. You're going to need it. Keep us posted on how everything is going with her and if you managed to steal some bumble bee larvae. *Prays to the Lord that everything works out* LOL!

Black Widow88

 

[thedude]

wait.. bumble bees have nests?? i hope you dont meen like hives.. but chambers almost like cicada killers or horntails?

 

[Black Widow88]

I meant to say chambers. My bad.

Black Widow88

 

[sintakz]

This is going to prove interesting. On a side note Miss Velvet (her new name) "hissed" at me not to long ago while I was putting in some diluted maple syrup into the encasement. Scary to hear such a loud noise from such a small creature.

 

[Waspman]

The species is undoubtedly Dasymutilla occidentalis.

The "hissing" is really called stridulation, which takes place on the abdomen. Velvet ants have a stridulatory file on their third abdominal tergite. The scraper is on the underside of the second tergite. So when the scraper is rubbed against the file, it creates the distinctive sound. The sound is associated with mating and defense, but its purpose is not 100% known (it may be associated with other things as well, mutillid biology still needs a lot of work).