Pavement Ants (Tetramorium) | AntsCanada Tutorial

Summary

This tutorial video explores the fascinating world of keeping pavement ants, scientifically known as Tetra more iam, as pets. Originating from Asia and now naturalized in urban environments, these ants are easy to care for, with fast-growing colonies and a diverse diet. The video offers practical advice on housing, feeding, and maintaining these ants, emphasizing their adaptability and suitability for both beginner and experienced ant keepers.

Takeaways

• 🐜 Pavement ants, scientifically known as Tetra more iam, are small creatures that have adapted well to human environments.
• 🏠 Humans inadvertently provide food for some wildlife by producing leftovers and altering natural landscapes with urban development.
• 🌏 Pavement ants are invasive species, likely originating from Asia and spreading to Europe and North America through human activities.
• 🕊 These ants are considered naturalized invaders, having adapted to human settlements and integrated into urban ecosystems without causing significant ecological harm.
• 🏡 Housing for pavement ants should include a hydration gradient with moderately dry conditions, and they prefer tighter tunnels.
• 👑 Queens of pavement ants are claustral, meaning they do not require food while raising their first set of workers.
• 🚀 Pavement ant colonies grow rapidly, with workers developing from eggs to maturity in about a month.
• 🍽️ These ants have a voracious appetite and require a diet of insects, carbohydrates, and grains, nuts, and seeds.
• 🌡 Keeping pavement ants in warmer conditions can accelerate their growth, and they may hibernate during colder months.
• 🔗 For beginners, pavement ants are recommended due to their adaptability, ease of care, and fast colony growth.
• 📚 The video provides a comprehensive tutorial on keeping pavement ants as pets, including housing, feeding, and colony development.

Q & A

What is the scientific name for pavement ants?

Pavement ants are scientifically known as Tetra more iam.

Why are pavement ants considered invasive species?

Pavement ants are considered invasive because they have been imported from another place, likely due to human activities like the transport of plants and soil.

Where are pavement ants believed to have originated from?

It is believed that Tetra more iam ants originated in Asia and then spread to Europe and North America.

What are the characteristics of pavement ants that make them suitable for beginners in ant keeping?

Pavement ants are easy to house, highly adaptive, have fast-growing colonies, and are aggressive to prey items but harmless to humans.

What are the recommended types of nests for Tetra more iam ants?

The AC Tetra more iam hybrid nest or the AC omni nest with a digging medium placed inside are recommended for Tetra more iam ants.

What kind of environment do pavement ants prefer for their nests?

Pavement ants prefer nests with tighter tunnels and a varying nest humidity, ideally about 30 to 40 percent moist and the rest dry.

How long does it take for a Tetra more iam ant to go from egg to worker?

It takes about one month for a Tetra more iam ant to go from egg to worker.

What types of food do pavement ants require?

Pavement ants require insects for protein, carbohydrates in the form of sugar foods like honey, sugar water, hummingbird nectar, and fruit, and grains, nuts, and seeds.

How should the temperature be managed for pavement ants?

Pavement ants should be kept in a warm environment, ideally with a heating cable attached to one side of the nest to provide a warm and cool spot for them to choose from.

What is the typical timeline for the growth of a Tetra more iam colony?

The typical timeline for a Tetra more iam colony includes one week after capture, one year after capture, and two years after capture, showing significant growth over time.

How do pavement ants behave during the winter?

Pavement ants hibernate in the winter, and their queens start laying eggs earlier in the new year than most ants, giving them an edge in colony growth.