http://www.ants-kalytta.com/feeds/articles-all.en.xml2010-03-11T03:53:01+01:00All available articles in shop.Ants Kalyttagerhard@ants-kalytta.comhttp://www.ants-kalytta.comBenjamin Kalytta`s AtomFeedClasshttp://www.ants-kalytta.com/images/icon.pnghttp://www.ants-kalytta.com/images/logo.pnghttp://www.ants-kalytta.com/Messor-cf-orientalis.en.html2010-03-01T23:38:33+01:002006-11-02T20:49:59+01:00<p>Oriental Messor species which don't need hibernation. This species is also active in cool season in their range. It is significant easier to keep this species than for example Messor barbarus and they subsist on seeds, honey-/sugar water but also insects (similar to many Pheidole species). A typical identifiers is the caldera formed nest entry. They will often be found in sand or loamy sand. The shape of the body is slimmer than of Messor barbarus and the color of the workers is brown till black. The queen is colored black with brown legs.</p><ul> <li><strong>Taxonomy</strong>: Subfamily <strong>Myrmicinae</strong>, Tribe <strong>Pheidolini</strong></li> <li><strong>Color</strong>: <strong>Workers</strong>: darkbrown, <strong>Queen</strong>: black with brown legs</li> <li><strong>Size</strong>: <strong>Queen</strong> 11 - 13 mm</li> <li><strong>Distribution:</strong> Orient (Asia Minor)</li> <li><strong>Characteristics:</strong>  polymorph</li> <li><strong>Nest building</strong>: Soil nests, often in sand or under stones</li> <li><strong>Nutrition:</strong> Mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grass), but insects and honeywater too</li> <li><strong>Temperature:</strong> 22 - 30 °C</li> <li><strong>Hibernation:</strong> No</li> <li><strong>Air humidity:</strong> Dry climate</li> <li><strong>Planting:</strong> nothing specific</li> <li><strong>Level</strong>: very easy to keep</li></ul><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Please note: Formerly this was specified as Messor spec. (the large form).</strong></span></p>http://www.ants-kalytta.com/Myrmicaria-arachnoides.en.html2010-03-01T23:36:30+01:002006-11-02T20:49:59+01:00<p>These specie build carton nests, similar like wasps, they need high air humidity for the nestbuilding (often spray in the closed basin). They sit up on their long extremities by danger and deliver a little drop turpentinelike defence-secretion at their protruding sting. Slow walking animals. Never nestling in the soil; carton nests often under leafs, no house-ant.</p><ul> <li><strong>Origin:</strong> Southeast Asia (mountains about 800 m)</li> <li><strong>Taxonomy:</strong> Subfamily <strong>Myrmicinae</strong>, Tribe <strong>Myrmicariini</strong></li> <li><strong>Characteristics:</strong> Monomorph</li> <li><strong>Hibernation:</strong> No</li> <li><strong>Appearence of the queen:</strong> deep brown, humpy, with long extremities</li> <li><strong>Appearance of the workers:</strong> same as queen</li> <li><strong>Nest bulding:</strong> carton nests under leaves of trees</li> <li><strong>Nutrition:</strong> honeywater, insects</li> <li><strong>Temperature:</strong> 18 - 25°C</li> <li><strong>Air humidity:</strong> 60 - 80 % (tropical climate)</li> <li><strong>Soil conditions:</strong> only necessary for planting, nesting between leaves</li> <li><strong>Planting:</strong> ficus, Pachira aquatica</li> <li><strong>Level:</strong> Difficult</li> <li><strong>Specifics</strong>: It is advisable to use an Formicarium top covering to keep temperature and air humidity constant. Othwerwise they aren't able to build carton nests.<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong><br /> </strong></span></li></ul>http://www.ants-kalytta.com/Odontomachus-sp-brown.html2010-03-01T23:39:43+01:002006-11-02T20:49:59+01:00<p>These ants are able to catapult themselfs up to 40 cm far thru sudden lock up of their mandibles. This mandible lock up is the fastest known mechanism in the fauna. The upper jaw closes with a speed of 38 to 64 m/s. Thru locking up their jaws they are anesthetizing their prey to afterwards sting it to death. It is improper for a corporate tank/formicarium because they will attack any other species at first encounter.</p><ul> <li><strong>Taxonomy</strong>: Subfamily <strong>Ponerinae</strong>, Tribe <strong>Ponerini</strong></li> <li><strong>Distribution</strong>: South-East Asia, Southern America</li> <li><strong>Color</strong>: brown</li> <li><strong>Size</strong>: 12 mm</li> <li><strong>Hibernation</strong>: No</li> <li><strong>Nutrition</strong>: Sugar water and insects</li> <li><strong>Temperature</strong>: 24 - 28 °C</li> <li><strong>Nest building</strong>: Soil nests and rotten wood</li> <li><strong>Keeping level</strong>: easy</li> <li><strong>Dangers</strong>: can sting</li></ul>http://www.ants-kalytta.com/Odontomachus-spblack.html2010-03-04T20:45:25+01:002006-11-02T20:49:59+01:00<p>These ants are able to catapult themselfs up to 40 cm far thru sudden lock up of their mandibles. This mandible lock up is the fastest known mechanism in the fauna. The upper jaw closes with a speed of 38 to 64 m/s. Thru locking up their jaws they are anesthetizing their prey to afterwards sting it to death. It is improper for a corporate tank/formicarium because they will attack any other species at first encounter.</p><ul> <li><strong>Taxonomy</strong>: Subfamily <strong>Ponerinae</strong>, Tribe <strong>Ponerini</strong></li> <li><strong>Distribution</strong>: South Asia</li> <li><strong>Color</strong>: black</li> <li><strong>Size</strong>: 8 - 12 mm</li> <li><strong>Hibernation</strong>: No</li> <li><strong>Nutrition</strong>: Sugar water and insects</li> <li><strong>Temperature</strong>: 24 - 28 °C</li> <li><strong>Nest building</strong>: Soil nests and rotten wood</li> <li><strong>Keeping level</strong>: easy</li> <li><strong>Dangers</strong>: can sting</li></ul>http://www.ants-kalytta.com/Pheidole-pallidula.en.html2010-03-10T12:01:29+01:002006-11-02T20:49:59+01:00<p>A Pheidole species with soldier caste that is normaly monogyn. Coureageous fighter, who could disperse with soldiers in team-work food-insect and hunt small insects and other animals. The color of this species varies from locality to locality. Mostly brown, also light brown and black, but there are also yellow and red colored variants. Non-temperature-sensitive species that could hibernate in unheated rooms or be well-kept by room temperature.</p><ul> <li><strong>Taxonomy</strong>: Subfamily <strong>Myrmicinae</strong>, Tribe <strong>Pheidolini</strong></li> <li><strong>Color</strong>: light brown till black</li> <li><strong>Size</strong>:  <span style="font-style: italic;">Workers</span>: 1.5 - 3 mm, <em>Soldiers</em>: 4 - 5 mm, <em>Queen</em>: 6 - 7 mm</li> <li><strong>Distribution</strong>: South Europe</li> <li><strong>Hibernation</strong>: Yes <small>(see description)</small></li> <li><strong>Nestbuilding</strong>: Soild nests and under stones</li> <li><strong>Nutrition</strong>: Omnivore (insects, honeywater, some grains)</li> <li><strong>Soild condition</strong>: Sand, Loam, Stones</li> <li><strong>Difficulty</strong>: easy</li> <li><strong>Specifics</strong>: Beside of the brown till black colored pheidole there are also variants with quince-yellow or myrmica-red color.</li></ul><p><strong>The yellow and red colored Pheidole is available for limited period only.</strong></p>http://www.ants-kalytta.com/Myrmicaria-arachnoides.en.myar0002.html2010-03-01T23:37:17+01:002010-02-19T22:56:27+01:00<p>An undemanding ants species from the mountains of Southeast Asia which is good for keeping cooler. Because colonies of this species becomes large is is suited for keeping in large basin complxes connected with pipes. Also this Myrmicaria defend oneself with it's defense secretion.</p><ul> <li><strong>Origin:</strong> Southeast Asia (mountains about 1500 m)</li> <li><strong>Taxonomy:</strong> Subfamily <strong>Myrmicinae</strong>, Tribe <strong>Myrmicariini</strong></li> <li><strong>Characteristics:</strong> Monomorph, can not sting</li> <li><strong>Hibernation:</strong> No</li> <li><strong>Appearence of the queen:</strong> deep brown with orange thorax, humpy</li> <li><strong>Appearance of the workers:</strong> deep brown</li> <li><strong>Nest bulding:</strong> soil nests</li> <li><strong>Nutrition:</strong> honeywater, insects</li> <li><strong>Temperature:</strong> 14 - 25°C</li> <li><strong>Air humidity:</strong> 60 - 80 % (tropical climate)<strong><br /> </strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong><br /> </strong></span></li></ul>http://www.ants-kalytta.com/Polyrhachis-sp-6.en.html2010-03-04T20:44:37+01:002010-02-19T23:28:36+01:00<p>This is a beautiful golden colored tropical Polyrhachis species of Southeast Asia. It is an undemanding, diurnal, and tame species.</p><ul> <li><strong>Taxonomy:</strong> Subfamily <strong>Formicinae</strong>, Tribe <strong>Camponotini</strong></li> <li><strong>Distribution:</strong> Southeast Asia</li> <li><strong>Hibernation:</strong> No</li> <li><strong>Appearence:</strong> golden<strong><br /> </strong></li> <li><strong>Colony size:</strong> medium</li> <li><strong>Nest bulding:</strong> dry tree branches or hollow tree trunks</li> <li><strong>Nutrition:</strong> honeywater, insects and other small animals</li> <li><strong>Temperature:</strong> 25 - 28°C</li> <li><strong>Air humidity:</strong> 60 - 80 % (tropical rainforest)</li> <li><strong>Soil conditions:</strong> only necessary for planting</li> <li><strong>Planting:</strong> usefull because they like walking on plants<strong><br /> </strong></li></ul><p> </p>