Daily Food Diary, LCA HQ

What you feed, where you get it from, basically we will build up a comrehensive list of suitable plants to feed Leaf Cutters. Also in temperate countries, what do you feed them in the Winter?
User avatar
Acromyrmexbob
Site Admin
Posts: 2199
Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2015 10:32 pm

Re: Daily Food Diary, LCA HQ

Post by Acromyrmexbob » Wed May 02, 2018 2:26 pm

AndyJ wrote "Sweet or Horse Chestnuts"


The type that give you conkers!!

User avatar
Andyj
Site Admin
Posts: 505
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2016 7:26 pm
Location: Sunny Devon
Contact:

Re: Daily Food Diary, LCA HQ

Post by Andyj » Wed May 02, 2018 4:14 pm

If i had to guess i would have thought Sweet chestnut ,,,,

Hawthorn is loved.

Occultus
Larva
Posts: 40
Joined: Sun Nov 26, 2017 1:54 am

Re: Daily Food Diary, LCA HQ

Post by Occultus » Wed May 02, 2018 11:09 pm

02.05.18

Ulmus sp - Elm Tree

Today's feed was Elm tree leaves from just down the street. I cant be sure of the exact species but I want to say it's English Elm (Ulmus minor 'Atinia') based on similar leaf photos. I fully expected a strong feeding response due to how delicate the new leaves are but the ants were rather casual in their leaf collecting. Most colonies did take leaves back to the fungus but I'm sure I'll have some to remove in the morning. It could be that they just didn't need these new Elm leaves after yesterdays banquet of Hawthorn.

Occultus
Larva
Posts: 40
Joined: Sun Nov 26, 2017 1:54 am

Re: Daily Food Diary, LCA HQ

Post by Occultus » Thu May 03, 2018 10:21 pm

03.05.18

Rhododendron
We used the classic Rhododendron leaves today...I know, boring. The funny thing I've noticed is that it's always pretty much a threeway split in acceptance of these leaves. Colony A loves it, colony B doesn't touch it and colony C will take a few bites but isn't fussed. Also for a couple of smaller Acromyrmex colonies, I give them some privet instead as I know they have a tough time cutting the Rhododendron. I'm tempted to cut some up into little tiny pieces and see if they'll be more inclined to take it.

Occultus
Larva
Posts: 40
Joined: Sun Nov 26, 2017 1:54 am

Re: Daily Food Diary, LCA HQ

Post by Occultus » Fri May 04, 2018 9:14 pm

04.05.18

Aesculus hippocastanum - Horse Chestnut
I managed to find a Horse chestnut tree today. The leaves had a great first response from workers of both Atta and Acromyrmex. They gradually calmed down in their enthusiasm for the leaves. Most colonies did take it to feed the fungus so I'd definitely use it again.

Occultus
Larva
Posts: 40
Joined: Sun Nov 26, 2017 1:54 am

Re: Daily Food Diary, LCA HQ

Post by Occultus » Sun May 06, 2018 10:48 pm

06.05.18

Betula pendula - Silver Birch

With the beautiful weather that we've had today, I collected the young silver birch leaves from the LCA HQ garden. The largest colonies of Atta cephalotes devoured the small leaves. Unfortunately, our young colonies were not as interested. I couldn't really recommend this for most keepers. I will try the silver birch one more time once the leaves are more mature and hopefully less waxy.

Occultus
Larva
Posts: 40
Joined: Sun Nov 26, 2017 1:54 am

Re: Daily Food Diary, LCA HQ

Post by Occultus » Mon May 07, 2018 5:31 pm

07.05.18

Fagus sylvatica - Beech

Today's food choice of Beech leaves has gone down a treat. Lots of enthusiastic leaf-cutting action. It helps that the leaves are young and easier for the ants work with.

Jackie62
Minim
Posts: 263
Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2015 9:13 am

Re: Daily Food Diary, LCA HQ

Post by Jackie62 » Tue May 08, 2018 1:12 pm

Thanks Che. I will try the beech leaves too, we have a lot on campus, and I did try silver birch, which they cut after a little while.

User avatar
Acromyrmexbob
Site Admin
Posts: 2199
Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2015 10:32 pm

Re: Daily Food Diary, LCA HQ

Post by Acromyrmexbob » Wed May 09, 2018 11:51 am

8/5/2018

Dandelion and Docking leaves today. Available everywhere, easy to find, well accepted and a good mainstay.

User avatar
Leafcutter
Minim
Posts: 256
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2015 4:12 pm

Re: Daily Food Diary, LCA HQ

Post by Leafcutter » Wed May 09, 2018 8:39 pm

I'd be interested to see how they react to carrots, organic of course. I had Acromyrmex chewing up pieces of carrot and feeding it to the fungus last year.

Atta cephalotes (2019)
Camponotus detritus (2018)
Camponotus maculatus (2018)

Post Reply