Food Plants used by myself

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?
PierreE
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Food Plants used by myself

Post by PierreE » Wed Jan 06, 2016 12:58 pm

I feed my Atta with this Plants:

1.Rose : (Leaves and flowers) : I would say the best food(lilac,too).
I feed from garden and wild :)
Very easy to find!

2.Lilac : (Only Leaves) : Very good and big leaves from our garden xD
Does not grow in Nature (Not wild)
Flieder.jpg
3.Blackberry (only leaves) : Only in winter...at this time there are only these in Germany!
Not the best Food but the only.
Very easy to find

4.Forsythie (Leaves and flowers) : Yellow Flowers in Spring
after feeding the fungus is yellow xD
Forsythie.JPG
5.Hibiscus (Leaves and Flowers) : Purple Flowers! Only in Garden.Not wild in Germany :)
hibiskus.jpg
6.Apple : normal apple from the supermarket(not Bio) It is important to peel the apple!!!
(! You shouldn't feed too much...If you feed to much,creates too much moisture!

From October to end of march,I must feed only Blackberry and sometimes a little bit Apple! In this time the fungus don't grow.

I hope you can understand my english :)

Best regards,
Pierre
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Acromyrmexbob
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Re: Food Plants used by myself

Post by Acromyrmexbob » Wed Jan 06, 2016 2:42 pm

that's a great list, very detailed. Do you not get privet leaves. I think they prefer this above everything else. Also the white part of orange peel and Brussel sprouts. Looking forward to hearing about how you keep your ants. I am in Trinidad just now, have 150 colonies to bring back. What type of Atta do you have.

PierreE
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Re: Food Plants used by myself

Post by PierreE » Wed Jan 06, 2016 3:09 pm

Hey,
thank's for your answer :)
privet leaves...Yes,thats a great food,i heard...But I can't find these leaves...
Thank's for the tip (White part of orange peel) I will try it!
Wow!!! 150 colonys! That's great!
I keep Atta cephalotes ;)

Best regards,
Pierre

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Re: Food Plants used by myself

Post by Atta solider » Wed Jan 06, 2016 5:19 pm

I've got the yellow flowers in my grandmas garden they open in spring I've just feed them loads privet leaves they are the best

Britishants.com
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Re: Food Plants used by myself

Post by Britishants.com » Wed Jan 06, 2016 7:49 pm

If you cut the stems of Forsythia and bring them in doors it will force them open! early food source and pretty to look at!

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Deansie26
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Re: Food Plants used by myself

Post by Deansie26 » Wed Jan 06, 2016 7:54 pm

great post Pierre! very clear photos which is great. As has been said, looking forward to seeing your set up.

Atta solider
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Re: Food Plants used by myself

Post by Atta solider » Thu Jan 07, 2016 6:51 pm

Nice I'll try that when they start mate

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Acromyrmexbob
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Re: Food Plants used by myself

Post by Acromyrmexbob » Tue Jan 12, 2016 3:29 pm

Britishants.com wrote:If you cut the stems of Forsythia and bring them in doors it will force them open! early food source and pretty to look at!
Not only a mymecologist, also a florist!

PierreE
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Re: Food Plants used by myself

Post by PierreE » Fri Jan 22, 2016 9:11 pm

Hey at all,

I want to show you a plant.
Prunus serotina!
Hello at all,
This plant are native in America.
Since many years,this plant introduced in Europe and it's very common ^^
So I think,it's perfect food :)
My Atta like this leaves
Here a picture:
prunus.JPG
Best regards,
Pierre
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Acromyrmexbob
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Re: Food Plants used by myself

Post by Acromyrmexbob » Sat Jan 23, 2016 8:25 pm

I dont recognise it as one we get around here. Looks like an everygreen though. Might try to find it or similar and plant my garden with them.

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