Leaf Cutting Ant Forum

Any updates Stevie?

hi guys they have nearly filled the small tub but it is very slow can any1 tell me if they should be faster than this or is it about right. they are cutting they seem to have got fed up with privet and have moved on to greens which I have loads of as that's what my iggy eats.so much the same really.
thanks reevey

Hi Steve, are you feeding the same thing constanstantly or do you change it up? Have you tried almond flakes?
I wouldn't be concerned over the speed of things as long as the fungus is getting bigger.

Steve, my Iggy used to only eat salad stuff which my Acro's don't seem to be so fond of. Privet is right down the list of preferred foods. My Acro's really enjoy Rose petals/leaves Ash and Bramble. Also gave them a whole Almond nut ( shelled ) which took 2 days before they even looked at it then devoured it. It came straight out of the xmas nuts we forgot to eat ourselves. Offer them a choice and change foods before they get fed up. Glad they are doing ok now

thanks for the suggestions will def try them out

Andyj wrote:Steve, my Iggy used to only eat salad stuff which my Acro's don't seem to be so fond of. Privet is right down the list of preferred foods. My Acro's really enjoy Rose petals/leaves Ash and Bramble. Also gave them a whole Almond nut ( shelled ) which took 2 days before they even looked at it then devoured it. It came straight out of the xmas nuts we forgot to eat ourselves. Offer them a choice and change foods before they get fed up. Glad they are doing ok now

Ash is a good shout that I hadn't heard before. I've loads of it round me and I've been supplying it for the last few days since I saw this post and the ants love it.

The problem with Ash is that its the last to arrive and first to go. A good subject for freezing perhaps.

hi small update they still loving the greens but have put some bramble leaf in with them and they are loving it will have to look out for some ash leafs as well
thanks steve

What do you mean by greens Steve?

If you can access privet, thats the one for me. As Andy has found, often some colonies have personal taste and dont like some of the normally favourite foods. But that is rare. When I get around 200 colonies of leaf cutters in and feed them a leaf, such as privet, they all eat. I would suggest that if you try Provet or any other favoured leaf, and the ants ignore it then its likely a problem with the plant and the ants are trying to tell you something. Get the same leaf from a different source and I am sure they will take it.