Its been a few days since I last updated, lots of updates for you.

Tetramorium Caespitum

The TC's are doing fabulously well.  I was a little bit concerned about this species when it first arrived.  They were extremely shy.  There was 1 Queen and 4 workers, and I must admit, I didn't hold out much hope for their long term success.  However, today I put a small piece of dead mealworm in with them, and within about 2 minutes there were 5 workers chomping on it.  So its obvious to me that they are doing well, even though I cannot see the queen chamber at all.  I did make a mistake with these ants at first thinking they were harvester type ants, they are not, and they are more of a scavenger or carrion eaters.  So now I know, I will be feeding them lots of mealworms etc.

Messor Barbarus

Disaster, I lost 2 more workers from this set up.  They were still managing to get out somehow.  So I took the wooden sides of the plaster nest off, and completely siliconed the glass lid in place.  Now, if they get out of this then I'm going to be really really upset, because I just cannot see any other way out for them.  Anyway, the 18 that were there are now 16 again there is another one just about to turn callow, so I will keep you posted.

Myrmica Ruginodis

They have gone strange on me.  They have for some reason decided to move into the tube that connects the farm to the basin.  I don't quite know why, but am interested in listening to any theorys.  Apart from that, they are doing as well as ever.

Lasius Niger

The one Queen that has laid is now firmly settled into the ant farm, and I can see her and her one worker.  Unfortunately one of the workers got stuck in a drop of honey and died.  I am upset about this of course but it happens.  They are looking good now, and hopefully will turn into a thriving colony.  The other queen has still not produced any eggs, I will keep you posted.