Canada Ant Colony
Liometopum luctuosum (Mourning Tree Ant)
Liometopum luctuosum (Mourning Tree Ant)
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They're large, they're fast growing, they're bombastic, Liometopum luctuosum. With massive colonies in the hundreds of thousands of workers, if they're in the area you're going to find out sooner or later especially with their massive trails. Their large monogynous queens will be sent out in the thousands during nuptial flights, and will found with dozens of nanitics, one of their most defining features. Workers will collect all sorts of sugary liquids and insects, ranging from small fruit flies to large beetles. They're well loved in Canada, and as a result can be a bit pricey. Not often known is that they actually exhibit a large extent of polymorphism, with distinct majors, larger ants, and distinct minors, smaller ants.
Liometopum luctuosum have brown-gray queens and workers from 10-12 mm and 4-6 mm respectively. Though closely related to the species Liometopum occidentale, they can be separated by their more flat colouration.
This species is not the best pick for beginners. Take care to make sure they have access to sugars at all times, but other than that they are very good at thriving. Perhaps too much, which gets to the main problem with them. With fast growth rates and large colonies, they can get out of control. They will escape eventually no matter what, but this can be mediated with Fluon or other escape preventing barriers.
| Scientific Name: | Liometopum luctuosum |
| Common Name: | Mourning Tree Ant |
| Taxonomy: | Kingdom: Animalia | Phylum: Arthropoda | Class: Insecta | Order: Hymenoptera | Family: Formicidae | Subfamily: Dolichoderinae | Genus: Liometopum | Species: L. luctuosum |
| Care Difficulty: | Liometopum luctuosum is an intermediate species. |
| Distribution: |
This species can only be found in western North America.
|
| Habitat: | Generally in wooded areas. |
| Colony form: |
This species is monogynous meaning they can only have one queen. |
| Queen: | Queens of this species reach a size of around 10-12 mm. |
| Worker: | Workers will approach 6-7 mm. |
| Nutrition: | This species needs the typical care of insects and sugar water. Being a Dolichoderinae though they need constant access to sugar water, so as a result we recommend a byFormica liquid feeders. |
| Air humidity: | Humidity should be greater than 35%. |
| Temperature: | Heating will drastically decrease the time from egg to worker, and this species can be heated safely up to 32 Celsius. |
| Hibernation: | Hibernation is not needed nor recommended for this species. Colonies can grow all year long. |
| Nesting Habits: | In the wild they have been observed to nest primarily in trees. |
| Kind of Formicaria: | Any normal plaster or acrylic setup will work. |
| Formicaria size: | Colonies can get larger than 10,000 workers, but will both take a while to get there and not get to that size unless you feed them enough. |
| Description: | Liometopum luctuosum is a very bombastic species of ant. With fast growing, large ants, and large colonies, it's one of the craziest species in Canada. |
| Offering quantity: | Queen, Queen + 5-10 workers, Queen + 10-25 workers, Queen + 25-50 workers, Queen + 50-100 workers. |
| Weblinks: |
What's a Test Tube Insert?
Test tube inserts are upgrades to the test tube setups provided. If purchased, they come with a dark hood to lower light levels for the colony, an insert which provides a living space, and a feeding insert to provide food for the colony.
Ungrouted inserts are a blank plastic insert which helps provide a more suitable space for the ants to grip (as opposed to glass tubes), while grouted inserts are bedded with a substrate which helps distribute humidity more evenly throughout the test tube, and helps certain ants create their cocoons more easily. Overall, grouted inserts are more comfortable for the ants.
You will NOT need an insert for colonies in test tubes, but it does help for certain species. IF you are moving the ants into a nest immediately, do NOT get a test tube insert.
Shipping Conditions
Hey! This is a live product. If you are purchasing ants during the winter months, please remember to purchase the "Winter Shipping (Live Guarantee) (72 hour heat pack + 1 inch foam cushion)" in order to guarantee the order.
Live Guarantee Policy
If live insects arrive cold or flooded please handle with care. Many of these colonies typically pop back up within a few hours. All DOA claims must be made within 24 hours after receiving your insects. Any order with a unacceptable mortality rate, but with a viable colony (e.g. less workers than in the range advertised, less queens or workers than advertised) can be compensated with store credit equal to the loss of value in the shipment, including shipping and extra packaging. Any order with DOAs, but which do not fall out of the initially advertised/promised range of workers will NOT be compensated.
DOA claims which are a total loss will be re-shipped 1 more time FREE of charge with photographic evidence. Orders where shipping is more than 30% of the total value of the order will be refunded proportionally to the loss of value in the shipment, INCLUDING test tube inserts which are purchased with the colony.
We guarantee live arrival on Xpresspost and priority shipments, as well as pickup and local delivery. Only orders that are accepted on the first delivery attempt will be eligible for DOA credit, no exceptions.
Live guarantee is VOID if you choose expedited shipping. In the winter, it is VOID if no extra packing is purchased. Fertility guarantee claims or live guarantee claims made within the month after arrival must be made with a timestamped photo of BOTH the queen alive upon arrival AND a timestamped photo of the dead specimens.
Expedited shipping can be a budget friendly method but does not always have the best results. If your order is going to be in transit more than 3 business days please do not choose this method or choose at your own risk.
DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO HOLD BACK SHIPMENTS IF WE DECIDE ITS TOO COLD TO SHIP.
Please note that orders to outdoor community mail boxes, or other outdoor locations void our live guarantee. If your address consists of an outdoor mail box or location, please make arrangements to have the order delivered to a friends house, or to your place of employment.
Just a warning, we will NOT ship live ants into the US unless the receiver has a permit. If such an order is made, it will be refunded, minus a 10% processing fee and restocking fee
This product is from Canada Ant Colony. The full catalogue, including all variants, can be found at https://canada-ant-colony.com
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- Description
- What's a Test Tube Insert?
- Shipping Conditions
- Reviews
They're large, they're fast growing, they're bombastic, Liometopum luctuosum. With massive colonies in the hundreds of thousands of workers, if they're in the area you're going to find out sooner or later especially with their massive trails. Their large monogynous queens will be sent out in the thousands during nuptial flights, and will found with dozens of nanitics, one of their most defining features. Workers will collect all sorts of sugary liquids and insects, ranging from small fruit flies to large beetles. They're well loved in Canada, and as a result can be a bit pricey. Not often known is that they actually exhibit a large extent of polymorphism, with distinct majors, larger ants, and distinct minors, smaller ants.
Liometopum luctuosum have brown-gray queens and workers from 10-12 mm and 4-6 mm respectively. Though closely related to the species Liometopum occidentale, they can be separated by their more flat colouration.
This species is not the best pick for beginners. Take care to make sure they have access to sugars at all times, but other than that they are very good at thriving. Perhaps too much, which gets to the main problem with them. With fast growth rates and large colonies, they can get out of control. They will escape eventually no matter what, but this can be mediated with Fluon or other escape preventing barriers.
| Scientific Name: | Liometopum luctuosum |
| Common Name: | Mourning Tree Ant |
| Taxonomy: | Kingdom: Animalia | Phylum: Arthropoda | Class: Insecta | Order: Hymenoptera | Family: Formicidae | Subfamily: Dolichoderinae | Genus: Liometopum | Species: L. luctuosum |
| Care Difficulty: | Liometopum luctuosum is an intermediate species. |
| Distribution: | This species can only be found in western North America. |
| Habitat: | Generally in wooded areas. |
| Colony form: |
This species is monogynous meaning they can only have one queen. |
| Queen: | Queens of this species reach a size of around 10-12 mm. |
| Worker: | Workers will approach 6-7 mm. |
| Nutrition: | This species needs the typical care of insects and sugar water. Being a Dolichoderinae though they need constant access to sugar water, so as a result we recommend a byFormica liquid feeders. |
| Air humidity: | Humidity should be greater than 35%. |
| Temperature: | Heating will drastically decrease the time from egg to worker, and this species can be heated safely up to 32 Celsius. |
| Hibernation: | Hibernation is not needed nor recommended for this species. Colonies can grow all year long. |
| Nesting Habits: | In the wild they have been observed to nest primarily in trees. |
| Kind of Formicaria: | Any normal plaster or acrylic setup will work. |
| Formicaria size: | Colonies can get larger than 10,000 workers, but will both take a while to get there and not get to that size unless you feed them enough. |
| Description: | Liometopum luctuosum is a very bombastic species of ant. With fast growing, large ants, and large colonies, it's one of the craziest species in Canada. |
| Offering quantity: | Queen, Queen + 5-10 workers, Queen + 10-25 workers, Queen + 25-50 workers, Queen + 50-100 workers. |
| Weblinks: | https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Camponotus_luctuosum |
Test tube inserts are upgrades to the test tube setups provided. If purchased, they come with a dark hood to lower light levels for the colony, an insert which provides a living space, and a feeding insert to provide food for the colony.
Ungrouted inserts are a blank plastic insert which helps provide a more suitable space for the ants to grip (as opposed to glass tubes), while grouted inserts are bedded with a substrate which helps distribute humidity more evenly throughout the test tube, and helps certain ants create their cocoons more easily. Overall, grouted inserts are more comfortable for the ants.
You will NOT need an insert for colonies in test tubes, but it does help for certain species. IF you are moving the ants into a nest immediately, do NOT get a test tube insert.
Hey! This is a live product. If you are purchasing ants during the winter months, please remember to purchase the "Winter Shipping (Live Guarantee) (72 hour heat pack + 1 inch foam cushion)" in order to guarantee the order.
Live Guarantee Policy
If live insects arrive cold or flooded please handle with care. Many of these colonies typically pop back up within a few hours. All DOA claims must be made within 24 hours after receiving your insects. Any order with a unacceptable mortality rate, but with a viable colony (e.g. less workers than in the range advertised, less queens or workers than advertised) can be compensated with store credit equal to the loss of value in the shipment, including shipping and extra packaging. Any order with DOAs, but which do not fall out of the initially advertised/promised range of workers will NOT be compensated.
DOA claims which are a total loss will be re-shipped 1 more time FREE of charge with photographic evidence. Orders where shipping is more than 30% of the total value of the order will be refunded proportionally to the loss of value in the shipment, INCLUDING test tube inserts which are purchased with the colony.
We guarantee live arrival on Xpresspost and priority shipments, as well as pickup and local delivery. Only orders that are accepted on the first delivery attempt will be eligible for DOA credit, no exceptions.
Live guarantee is VOID if you choose expedited shipping. In the winter, it is VOID if no extra packing is purchased. Fertility guarantee claims or live guarantee claims made within the month after arrival must be made with a timestamped photo of BOTH the queen alive upon arrival AND a timestamped photo of the dead specimens.
Expedited shipping can be a budget friendly method but does not always have the best results. If your order is going to be in transit more than 3 business days please do not choose this method or choose at your own risk.
DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO HOLD BACK SHIPMENTS IF WE DECIDE ITS TOO COLD TO SHIP.
Please note that orders to outdoor community mail boxes, or other outdoor locations void our live guarantee. If your address consists of an outdoor mail box or location, please make arrangements to have the order delivered to a friends house, or to your place of employment.
Just a warning, we will NOT ship live ants into the US unless the receiver has a permit. If such an order is made, it will be refunded, minus a 10% processing fee and restocking fee
This product is from Canada Ant Colony. The full catalogue, including all variants, can be found at https://canada-ant-colony.com