Iridomyrmex bicknelli – Colony with Queen and workers

Description

Here are the Iridomyrmex bicknelli.

This species was selected by Fourmiculture for its easy breeding and intensive activity. It only takes limited experience to form a large colony quickly. Egg laying is important and development is rapid, potentially all year round even if a rest period is recommended as a precaution during the Australian winter, i.e. 2 months at ambient temperature between approximately 15 and 22°C. Managing the colony is very easy and its appetite allows it to collect insects, solid and liquid foods.

Like an Australian “super Lasius niger”, this small species is present over a large part of the territory and easily adapts to many situations. Iridomyrmex bicknelli is one of the most widespread species in Australia, although very different in size, color and appearance from Iridomyrmex purpureus.

This species is polygynous and colonies of Iridomyrmex bicknelli may contain numerous queens and workers.

During hunting and foraging, Iridomyrmex bicknelli explores its environment and forms pheromone trails to guide as many workers as possible between nest and food. This species is rather aggressive and the other species are often forced to hide and forage only outside of Iridomyrmex bicknelli's emergence times.

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The Fourmiculture Charter on legislation and ethics:

Fourmiculture offers this exceptional species native to Australia, a country which combines both the most impressive species in the world, and extremely strict legislation on their collection and export.

Because a large number of exotic species on sale are of fraudulent origin, Fourmiculture is engaging with the authorities. The colony will reach you with:

1/ an export certificate
2/ an Australian veterinary certificate
3/ a health and legislative form.

These documents attest to our official authorization to collect and export queens of this species in limited numbers. Each colony is checked one by one to confirm the absence of parasites and the presence of brood.

We import them by high-speed carrier, whatever the cost, to ensure good transport conditions. The queens are taken during swarming, without destroying nests, and in extremely limited proportions.

Fourmiculture is also a recognized establishment of the French veterinary services, in possession of a certificate of capacity for the breeding and sale of ants, validated by myrmecologists, civil and environmental protection services (decision No. 2016195-0002 from the Directorate Department of Population Protection).

As an individual, the breeding of this species does not require any authorization because it is neither protected, nor threatened, nor invasive, nor dangerous. We remind you, however, that soldiers' bites can be very painful and that the eyes must be kept away from the formic acid splash (short range). Finally, releasing the colony into the wild is prohibited and we will take back your colonies for up to €25.
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Fourmiculture Charter on this exotic species:

1/ Health demonstrated by the laying of the queen and the presence of brood during shipping, guaranteed without parasites,
2/ No “boost” (addition of brood or external workers to sell the colonies more quickly, the queen is high since swarming),
3/ Guaranteed delivery in good health: partial reimbursement in the event of loss of workers, total reimbursement in the event of loss of the queen (if delivered within 48 hours),
4/ Free breeding guide and health sheet provided,
5/ Colony taken back up to €25 and costs covered if you wish to part with it if colony returned in good health (see conditions).

Success Insurance:
We only sell colonies in perfect health and guarantee them during transport. For the most concerned, we offer a 3-month Success Insurance: in the event of loss of the colony up to 3 months after delivery, regardless of the reason, a new colony will be shipped free of charge (within the limit of available stocks, against a photo proof sent within 91 days of transport.

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The Fourmiculture Charter on delivery:

Our experience makes it possible to eliminate almost all losses during transport and we use packaging adapted and tested for this use. You will be delivered by carrier within 48 hours, and any loss of the colony during transport would automatically entitle you to a 100% refund.

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More info on Iridomyrmex bicknelli:

– Size of the queen: about 6mm
– Size of the workers: about 3mm
– Breeding temperature: 27°C during the day, 20-24°C at night
– Wintering: None, or a slight rest period around 15-20°C for 2 months in the fall.
– Food: Sweet and protein liquids, small living insects (size 1 to 2 crickets, fruit flies, mosquitoes, etc.) or dead ones, jellies, meat, etc.
– Humidity requirement: medium.
– Polygyne (possibility of having several queens per colony)
– Maximum population of the colony: estimated at several tens of thousands of workers.
– Color: Black
– Estimated maximum longevity of the queen: 7 to 15 years

Photo: Copyright Antkeeping Depot