Why are my ants dying? Having a colony of ants is a fascinating experience, but sometimes you can be faced with a disconcerting problem: the inexplicable death of your ants. In this article, we will explore the possible causes of this situation and offer solutions to preserve your colony. Understanding the reasons behind the death of your ants is essential to ensure their well-being and promote their survival.
- Age of workers and queen: Ants have a limited lifespan, and when workers reach a certain age, they may begin to die off naturally. We often raise our colonies for 1 year or more before shipping them, to ensure their health and a sufficient population to make interesting observations. A population of about twenty workers is ideal to install them in a real anthill. Following transportation and moving, the weakest or oldest workers in the colony may die. Similarly by period during the year. However, if you observe excessive and close mortality, it may indicate other problems.
- Presence of pollutants: Pollutants, such as insecticides present in the environment or food, can have a detrimental impact on your ant colony. Be sure to use non-toxic products in your environment, including the foods you provide them. Opt for natural insect control methods and avoid harmful chemicals. You wonder why my ants are dying? Insecticides on pets against ticks, in the environment against mosquitoes, in cultivated fields or in condo vents can quickly harm your ants.
- Lack of food: Insufficient food supply can lead to the death of your ants. Be sure to provide your colony with adequate and balanced nutrition. Ants have specific nutritional needs, learn about the types of food suitable for your ant species and be sure to feed them regularly. Sometimes food is present but not suitable for them: too thick, expired, etc.
- Anthill Hygiene Issues: Poor anthill hygiene can promote the spread of disease and infection, which can lead to the death of your ants. Be alert for excessive mold, and remove debris that the ants will pull out of the nest. The interior of the nest is not cleanable in the presence of ants. They are the ones who will do the internal cleaning work of the anthill. But for that, you have to keep an eye on the humidity: no flooding. And on food: no persistent excesses. Otherwise, both could promote mold and attract dust mites.
- Mite Parasites: Parasitic mites can infest an ant colony and cause havoc. Pay attention to signs of infestation, such as unusual behavior in ants: stoppage of larval growth, lack of worker activity, etc. But also heavy soiling. If you suspect the presence of mites, use a 30x jeweler's loupe or a USB microscope to get a closer look. You might find tiny white mites moving slowly inside the nest, especially on the glass. Mites can be present even if the colony is doing very well, but their development could seriously harm it later. We advise you to move the ants to a healthy environment and clean the old habitat, without any chemicals. Freezing can be a solution if the nest is dry. Otherwise, leave the ants where they are and treat with Taurrus, a predatory mite that will kill the pest mites, before starving to death when it's done its job.
- Humidity and temperature control: Inappropriate humidity or temperature conditions can jeopardize the survival of your ants. Be sure to maintain adequate humidity levels in the anthill and avoid extreme temperature fluctuations. Researching the specific needs of your ant species beforehand will help you create an optimal environment. The use of a quality anthill and close monitoring are essential. Ants cannot live if the nest is too dry, so it should never dry out, and a water trough does not replace the humidity of the nest. But it must also not be waterlogged or subject to flooding, sources of rot with leftover food and other waste.
- Stress: Ants are prone to stress and may crowd on top of each other, pull the cotton in their tube until exhausted, or exhibit abnormal behavior.
In some cases, you have absolutely nothing to do with it, for example when a queen fails to lay eggs for internal reasons, attacks her environment and dies. In the wild, about 98-99% of queens die without founding their colony. But in the case of a successful colony, remember to avoid stress by protecting the ants from vibrations and too strong ambient light. An anthill that is too big is also a cause of stress and you should not install a colony of 20 workers in an anthill of 30x30cm for example. Start small: first a tube, then an anthill of 15 to 20cm, if possible modular.
We hope that these few tips will help you take care of your ant farm and have the right answers when you ask yourself “Why are my ants dying?” »