Ant keeping

This is my 3rd try at keeping L.niger my 2nd this year.  Not sure what happens but they just die :(

11th May 08

I ordered a L.niger queen from Edu-Sci on 8th May and she arrived on 10th May, she not no workers but a few cocoons and a pile of eggs, no larva  She is in the middle of moving to a new test tube so i have not disturbed her to much so i will update in a few days.

24th May 08

She still not moved to the new test tube but she now has 3 workers helping with a nice pile of eggs  they showed no interest in a fly i gave them so i will try in a few days.

14th June 08

About a week ago they moved to the new clean test tube, i can only see 2 workers now not sure what happened to the third  but i think she is not L.niger but  L.flavus as the workers have stayed pale yellow.  They have a nice pile of brood in different stages so i will get some new workers and i hope they go black

14th August 08

Well the workers have stayed yellow so i will stop this journal and start a new one for the L.flavus.