Re: Ants???

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Posted by billshorneys on August 31, 2002 at 19:18:35:

In Reply to: Ants??? posted by Lexi on August 21, 2002 at 21:32:00:

:About a week ago a friend brought me a horned lizard he caught in Texas. He had kept it in a cardboard box for a few days before he got "bored with it" and handed it over to me (I have an Iguana and have been dubbed a 'lizard person').

:Right now I have it in a 40 gallon Rubbermaid tub with sand, some desert plants, some rocks for basking, and a small water bowl. The tub is outside on my porch and has direct sunlight for about 8 hours a day.

:I've provided large black tree ants, small black ants, crickets, and mealworms and he hasn't eaten any of them.

:I think the crickets and mealworms might be too big for him but that doesn't explain why he won't eat the ants. Am I feeding him the wrong kind? Could someone post some pics or descriptions of the kind that he can eat?

:I live in Northeast Oklahoma (Bartlesville area).

:Thanks,

:Lexi

Lexi,
Not all Horned Lizards in Texas are protected! The Texas horned lizard, (Phrynosoma cornutum), the mountain short horned lizard (P. douglassii hernandesi), are protected! The roundtail horned lizard (P. modestum) is not protected! The Texas Horned Lizard is easily identified with dark brown stripes that radiate downward from the eyes, and across the top of the head. Cut and paste this link in your browser address window for more info: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/wild/reptiles/hlizrd.htm
Now for the ants. There are 22 species of harvester ants in the United States. Harvester ants are the main staple food for most Horned Lizards. They may be black, or red. It seems the red variety is more common. The Harvestor ants here in Florida look pretty much like the ones in Arizona. But I'm sure there are subtle differences. Sting feels the same to. Not much fun to have formic acid pumped into your hand or finger. They are rich with Formic acid. To read more about them, and see photos cut and paste this link: http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/l-5314.html Carpenter ants are not Harvester ants. Carpenter ants will invade homes Harvestor ants will not. Carpenters are about the same size but they have a two toned color. Their head and thorax are a red to brown. Their abdomen is dark shiny black. Hope this helps you in finding the right kind of ants. Good luck!
Bill.

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