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Crystal's Myrmica Journal

crystals myrmica journal

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13 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Crystals - Posted July 23 2015 - 7:02 PM

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On June 13, 2015 I turned over a rock and found a small 3 queen Myrmica colony.  I collected them and put them in a small 3x5" formicarium.  They only had one or two larvae.

 

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As of July 23, not much has happened.  Some brood has been produced and is close to eclosing.  Moved them to a formicarium with a better hydration system.

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#2 Offline AntsAreUs - Posted July 23 2015 - 7:05 PM

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Do you plan on trying to add more queens?



#3 Offline Crystals - Posted July 23 2015 - 7:25 PM

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No, it is really hard to ID Myrmica queens and with my luck it would be a different species that they would kill.

When this colony produces alates, I would be curious to see what will happen.


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#4 Offline AntsAreUs - Posted July 23 2015 - 7:32 PM

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No, it is really hard to ID Myrmica queens and with my luck it would be a different species that they would kill.

When this colony produces alates, I would be curious to see what will happen.

I agree with producing alates, would you try to introduce males to see if they will mate?



#5 Offline Crystals - Posted July 23 2015 - 7:47 PM

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I have to see when they produce alates, since most of my colonies are on reverse hibernation.  I have never found a male Myrmica outside of a wild nest before.  We will see how things play out.  This colony may be years from producing alates.


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#6 Offline Crystals - Posted September 25 2015 - 5:48 PM

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The clean nest is no longer so clean.  I don't think I have ever seen such a messy bunch of Myrmica before, then again, I never kept this particular species before.  I think I build deeper tunnels in their next nest.

The colony is growing, there are at least 115 workers and a fair bit of brood.  4 male alates have also appeared in the nest.

Typical of all Myrmica I have ever kept, they don't seem to want to stop for hibernation.

 

DSC07949_zpsnjgzs733.jpg


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#7 Offline dermy - Posted September 26 2015 - 10:09 AM

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I guess all Myrmica colonies, no matter species are all messy!

 

The Colony is looking good, and looks to be getting larger soon as well :)


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#8 Offline Myrmicinae - Posted December 2 2015 - 8:12 AM

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How is this colony doing?  Are they in hibernation now?


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#9 Offline Crystals - Posted December 2 2015 - 12:59 PM

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They are doing well, still growing with no stop in brood production.

There are quite a few more ants than my last post, at least double if not triple.  I will have to update this with some pictures when I get a chance.


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#10 Offline James C. Trager - Posted December 3 2015 - 4:59 AM

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Best I can see in these pictures, this could be Myrmica alaskensis. But it's hard to ID Myrmica even with specimens, a good scope, and expertise, so this is at best an educated guess.



#11 Offline Crystals - Posted December 3 2015 - 7:32 AM

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That is interesting.  I have never really tried to ID Myrmica yet, they can all look so similar, even under a microscope.  It is unusual to find Myrmica with lots of red in my location, so all I knew is that it is a species I have not looked at before.

I may have to temporarily kidnap a live one for a photo that will be better suited for ID purposes, I know I have some free time during the Christmas break.


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#12 Offline James C. Trager - Posted December 3 2015 - 2:15 PM

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An oblique view (above and to the side about 45 deg.) of the head, with at least one scape base in clear focus helps. Also one showing scape bases like this: https://www.antweb.o...shot=h&number=1.

Both oblique and dorsal views of the mesonotal dorsum also useful. 

For these suggestions, I'm going oon what I look at when I have them under the scope.



#13 Offline Crystals - Posted December 5 2015 - 1:49 PM

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Here is an updated overview of the nest.  (I will get those closeups when I have more time...)

 

A lot of brood in the larval stage, and at least 25 workers in the foraging area.

 

Half of the male alates ran around in the outworld one day when a weather front passed through.  They never returned to the nest and died a couple of days later.  Still a few males in the nest.

 

DSC08394_zpscjwtvr1g.jpg


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#14 Offline Crystals - Posted February 26 2016 - 6:47 PM

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I put this colony into hibernation on Jan. 15.

 

Shortly afterwards, it was given to someone else.


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