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Ferox's Solenopsis invicta Journal (Updated June 10th, 2019)


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#1 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted May 7 2019 - 4:21 AM

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Yesterday, Solenopsis invicta flights were going on, and they were absolutely everywhere! I ended up catching 11 queens in the afternoon. Since Solenopsis invicta participate in pleometrosis, I figured that I might as well keep them communally, and a was running out of containers to put them in, so that would work out perfectly. The queens seem to enjoy clumping together in a large ball, and I have yet to see any of the queens start fighting, which is a good sign. I'm wondering if they'll keep most if not all of the queens alive, or if they'll only keep a single queen alive. Only time will tell...


Edited by Ferox_Formicae, June 10 2019 - 8:12 AM.

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#2 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted May 7 2019 - 5:40 AM

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I had a colony with 7 queens at capture, but the workers killed all of them.

#3 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted May 7 2019 - 5:53 AM

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I had a colony with 7 queens at capture, but the workers killed all of them.

Jeez!  :/

I guess I'll have to be careful and keep a close eye on them!


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Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipesStrumigenys brevisetosaStrumigenys clypeataStrumigenys louisianaeStrumigenys membraniferaStrumigenys reflexaStrumigenys rostrata

 

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#4 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted May 13 2019 - 4:55 AM

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I checked up on the queens yesterday to look for eggs, and there is an absolutely enourmous pile with more than 50 eggs! They weren't kidding when they say these ants a quick growing!


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Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipesStrumigenys brevisetosaStrumigenys clypeataStrumigenys louisianaeStrumigenys membraniferaStrumigenys reflexaStrumigenys rostrata

 

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#5 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 13 2019 - 7:43 AM

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Watch out! These will keep you busy, for sure.


"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#6 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted May 13 2019 - 7:49 AM

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Watch out! These will keep you busy, for sure.

Yeah, I'll probably get them a terrarium as the colony gets larger.


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Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipesStrumigenys brevisetosaStrumigenys clypeataStrumigenys louisianaeStrumigenys membraniferaStrumigenys reflexaStrumigenys rostrata

 

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#7 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted May 13 2019 - 3:45 PM

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This is why they are such successful invaders.



#8 Offline AntPhycho - Posted May 13 2019 - 4:57 PM

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I too have a 7 queen solenopsis invicta colony founding. They have a massive pile of brood. No fighting.


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Founding (for myself):                                                                                       My Shop

Solenopsis invicta experiments...                                                                     California

                                                                                                                     Ants & Formicaria

                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                       

                                              

                                                  

 

 

 


#9 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted May 13 2019 - 6:16 PM

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I too have a 7 queen solenopsis invicta colony founding. They have a massive pile of brood. No fighting.

Well hopefully mine don't fight either!


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Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipesStrumigenys brevisetosaStrumigenys clypeataStrumigenys louisianaeStrumigenys membraniferaStrumigenys reflexaStrumigenys rostrata

 

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#10 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted May 23 2019 - 4:46 AM

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Several of the eggs are starting to hatch. I can't even comprehend how many workers there are going to be once the all eclose! There will be well over 200 for sure! :o


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Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipesStrumigenys brevisetosaStrumigenys clypeataStrumigenys louisianaeStrumigenys membraniferaStrumigenys reflexaStrumigenys rostrata

 

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#11 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted May 23 2019 - 5:46 AM

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My queens got along perfectly. They always huddled together. They workers kill all of the queens.

#12 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted May 23 2019 - 5:56 AM

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My queens got along perfectly. They always huddled together. They workers kill all of the queens.

I'll have to be careful. I'll probably have to get them into a larger encloser. That may help.


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#13 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted May 23 2019 - 6:16 AM

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Mine were in a mini hearth XL.

#14 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted May 23 2019 - 6:19 AM

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Mine were in a mini hearth XL.

Mine will definitely have to be in something a bit larger, as there will be over 200 workers. I'll probably make a custom nest, and I'll use one of your outworlds once I'm able to buy one.


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Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipesStrumigenys brevisetosaStrumigenys clypeataStrumigenys louisianaeStrumigenys membraniferaStrumigenys reflexaStrumigenys rostrata

 

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#15 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted May 23 2019 - 7:24 AM

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Solenopsis invicta might be able to fit through it he ventilation gaps... I will test some Solenopsis molesta in one of mine.

#16 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted May 23 2019 - 7:29 AM

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Solenopsis invicta might be able to fit through it he ventilation gaps... I will test some Solenopsis molesta in one of mine.

Well if Solenopsis molesta can't fit through, Solenopsis invicta definitely won't be able to!  :lol:


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Currently Keeping:

 

Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipesStrumigenys brevisetosaStrumigenys clypeataStrumigenys louisianaeStrumigenys membraniferaStrumigenys reflexaStrumigenys rostrata

 

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#17 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted June 2 2019 - 4:29 PM

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Not even a month after their capture, and they already got pupa! That was CRAZY fast! I knew they had fast growth, but this is ridiculous!


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Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipesStrumigenys brevisetosaStrumigenys clypeataStrumigenys louisianaeStrumigenys membraniferaStrumigenys reflexaStrumigenys rostrata

 

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#18 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted June 8 2019 - 4:36 PM

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The pupa are starting to darken, and I suspect they should be hatching within a few days! My first workers of the season!  :D


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#19 Offline ANTdrew - Posted June 8 2019 - 4:45 PM

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Cool!
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#20 Offline AntPhycho - Posted June 8 2019 - 5:37 PM

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The pupa are starting to darken, and I suspect they should be hatching within a few days! My first workers of the season!  :D

It is so funny my 7 queen colony is in alignment with yours haha  :lol:  I just checked today and I have some pupa ready to hatch maybe within a week.

 

EDIT: Checked again and I saw one nanitic! She must have been hiding in the egg pile when I first checked! Gave them some honey!


Edited by AntPhycho, June 9 2019 - 5:48 PM.

Founding (for myself):                                                                                       My Shop

Solenopsis invicta experiments...                                                                     California

                                                                                                                     Ants & Formicaria

                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                       

                                              

                                                  

 

 

 





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