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www.byformica.com Brachymyrmex sp. GroTube XL Journal


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#1 Offline drtrmiller - Posted June 27 2015 - 7:48 PM

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I caught two queens on 6/12/15, per my flight observation, here.

 

I immediately put each in a GroTube XL.  They took a few days to settle in, but eventually started laying eggs less than a week later.

 

On 6/27, two weeks after introduction, I took the following photo with my cell phone and strap-on macro lens:

 

 

The brood is virtually microscopic.  They're tinier than the grains of sand, so the only way to observe them is with magnification.

 

The queen in the other GroTube has formed a miniscule barricade with loose substrate, and is unable to be seen, currently.  Both are somewhat more sensitive to light than I would like, but after the past few weeks, they are less sensitive now, since I leave them in a room which is dimly lit, 24/7.

 

 




byFormica® is the manufacturer of the iconic nectar feeders and Sunburst Ant Nectar.
byFormica ant products always deliver consistent performance, convenience,
and reliability, making them among the most beloved ant foods and kit enjoyed by
ant keeping enthusiasts worldwide. For more information, visit www.byFormica.com.

#2 Offline kellakk - Posted June 27 2015 - 9:09 PM

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Why do you have it as Brachymyrmex sp.? Isn't B. patagonicus the only dark species in the US?


Current Species:
Camponotus fragilis

Novomessor cockerelli

Pogonomyrmex montanus

Pogonomyrmex rugosus

Manica bradleyi

 

 


#3 Offline drtrmiller - Posted June 27 2015 - 9:11 PM

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Probably, I just haven't taken time to ID workers.




byFormica® is the manufacturer of the iconic nectar feeders and Sunburst Ant Nectar.
byFormica ant products always deliver consistent performance, convenience,
and reliability, making them among the most beloved ant foods and kit enjoyed by
ant keeping enthusiasts worldwide. For more information, visit www.byFormica.com.

#4 Offline Lamarr - Posted June 28 2015 - 6:01 PM

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I have this species as well and they indeed are very small for the human eye.



#5 Offline drtrmiller - Posted July 11 2015 - 4:58 AM

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The first workers started eclosing yesterday, 30 days after introducing the queens to the GroTube XL.  I imagine developement took just over 3 weeks, considering how long it took the queens to get comfy in the nest.

 

 




byFormica® is the manufacturer of the iconic nectar feeders and Sunburst Ant Nectar.
byFormica ant products always deliver consistent performance, convenience,
and reliability, making them among the most beloved ant foods and kit enjoyed by
ant keeping enthusiasts worldwide. For more information, visit www.byFormica.com.

#6 Offline HolycowIappeared - Posted July 14 2015 - 1:55 PM

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The first workers started eclosing yesterday, 30 days after introducing the queens to the GroTube XL.  I imagine developement took just over 3 weeks, considering how long it took the queens to get comfy in the nest.

 

 

It's been two months and a half and my brachy queens brood still hasn't pupated (though they are growing to a reasonable size). Don't know why the latency. ;_;



#7 Offline drtrmiller - Posted July 14 2015 - 9:42 PM

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The temperature should be 26-30 C (80-85 F), and there should be sufficient humidity.

 

Development will stall if the temperature is too low or the brood dry out.




byFormica® is the manufacturer of the iconic nectar feeders and Sunburst Ant Nectar.
byFormica ant products always deliver consistent performance, convenience,
and reliability, making them among the most beloved ant foods and kit enjoyed by
ant keeping enthusiasts worldwide. For more information, visit www.byFormica.com.

#8 Offline AntsAreUs - Posted July 15 2015 - 2:33 AM

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How do you maintain your temperature?



#9 Offline drtrmiller - Posted July 15 2015 - 2:35 AM

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By blocking the central AC vent in a room in Georgia :~P

 

I've been talking and thinking of designing a transparent incubator box for ants for ages.  Maybe in a year or two I'll find the time to make it.




byFormica® is the manufacturer of the iconic nectar feeders and Sunburst Ant Nectar.
byFormica ant products always deliver consistent performance, convenience,
and reliability, making them among the most beloved ant foods and kit enjoyed by
ant keeping enthusiasts worldwide. For more information, visit www.byFormica.com.

#10 Offline dspdrew - Posted July 15 2015 - 6:09 AM

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By blocking the central AC vent in a room in Georgia :~P

 

I've been talking and thinking of designing a transparent incubator box for ants for ages.  Maybe in a year or two I'll find the time to make it.

 

A lot of people need something like that. Heating the air around the test tube is the way to do it.



#11 Offline Tspivey16 - Posted July 15 2015 - 6:45 AM

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I have always wondered about something like this:

 

https://www.pricefal...CFUgWHwodlz4EGA


Current Colonies:

                               Aphaenogaster tennesseensis (50 Workers)

                               Formica subsericea (5+ Workers)

                               Tetramorium caespitum (50+ Workers)

                               Parastic Lasius (15 Accepted Host Workers)

                               Crematogaster cerasi (10 + Workers)

                               Temnothorax sp. (70 + workers)

 


#12 Offline drtrmiller - Posted July 15 2015 - 6:47 AM

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That is probably as good or better than what I could do, and at about the same price.

 

Certainly if a solution exists in the marketplace already, it's probably not going to be something I pursue, and I had not yet seen this product.

 

Thanks.




byFormica® is the manufacturer of the iconic nectar feeders and Sunburst Ant Nectar.
byFormica ant products always deliver consistent performance, convenience,
and reliability, making them among the most beloved ant foods and kit enjoyed by
ant keeping enthusiasts worldwide. For more information, visit www.byFormica.com.

#13 Offline Tspivey16 - Posted July 15 2015 - 6:49 AM

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I would be interested to know if anyone has had any experience with these


Current Colonies:

                               Aphaenogaster tennesseensis (50 Workers)

                               Formica subsericea (5+ Workers)

                               Tetramorium caespitum (50+ Workers)

                               Parastic Lasius (15 Accepted Host Workers)

                               Crematogaster cerasi (10 + Workers)

                               Temnothorax sp. (70 + workers)

 


#14 Offline drtrmiller - Posted July 15 2015 - 6:53 AM

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Actually, I may have spoken too soon.

 

Here it is on Amazon.com.

 

54 reviews, 50% of them 1-star reviews.  An average rating of 2.4 stars, out of 5.

 

Incredible what some companies can get away with.


Edited by drtrmiller, July 15 2015 - 6:53 AM.



byFormica® is the manufacturer of the iconic nectar feeders and Sunburst Ant Nectar.
byFormica ant products always deliver consistent performance, convenience,
and reliability, making them among the most beloved ant foods and kit enjoyed by
ant keeping enthusiasts worldwide. For more information, visit www.byFormica.com.

#15 Offline dspdrew - Posted July 15 2015 - 7:01 AM

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Yeah, those are some terrible reviews. Some are kind of funny though.

 

"When opening the door, it can drop by 20 degrees".

 

I always love when people complain about physics.






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