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Beginner Ant Colonies


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30 replies to this topic

#21 Offline EthanNgo678 - Posted April 22 2019 - 7:44 PM

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Lasius, Formica, and maybe Aphaenogaster. 

 

I looked at aphaenogaster in my area (mostly cause I had no idea what they were lol) and I found a species I think I would love to try one day Aphaenogaster tennesseensis. Looks like they got bright orange gasters! Very cool looking. :)

 

Ahhh yes, Aphaenogaster tennesseenis a beautiful parasitic species. 


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Plants r cool


#22 Offline ponerinecat - Posted April 22 2019 - 7:47 PM

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Lasius, Formica, and maybe Aphaenogaster. 

 

I looked at aphaenogaster in my area (mostly cause I had no idea what they were lol) and I found a species I think I would love to try one day Aphaenogaster tennesseensis. Looks like they got bright orange gasters! Very cool looking. :)

 

these ants are founding parasites on other apheanogaster.in general apheanogaster are a little hard to feed. they dislike liquid sugar and their diet swings between  sugar grains, insects, and seed.



#23 Offline Acutus - Posted April 22 2019 - 7:55 PM

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Lasius, Formica, and maybe Aphaenogaster. 

 

I looked at aphaenogaster in my area (mostly cause I had no idea what they were lol) and I found a species I think I would love to try one day Aphaenogaster tennesseensis. Looks like they got bright orange gasters! Very cool looking. :)

 

these ants are founding parasites on other apheanogaster.in general apheanogaster are a little hard to feed. they dislike liquid sugar and their diet swings between  sugar grains, insects, and seed.

 

 

Thanks for the info! Looks like I'll wait until I'm more experienced but its something to maybe look forward to! :D

 

So what exactly would have to be done to try? I'm guessing I'd first have to get a fertile A. tennesseensis queen while at the same time have access to another type of Aphaenogater colony but how much of that colony would I need to get the ball rolling so to speak?


Edited by Acutus, April 22 2019 - 8:07 PM.

Billy

 

Currently keeping:

Camponotus chromaiodes

Camponotus castaneus

Formica subsericea


#24 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted April 22 2019 - 8:00 PM

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where do you live?

#25 Offline Acutus - Posted April 23 2019 - 4:44 AM

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where do you live?

Howard County Maryland


Billy

 

Currently keeping:

Camponotus chromaiodes

Camponotus castaneus

Formica subsericea


#26 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted April 23 2019 - 6:26 AM

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I did not know you had those in Maryland.

#27 Offline k4el - Posted April 23 2019 - 11:28 AM

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I would also watch Attenborough's documentary on Formica rufa.

 

Do you happen to recall the title? Is it "Empire of Ants"?



#28 Offline ponerinecat - Posted April 23 2019 - 2:57 PM

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Lasius, Formica, and maybe Aphaenogaster. 

 

I looked at aphaenogaster in my area (mostly cause I had no idea what they were lol) and I found a species I think I would love to try one day Aphaenogaster tennesseensis. Looks like they got bright orange gasters! Very cool looking. :)

 

these ants are founding parasites on other apheanogaster.in general apheanogaster are a little hard to feed. they dislike liquid sugar and their diet swings between  sugar grains, insects, and seed.

 

 

Thanks for the info! Looks like I'll wait until I'm more experienced but its something to maybe look forward to! :D

 

So what exactly would have to be done to try? I'm guessing I'd first have to get a fertile A. tennesseensis queen while at the same time have access to another type of Aphaenogater colony but how much of that colony would I need to get the ball rolling so to speak?

 

You'll need a small or moderate sized portion of a colony, preferably with brood, as the queen may not lay at first. Host speicies are A .fulva and A. rudis


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#29 Offline Leo - Posted April 23 2019 - 7:58 PM

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I started with Crematogaster and Camponotus, then moved on to ghost ants and Pheidole. You should be able to find Pheidole under rocks and crematogaster by kicking logs. I'm not quite sure if it will work for you, because I live on the opposite side of the world.



#30 Offline Acutus - Posted April 24 2019 - 4:35 AM

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I did not know you had those in Maryland.

We have something  here called the Maryland Biodiversity Project, which I've actually contributed to a few times but with reptiles and amphibians, and according to them they have been seen here in at least 2 counties.

 

https://www.maryland...hp?species=9385


Billy

 

Currently keeping:

Camponotus chromaiodes

Camponotus castaneus

Formica subsericea


#31 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted May 11 2019 - 1:16 PM

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I would also watch Attenborough's documentary on Formica rufa.

 
Do you happen to recall the title? Is it "Empire of Ants"?

Yes.




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