Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Myrmica sp


  • Please log in to reply
58 replies to this topic

#21 Offline Crystals - Posted March 27 2015 - 6:13 PM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,048 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

Glad to hear that they are making a comeback so quickly.


"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies


#22 Offline dean_k - Posted April 2 2015 - 5:24 AM

dean_k

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 845 posts
  • LocationWaterown, Ontario, Canada

April 1, 2015

 

They are doing well although THA growth chamber they are in is currently overcrowded. They have a formicarium coming but in 2 or 3 weeks from now.

 

I am currently giving them food via a connection port. I cannot open it because they have a tendency to climb walls and spread out. This is a behavior that's opposite of Formica subsericea which simply refuse to climb walls.

 

I see a fair amount of eggs now.

 

IMG_0422_zpsnbbjtdou.jpg


  • Myrmicinae and Jonathan21700 like this

#23 Offline dean_k - Posted April 9 2015 - 4:27 PM

dean_k

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 845 posts
  • LocationWaterown, Ontario, Canada

April 9, 2015

 

So... finally the big move.

 

IMG_0457_zpsbglhan5l.jpg

 

IMG_0459_zpsdiby4zad.jpg

 

 

It was a long excruciating labor to move them one by one.

 

After moving ants, I moved brood. What I do is place brood on small dishes and simply place them in the outworld and ants will pick them up eventually.

 

IMG_0461_zps4mf17znm.jpg

 

IMG_0462_zpsmhncamg2.jpg

 

IMG_0463_zpscymberou.jpg

 

 

For now, most ants are under shade, but they will eventually move into the nest because there is high level of moisture down there. It's important that I do not give them a water source in outworld until they move into the nest.


Edited by dean_k, April 9 2015 - 4:29 PM.

  • Trailandstreet likes this

#24 Offline dean_k - Posted April 12 2015 - 4:24 PM

dean_k

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 845 posts
  • LocationWaterown, Ontario, Canada

April 12, 2015

 

They've settled down above where water tower is in their new formicarium. It took them a day and half but they got there which was expected.

 

However, they have yet to explore the outworld since settling down. I see few (1 ~ 3) workers exploring the nest itself but none has gone above. I am not concerned at the moment despite of their passive behavior because there are very few larvae at the moment. They may be feeling that they don't need protein right now. A lot of pupae and I see there are more eggs.

 

IMG_0465_zpsralg2o5w.jpg

 

IMG_0464_zpsial0mzza.jpg

 

 

You can see all three queens from the video but the queens aren't very distinguishable.


  • Trailandstreet likes this

#25 Offline dean_k - Posted April 16 2015 - 7:20 PM

dean_k

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 845 posts
  • LocationWaterown, Ontario, Canada

April 16, 2015.

 

I am troubled. While they've laid a bunch of eggs, they are not exploring at all. Since my last update (Apr, 12), I've yet to see them exploring the outworld.

The mealworm piece you see in the video is something I dropped by opening the side glass.
I may need to move them back to a smaller, simpler, formicarium.

 

 



#26 Offline Crystals - Posted April 16 2015 - 7:44 PM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,048 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

If they don't start foraging in another week, I would remove the side piece and remove them from the tunnels.

I would then plug the entrance to the tunnels with cotton and put a test tube in the outworld.  Let them live in the test tube until there are literally too many ants to fit inside the test tube.  This species seems to do pretty good in test tubes.

 

I find smaller colonies of Myrmica don't forage very far away.  An issue I had with my very first colony, they never made it down all 6" of tubing to the outworld.  At least until the worker count pushed 80+ workers.

 

Or if you don't want test tubes, anything that provides shelter and humidity would work.  If I thought their old nest would fit in the outworld I would suggest that.

Or you could do something like this while you wait for the colony to grow. A piece of wood with some glass on top. It would allow you to use the outworld, and let them get used to it.


"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies


#27 Offline dean_k - Posted April 16 2015 - 7:49 PM

dean_k

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 845 posts
  • LocationWaterown, Ontario, Canada

The thing is the other Myrmica colony (the one with 2 queens), the first one I've gotten from you forage fine from a very similar setup.



#28 Offline Crystals - Posted April 16 2015 - 7:52 PM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,048 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

I am not sure then.

I have noticed that every colony, even if they are the same species, often behave differently.

 

Perhaps the die off claimed the older workers who were used to foraging, and the ones left still haven't adapted to their new roles.

Maybe when this wave of pupae ecloses it will prompt the workers to go further.


"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies


#29 Offline dermy - Posted April 16 2015 - 8:03 PM

dermy

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,392 posts
  • LocationCanada

Cool colony, looks to maybe be the same species as me! I hope they bounce back nicely for you!



#30 Offline dean_k - Posted April 16 2015 - 8:07 PM

dean_k

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 845 posts
  • LocationWaterown, Ontario, Canada

I am not sure then.

I have noticed that every colony, even if they are the same species, often behave differently.

 

Perhaps the die off claimed the older workers who were used to foraging, and the ones left still haven't adapted to their new roles.

Maybe when this wave of pupae ecloses it will prompt the workers to go further.

 

True, every colony is different. And I do feel the mass die-off may have something to do with their odd behaviors which is why I am thinking that a simpler setup is needed like the containers I am using for Lasius and Formica colonies.



#31 Offline dean_k - Posted April 20 2015 - 5:44 AM

dean_k

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 845 posts
  • LocationWaterown, Ontario, Canada

April 20, 2015

 

Well, duh, last night I finally found out why they weren't foraging.

 

They were ... slipping.

 

Yes, they couldn't get out. Apparently, the smooth part of nest entrance was too much of slope for them to climb. My solution was simple. Just insert a piece of tube for more traction.

 

And... what do you know. They are foraging and drinking.

 

 

IMG_0533_zpslgtxpgpo.jpg

 

IMG_0535_zpshqvhxghs.jpg

 

IMG_0531_zpsxbv3vgs7.jpg


  • Myrmicinae likes this

#32 Offline Crystals - Posted April 20 2015 - 7:43 AM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,048 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

Great that you figured it out!

 

Myrmica aren't the best climbers out there.  I have tied sand paper to a pipe cleaner and pulled it though my tubing to create lots of little scratches for them several times before.


  • Jonathan21700 likes this

"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies


#33 Offline dermy - Posted April 20 2015 - 4:50 PM

dermy

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,392 posts
  • LocationCanada

Those queens have huge gasters! Can't wait for them to start pumping out eggs.



#34 Offline dean_k - Posted April 21 2015 - 8:18 PM

dean_k

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 845 posts
  • LocationWaterown, Ontario, Canada

April 22, 2015

 

The colony is doing okay. The queens laid a lot of eggs since their forced relocation. They are yet to turn into larvae yet.

 

I know they are finally drinking sugar water but I haven't seen them wanting protein as they ignored few pieces of mealworms so far. But there are very little larvae at the moment and there are plenty of eggs. I don't think they want much protein intake yet.

Meanwhile, one of pupae, especially the one in middle with its head facing the camera, looks unusually large. I highly doubt it is an alate however.

 


  • Myrmicinae likes this

#35 Offline Myrmicinae - Posted April 21 2015 - 8:56 PM

Myrmicinae

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 274 posts
  • LocationFort Collins, CO

Interesting.  I wouldn't be surprised if you ended up with an alate queen from that pupa.  It's actually not that unusual for Myrmica colonies to produce alates this early.


Journals on Formiculture:
Pheidole ceres
Tapinoma sessile

Old YouTube Channel:
ColoradoAnts

#36 Offline dean_k - Posted April 21 2015 - 9:04 PM

dean_k

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 845 posts
  • LocationWaterown, Ontario, Canada

That head size is of a queen's, not to mention the bigger thorax I can barely see. Since Myrmica has no majors, it is a possibility that it is indeed an alate. The colony is certainly old enough according to Crystal.

 

There is also an interesting larva on 1:29 by top right of the big pupa. I suggest viewing the video on Youtube and view it in theater mode where you can see it more clearly.


Edited by dean_k, April 21 2015 - 9:05 PM.

  • Myrmicinae likes this

#37 Offline Crystals - Posted April 22 2015 - 6:20 AM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,048 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

That larvae on top is closer to pupae than larvae.  They slowly change like that and we often miss it.

 

It would not surprise me if that was an alate.  That colony had alates once before - I think it was 4 queens? But no males, none of my smaller colonies had males yet.

 

Bit early for the spring flights,they are about 2 months or so ahead of the wild ones.  But otherwise, they are pretty much on schedule.  :D


  • Myrmicinae likes this

"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies


#38 Offline Myrmicinae - Posted April 22 2015 - 8:10 AM

Myrmicinae

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 274 posts
  • LocationFort Collins, CO

That larvae on top is closer to pupae than larvae.  They slowly change like that and we often miss it.

 

It would not surprise me if that was an alate.  That colony had alates once before - I think it was 4 queens? But no males, none of my smaller colonies had males yet.

 

Bit early for the spring flights,they are about 2 months or so ahead of the wild ones.  But otherwise, they are pretty much on schedule.  :D

 

Have you ever tried introducing foreign males to the alate queens that your colonies produce?  Myrmica spp. do often mate on the ground and occasionally within the nest.


Edited by Myrmicinae, April 22 2015 - 8:13 AM.

Journals on Formiculture:
Pheidole ceres
Tapinoma sessile

Old YouTube Channel:
ColoradoAnts

#39 Offline Crystals - Posted April 22 2015 - 8:55 AM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,048 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

I have never found an alate male outside of their colony.  And I never had queens when I found males in wild nests.

 

Only once did I have males in my colony.  It was my first colony (wild-caught) and I will admit that I was still learning and experimenting - and I knew it.  I didn't even attempt to find a queen alate in a wild nest and introduce them.  I was just starting to play around with various nest materials and setups, and I was much more focused on that.  I didn't see any point in trying to breed a species that is so common around here - and I read many threads that said it was nearly impossible.

 

The males were only tolerated for so long and then carried out of the nest.

Here is my old journal - http://antfarm.yuku....al#.Ug1U4G1DUTY

They were a great beginner colony who helped me with the many experiments that eventually led to my tutorial on how to build a grout nest (I did not document most of my experiments back then as most failed miserably).  I do kind of miss them, despite the fact that I am not overly fond of the appearance of ants with 2 notes.  All Myrmica I have ever kept have a certain character that I have not seen in any other species.

I sold them to an eager hobbyist since I had Formica, Camponotus and many other queens/colonies that I liked the looks of better.  But looking back, I do wish that I had kept this colony.  They were my first colony and helped me through my first steps.


  • Myrmicinae likes this

"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies


#40 Offline dean_k - Posted April 29 2015 - 2:28 PM

dean_k

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 845 posts
  • LocationWaterown, Ontario, Canada

April 29, 2015

 

I cannot say the colony is doing well because I see a fair amount of dead workers as seen in last part of the video (After 3:15). But they aren't doing bad, either. There are signs of revival in healthy amount of eggs. Regardless, I believe this species do not take relocation well, so I won't be relocating them anymore.

 

And the big pupae I mentioned in the last update turned out to be just a slightly bigger worker.

 

 

 

Furthermore, the tube wasn't the perfect solution for slipping, so I added a flexible pipe cleaner to make them even easier to climb out of the nest. As a result, there are a lot more ants in outworld. They like to farm sugary liquid sources, only going back to feed others.

I also had to add a second liquid feeder because the first one was overcrowded.

 

IMG_0563_zps4hfmbwac.jpg

 

IMG_0564_zps2gqrfwh9.jpg

 

IMG_0565_zpsgegrd77v.jpg

 

IMG_0567_zps9bzod3pe.jpg

 

IMG_0570_zpsvkexhajv.jpg

 

IMG_0568_zpsdtj74ta6.jpg


Edited by dean_k, April 29 2015 - 2:29 PM.





0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users