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How to get Temnothorax out of nut?


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#1 Offline CatsnAnts - Posted May 30 2019 - 10:36 AM

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I’ve recently captured a large Temnothorax curvispinosus colony (or at least I think it’s large) in a hickory nut. I currently have one colony now with a queen and 6 workers. I did find another colony yesterday, but accidentally squished them when letting open the nut, so I’m going to find some other way to get these little gals to come out. Also, if I introduced both of my existing colonies together, do you think they would get along?

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#2 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted May 30 2019 - 11:17 AM

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I’ve recently captured a large Temnothorax curvispinosus colony (or at least I think it’s large) in a hickory nut. I currently have one colony now with a queen and 6 workers. I did find another colony yesterday, but accidentally squished them when letting open the nut, so I’m going to find some other way to get these little gals to come out. Also, if I introduced both of my existing colonies together, do you think they would get along?

Use a knife or something like that and cut through it, being very careful to not injure any of the ants.

 

As far as merging the colonies goes, get a test tube or something along those lines, and place a worker (more from each colony would be better) and see if they get along. If so, SLOWLY introduce the colonies to each other, being very observant to their behavior. Make sure there is no fighting and especially no aggression towards the queen. They're polygynous, so it should be okay.


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#3 Offline Acutus - Posted May 30 2019 - 3:38 PM

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I was thinking maybe place an ice cube on the side of the nut without the hole and maybe they'll come out


Billy

 

Currently keeping:

Camponotus chromaiodes

Camponotus castaneus

Formica subsericea


#4 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted May 30 2019 - 3:46 PM

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Just tap them out like I do.

#5 Offline Martialis - Posted May 30 2019 - 3:47 PM

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sounds like a good way to kill both colonies

 

Source: have forcefully evicted ants from their nests many a time. Never worked out in the end


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#6 Offline CatsnAnts - Posted May 30 2019 - 4:24 PM

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I never force my ants out unless it’s dire. Usually workers get hurt and brood is left behind. As for the ice cube method, I have already tried it and it didn’t work. And when you say it’s a good way to kill both colonies, are you talking about the mixing colonies part, or the “tap them out of their shell” part?

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#7 Offline CatsnAnts - Posted May 30 2019 - 4:39 PM

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I’m such a hypocrite :lol: I dumped them out and they IMMEDIATELY started moving. I even saw a worker just pick up he queen like no big deal and carry her inside! The brood pile is MASSIVE, and I can see a lot of alate pupae! :) this makes me really excited to have a mature colony, and if I can mix it with my really young colony, I’ll have a two queen colony!


Edited by CatsnAnts, May 30 2019 - 4:40 PM.

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#8 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted May 30 2019 - 4:40 PM

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I never lose workers or brood when tapping them out.

#9 Offline CatsnAnts - Posted May 30 2019 - 4:42 PM

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I never lose workers or brood when tapping them out.

Ya, I was wrong, this worked quite well! I estimate there to be 70 workers, with 100 brood.

EDIT: they’ve started to form a line just to carry the alate pupae! :lol: I love the teamwork I’m seeing, it super cool.

Edited by CatsnAnts, May 30 2019 - 4:56 PM.

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