24 replies to this topic

[Ants4fun]

This is part of the reason why colonies aren't allowed to be transported. You may think it never would happen, then one day something crazy happens like that! It's a good thing the Monommorium are killing them off though...

[Vendayn]

Yeah, even though I wouldn't release an invasive ant (and I wouldn't really normally keep them either...I MUCH prefer native ants (though I do like Pheidole moerens which aren't native, but they aren't really invasive). Native Pheidole, and even like Monomorium, are vastly more interesting to me. But I might as well see what the Pheidole megacephala do and learn from them in person. Though, they'll end up in the freezer at some point in the future)

 

But, even if the person importing the ant wouldn't ever release them...like me...I had a crazy drug addict "friend" (wish we knew sooner) who destroyed all my colonies I had at the time and released the others. Never know what may happen to them. Heck might even have a parent who throws them out by accident or something. But, what a horrible experience that was. My parents almost called the police, but he packed up and left on his own.

 

In any case...I looked a bit ago. Monomorium ergatogyna were moving eggs and females/queens to where the Pheidole megacephala were/are nesting...don't see any dead ants or any Pheidole. But, we'll see what happens. Hopefully they kill the Ph. megacephala off. Plus Pheidole moerens would be killed off if they don't, and that be sad.

[gcsnelling]

Thet are voracious omnivores but leaning more towards predatory in my experience, they will eat anything and easily overwhelm a resource. Pest control comanies don't care about such things unless there is a buck to be made, you have to call the state or county.

[Vendayn]

My Pheidole megacephala colony doesn't eat anything barely. I find them to be one of the pickiest eaters. I tried a lot of things like:chicken, hamburger meat, crushed seeds, peanut butter, sausage and various other things. They just eat insects from outside (not even the dried insects I got at the pet store) and honey...that is it. Not the most exciting of diets lol. I don't really find too much interesting things about them in my colony...but its kind of interesting when they dig into wood and make a paper-like carton material out of it like Formosan termites do. That is pretty much the only interesting thing about them. But, once they get alates and then go in the freezer...I won't miss them.

 

I'll try finding the county's phone number. Shouldn't be hard to find the right number to call or person to talk to. Hopefully have better luck than the pest control. But, I might wait and see what the Monomorium ergatogyna do...I did see battles with them and the Ph. megacephala and the invasive Pheidole were badly losing. Their colony I guess is really small or something, barely any ants. I have gone out almost every day and poured soapy water on them (my neighbor doesn't mind)...probably a gallon of it a day either outside where they come out or/and in my neighbor's wall. Hopefully just doing that takes care of them as well.

[Vendayn]

Solenopsis invicta have been attacking them too. There is a colony that appeared late last year, in my garden. They've quickly been spreading in Irvine. The colony is still a bit small, but I see them attacking the Pheidole megacephala workers a lot. The other ants in the garden leave S.invicta alone though.

Edited by Vendayn, May 19 2015 - 2:02 PM.