245 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

Drew,
I heard about you via Ants Canada. You have successfully raised Myrmecocystus Mexicanus. I have 5 queens and having some challenges and wanted to know if you could help me out. First, what are you feeding them for protein and second what housing setup do you have them in? Peat Moss?

Please help!

Thanks,

Charlie

 

I'm a little confused. You're posting on my Myrmecocystus mexicanus journal where I have written in detail about all of the colonies I have raised over the last four years, including the ones I still have to this day. If you have any specific questions that I didn't really address in this journal, I'll be happy to answer them.

[RisingFromTheAshes]

Hi Drew,
I just got done going through your journal. Awesome job with it and your ants. I'm new here and looking at trying to catch some queens once they start flying again here in AZ (Phoenix and surrounding areas). How are your colonies doing now? The video of the larvae reminded me of my days working at a preschool in the 1 and 2 year old room! Those baby sitters sure have their hands full. I hope all is well with you and your ants.

Thanks, Amanda

Edited by RisingFromTheAshes, January 4 2018 - 2:31 AM.

[nurbs]

Hi Drew,
I just got done going through your journal. Awesome job with it and your ants. I'm new here and looking at trying to catch some queens once they start flying again here in AZ (Phoenix and surrounding areas). How are your colonies doing now? The video of the larvae reminded me of my days working at a preschool in the 1 and 2 year old room! Those baby sitters sure have their hands full. I hope all is well with you and your ants.

Thanks, Amanda

 

His journals are great. I have lots of ants but don't have time to keep journals - but find myself browsing his a lot.

 

Mexicanus are one of my favorites but they are also much harder to raise. Queens have a high mortality rate during the early stages of colony development. Of the 15 I found this year, only three made it.

[RisingFromTheAshes]

Mexicanus are one of my favorites but they are also much harder to raise. Queens have a high mortality rate during the early stages of colony development. Of the 15 I found this year, only three made it.

Are there any of the other Myrmecocystus sp. that are easier? I found and subscribed to both you and Drews Youtube channels earlier. I am trying to absorb as much information and knowledge as I can to give whatever queens if any that I find the best chance that I can.

[nurbs]

 

Mexicanus are one of my favorites but they are also much harder to raise. Queens have a high mortality rate during the early stages of colony development. Of the 15 I found this year, only three made it.

Are there any of the other Myrmecocystus sp. that are easier? I found and subscribed to both you and Drews Youtube channels earlier. I am trying to absorb as much information and knowledge as I can to give whatever queens if any that I find the best chance that I can.

 

 

Myrmecocystus (honeypot ants) are generally not easy. Most of the species here in California, as a whole, are more difficult to rear than something like Camponotus or Solenopsis.

 

From my own personal experience, M. yuma, M. testaceus, M. mimicus and M. navajo are easier than M. mexicanus. But that is not saying much. You will still get deaths. If you go out looking for queens, just find as many as you can. This will increase your chances of success.

 

Also, this video. One of our forum members made it. Start at the 1 min marker and watch til 6 min or so - excellent honeypot info.

 

[AntsCalifornia]

I want to know how he makes all those nests and make some myself.

[YsTheAnt]

Update?

[FeedTheAnts]

What happened to the huge colony in the cylinder?

[dspdrew]

What happened to the huge colony in the cylinder?

 

Still going strong.

[AntsCalifornia]

Update 3-12-2017
I noticed they actually adopted a couple of the old colony's repletes. The dark purple ones were from the old colony.
 

I know this is a little late but I'd like to point out that this happens during raids usually, I watched a video on it. https://www.youtube....h?v=X5YaihAtnC4

[TheAntGuy]

I just traded for one of these gals, which would work better: an acrylic box full of sand or an acrylic nest with some sand in it

[Rstheant]

I think both.

[AntsCalifornia]

Don't do an acrylic nest, the repletes need somewhere to hang, otherwise the queen is the replete and is serving double duty, not good. Either a sand nest where they can dig or a grout nest would work, THA's nests are probably best for this species.

Edited by AntsCalifornia, December 11 2018 - 4:36 PM.

[Rstheant]

I’m not to sure, so correct me if I’m mistaken, but the repletes are fed as soon as they enclose.

[FSTP]

I’m not to sure, so correct me if I’m mistaken, but the repletes are fed as soon as they enclose.

 

 

I'm pretty sure any worker can become a replete at any point in its life time. It doesn't have to do so as soon as its eclosed. 

[AntsCalifornia]

I'm pretty sure that when there is no hanging space, there are no repletes, not totally sure, but if this is true then FSTP is right, any worker at any time can be a replete.

[Rstheant]

Again, I may be wrong, but can’t an ant’s gaster only enlarge so much?

[FSTP]

I'm pretty sure that when there is no hanging space, there are no repletes, not totally sure, but if this is true then FSTP is right, any worker at any time can be a replete.

 

They can become replete without hanging space. They'll just sit on the floor, but having a space for them to hang will encourage them more.

 

Again, I may be wrong, but can’t an ant’s gaster only enlarge so much?

 

Of course it can only enlarge so much. To say otherwise would imply an ant's gaster can swell to infinite size, which it can not hahah.

[Guy_Fieri]

I'm pretty sure any worker can become a replete at any point in its life time. It doesn't have to do so as soon as its eclosed.

No, they do have to be fed before their exoskeleton hardens. If a normal worker was to eat as much as a replete can, its gaster would burst.

Edited by Guy_Fieri, December 17 2018 - 7:34 PM.

[Rstheant]

I'm pretty sure any worker can become a replete at any point in its life time. It doesn't have to do so as soon as its eclosed.

No, they do have to be fed before their exoskeleton hardens. If a normal worker was to eat as much as a replete can, its gaster would burst.

Yeah, this Guy understands. The replete gaster is abnormally large, even for a worker, that would fill up. The repletes are fed when they enclose, so their gaster wouldn’t pop, and their gaster will expand.