173 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

I'm not sure. The large colony actually had two queens before they had workers. I never knew exactly why one of the queens died.

[antmaniac]

I see. Sometimes the queen would start the colony together, then the stronger queen will kill off the other queen for food or just abandon the body (happened to meat ants). Depends on the species I suppose, for some timid species, the colony may also accept the queen and kill off the weak one I think.

[dspdrew]

Yeah, there's a few different scenarios that involve multiple queens.

[Foogoo]

Update 3-29-2015
 

All of the new queens are now completely mite-free. Using my extremely fine forceps, I wiped them all off. I also briefly held them under running water from the sink to help knock the mites off.

 

And they let you do that?  My cat won't let me do anything close to that while my Dorymyrmex queens seem to be finding any excuse to die, none of which comes close to giving them a shower!

[dspdrew]

They didn't have much of a choice.

[antmaniac]

 

Update 3-29-2015
 

All of the new queens are now completely mite-free. Using my extremely fine forceps, I wiped them all off. I also briefly held them under running water from the sink to help knock the mites off.

 

And they let you do that?  My cat won't let me do anything close to that while my Dorymyrmex queens seem to be finding any excuse to die, none of which comes close to giving them a shower!

 

Imagining two massive boulders (I mean fingers) hold on to you...struggling is futile. 

[Crystals]

I like that nest.

 

Now I am even more jealous of that colony. 

[dspdrew]

Update 4-30-2015
 

Chromerust gave me a few more new colonies of these that he just doesn't have the time to take care of.

 

Today I found the queen of one of the colonies in the small ant farm boxes dead and ripped in half.

[dspdrew]

Update 7-27-2015
 

My original large colony is doing well as always.

 

My one remaining new colony from this year is doing well too so far. They're still housed in one of my small dirt boxes, and I think I counted about 16 workers. They also have a large amount of brood in all stages of development.

[Foogoo]

Got any new pics? It's always fun seeing large harvester colonies.

[dspdrew]

No new pictures of my large colony.

[dspdrew]

Update 8-3-2015
 

Well I just found my new colony dragging pieces of the queen around in the out world, so I guess that's it for them. They are left with about 20 workers and lots of brood.

[Foogoo]

Do you have another V. pergandei colony? This could be an interesting experiment to introduce a new queen to an existing colony. I'd especially like to see if having the two together but separated as Crystals had mentioned for a few days would work.

[dspdrew]

I don't have another small colony or lone queen.

[dspdrew]

Update 1-20-2016
 

The colony is still doing great, along with the prototype formicarium I have them in. They probably haven't grown a whole lot since the last update, but they still seem to be healthy. Lately the queen hasn't been laying hardly any eggs, but it's probably just the time of year. The only thing I've been doing differently, is I have them in total darkness now because I haven't gotten any lighting set up yet here at my new apartment.

 

Here's a strange video of them attracted to the cold white light of an LED flashlight. Who knows, maybe it has something to do with them being kept in constant darkness.

 

[dspdrew]

Update 3-20-2016
 
I just found another three of these queens today in Pinon Hills, CA. I put one in a "dirt box" and the other two in test tubes.
 

[Shaye]

The queens will be for sale? If so, do you have an estimate price?

[dspdrew]

Most likely since my main colony has well over 2000 workers now. I'll probably keep one of these new ones, so assuming I have two left, I would sell them for probably at least $50, but it depends on a lot of factors.

[dspdrew]

Update 4-13-2016
 

I did a rough estimated count, and it appears they have about 2200 workers now. in addition to this, the queen is producing like crazy; a quarter of the nest is filled with brood. It also looks like a few workers finally breached the Fluon lip, so I guess it's time to swap it out with a fresh one. It's amazing how long it lasted.

[dspdrew]

Update 4-22-2016
 
This is why I am in a hurry to try to finish this formicarium design. I'm going to have to extend the chambers on this thing very soon; these guys have completely filled it up. I think there are about 2400 workers in the colony now.
 

 
 
The two new queens that I have in test tubes are not doing very well at all, but the one in the "dirt box" is doing great, and should have workers very soon.