50 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

8-17-2014
 
I was given these two Solenopsis invicta queens by Chromerust. He found them 7-14-2014 at the Hidden Valley Nature Center in Norco, California. Like typical fire ants, they both had a bunch of workers within a month. At this point they each have about 20 workers.

 

 

[Gregory2455]

Yes! A journal for these too, saw on the census you had them, but they were your only ones without a journal.

[dspdrew]

Yeah I noticed it wasn't linked, then I remembered I never made a journal for them.

[Crystals]

I am curious to see how fast these grow and how drew plans to contain them in 6 months or so. 

[dspdrew]

No problem haha.

[Gregory2455]

Yeah, that will sure be something, though don't Solenopsis xyloni grow just as fast? Or are these faster?

[AntsAreUs]

Drew I'm gonna challenge you to keep this colony going for 2 years!

[dspdrew]

Yeah, I doubt they grow any faster than S. xyloni, which grow pretty fast themselves.

[Gregory2455]

Update! They are probably massive by now...

[dspdrew]

Hah, it's only been two weeks, but they're growing fast.

[Gregory2455]

Its Solenopsis... Two weeks makes all the difference needed. 

[Gregory2455]

Just found Solenopsis invicta is Simi Valley... First time I found them here, yet to find the colony, just found a few foraging workers. Absolutely Solenopsis invicta. Minors only, so they are probably nanatics. Looks like they found their way to here too...

[Gregory2455]

They are easier to keep than Solenopsis xyloni just because when you want to move them, you just slowly fill them up with water ant they will make their raft! 

[Antboy888]

Cool colony, I would love to see how much they have grown now.

 

Dspdrew, or anybody else read The Fire Ants by Walter Tschinkel? Very interesting book.

[dspdrew]

These colonies are still pretty small. I have not read that book.

[Gregory2455]

I heard of that book, but have not read it- yet.

[Gregory2455]

Update! They gotta be pretty big by now, unless they are like mine and are going on three months and only at six workers.

[dspdrew]

Yeah, they're not growing much.

[Alza]

you can add that as an update 

[Gregory2455]

They ought to have grown by now!