21 replies to this topic

[NZAntKeeper]

Location found - New Zealand northland
Length - about 1 cm
Caught in pool at 9 am 25/2/17



Observations - she can't really walk on plastic test tubes. Grooming herself quite a bit

Edited by DylanTheAntKeeper, February 24 2017 - 11:58 AM.

[NZAntKeeper]

She also is in a grouted outworld with a test tube inside

[AntsBrazil]

I'm a little bit confused, some websites say that there's no Pachycondyla in New Zealand others say that there's some. I did some research and I think it could be Austroponera castanea(http://www.antwiki.o...ponera_castanea) found some results with the name Pachycondyla castanea. Probably the name changed and is not Pachycondyla anymore. Check if the photos match. 

 

OBS: I don't have experience with IDs.

Edited by JPSMedeiros, February 24 2017 - 12:21 PM.

[NZAntKeeper]

Yea they look the same, Thanks! Do you think it's a queen? I have put honey and a fruit fly in the test tube she is just wandering around the outworld.

[AntsBrazil]

Check for wing scars I can't really see in the photo, also if it's Austroponera castanea it's bigger than the worker from the photo from antwiki so could be a queen. 

[NZAntKeeper]

It says it's 5-7 mm on the website and this one is definitely bigger than 7 mm. I can't really see wing scars but I guess time will tell if she's a queen.

Edited by DylanTheAntKeeper, February 24 2017 - 2:09 PM.

[Leo]

think she is a queen

[Miles]

This is definitely a queen.

[NZAntKeeper]

Wooo XD finaly I have one. I'll try my best to care for her and make sure she will live. I have one question though how often do I feed her? She's in a test tube setup and I gave her a fruit fly and she's eating it now. Also do I give her honey or sugar water ? Thanks!

[AntsBrazil]

Place the test tube setup in a small outworld with some boiled dirt, then place the test tube in the outworld. In the start they don't need much food give something every 2 or 3 days and check if they accept. When there's larvae they need protein every day. Pachycondyla don't accept much honey or sugar but I always give them some(I never saw they eating it), I don't know if Austroponera likes it. 

Or you can place her in a small formicarium with 2 or 3 chambers and a small outworld if you have. These semi-claustral usually do better when some dirt is provided, they like to close their test tube entrance and sometimes use it to cover the brood too. 

[NZAntKeeper]

I just checked on her and she has no eggs but has completely eaten the fruit fly. I'm going to put her into an outworld soon. Is a grout outworld ok? Or should it just be a mix between dirt and sand so she can use the dirt? She was also digging at the dry cotton end.

Edited by DylanTheAntKeeper, February 25 2017 - 11:05 AM.

[CrazyLegs]

If you have her in a test tube, find a clear container of some description and make a setup like this.

It will help you keep an eye on her progress and feeding will be easy. Just tuck the tube end under a dark shirt when your finished looking at her.

[NZAntKeeper]

Yea I moved her into this

Edited by DylanTheAntKeeper, February 25 2017 - 2:14 PM.

[AntsBrazil]

Looks good. 

[NZAntKeeper]

Thanks it's very basic though. On that little dish I have a dead spider and honey on it she's just ignoring it and trying to climb the walls and walking around the outworld. Not in her test tube much

EDIT - she's now in her tube.

Edited by DylanTheAntKeeper, February 25 2017 - 4:04 PM.

[NZAntKeeper]

The spider has dissappeared so I'm assuming she's eaten it.

[CrazyLegs]

Just keep doing what your doing and hopefully she lays an egg.

[NZAntKeeper]

will do! and yea hope she does lay an egg... or a couple hundred  

[NZAntKeeper]

She's not looking good sadly. She's in a container on a damp paper towel for now. She was acting weak when I checked on her.

[CrazyLegs]

Don't be disheartened, I would imagine everybody here has had an ant die on them at some point.