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Aaron's Camponotus decipiens Journal (Updated 4/18/21)


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#1 Offline Aaron567 - Posted March 1 2017 - 6:48 PM

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Last week, on February 23, I saw a Camponotus decipiens queen floating in the pool. She still had her wings, but I put her in a Tar Heel Ants Atom C formicarium. All she did was walk around, not seeming to settle down and she was not taking her wings off. So, after only about 2 days I began to think she was infertile. I still wanted to keep her for while since I really like her colors and she is also the largest queen I've seen, at about 11-12mm. A few days passed by, and then she took off her wings. This made me start to question whether she was actually infertile, so I decided to wait a few days without checking on her at all, to see if she would lay eggs.

 

Sure enough, after waiting a few days without disturbing her, she has now laid a small pile of eggs and is caring for them. Amazingly, even after showing definite behavior of an infertile queen, I am now very sure that she is fertile, and I can't wait to see how this queen does.

 

Here is a photo I took on the day I caught her, when she still had her wings.

 

eDP3NBZ.jpg

 

 

Here she is now, with her small stack of eggs. These aren't good photos because they are just screenshots from a video. Here is the video: https://www.youtube....h?v=dABKF_-etiE

3Sda2HQ.jpg


Edited by Aaron567, April 18 2021 - 12:34 PM.

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#2 Offline Leo - Posted March 1 2017 - 7:23 PM

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nice catch



#3 Offline MrPurpleB - Posted March 1 2017 - 7:28 PM

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Nice queen you have there. A test of patience you had there. :D



#4 Offline Loops117 - Posted March 2 2017 - 6:54 AM

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Congrats buddy. Hope this turns out well for you.



#5 Offline Jamie_Garrison - Posted March 2 2017 - 7:06 AM

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Where do you live

 

 

Jacksonville FL here


 

 


#6 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted March 2 2017 - 7:35 AM

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Camponotus floridanus I have found are very prominent in the Gulf Shores regions. I've been down to Pensacola and seen tons of nests. Maybe try a different location? Orange Beach, AL is good too. 


YJK


#7 Offline Aaron567 - Posted March 2 2017 - 4:29 PM

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Where do you live

 

 

Jacksonville FL here

 

Pensacola  :)



#8 Offline Leo - Posted March 2 2017 - 4:31 PM

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nice queen, how many larvae?


Edited by Leo, March 2 2017 - 4:31 PM.


#9 Offline Aaron567 - Posted March 2 2017 - 4:38 PM

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Camponotus floridanus I have found are very prominent in the Gulf Shores regions. I've been down to Pensacola and seen tons of nests. Maybe try a different location? Orange Beach, AL is good too. 

 

I just meant that it isn't common to find queens of them. Camponotus floridanus colonies and workers are common to see here.


nice queen, how many larvae?

 

No larvae yet, just eggs ;)



#10 Offline Aaron567 - Posted March 10 2017 - 8:38 PM

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March 10, 2017

 

I have been leaving my Camponotus decipiens queen alone quite a bit, and she has been doing good so far. After 8 days, her eggs have now hatched into larvae!

 

ehKuMf4.jpg

DFnGo0z.jpg


Edited by Aaron567, March 12 2019 - 8:24 PM.

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#11 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted March 11 2017 - 6:47 AM

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Wow!!! Aaron, are you hearing her?

YJK


#12 Offline Aaron567 - Posted March 11 2017 - 7:05 AM

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Wow!!! Aaron, are you heating her?

 

Kinda. Her nest is a couple inches away from the heat cable so she is definitely warm. 


Edited by Aaron567, March 11 2017 - 3:17 PM.


#13 Offline Serafine - Posted March 11 2017 - 7:56 AM

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She's really pretty. Be prepared for a long run as these larvae take weeks for every single development stage...


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#14 Offline AnthonyP163 - Posted March 11 2017 - 8:42 AM

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She's really pretty. Be prepared for a long run as these larvae take weeks for every single development stage...

See, Aaron? Serafine says the same thing!  ;)



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#15 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted March 11 2017 - 10:01 AM

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Once again Anthony and Serafine, C. Floridanus aren't your typical northern Camponotus. They do not need hibernation, they thrive in heat. As you can see serafine, it took about 1 week for them to turn into larvae

YJK


#16 Offline Nathant2131 - Posted March 11 2017 - 10:36 AM

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What did you use to take the last 2 photographs? Very pretty.



#17 Offline Aaron567 - Posted March 11 2017 - 10:53 AM

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What did you use to take the last 2 photographs? Very pretty.

 

Thanks! I use my Canon EOS Rebel SL1 with a macro lens attached, for all of my pictures. 


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#18 Offline AnthonyP163 - Posted March 11 2017 - 12:57 PM

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Once again Anthony and Serafine, C. Floridanus aren't your typical northern Camponotus. They do not need hibernation, they thrive in heat. As you can see serafine, it took about 1 week for them to turn into larvae

Yes... Camponotus are still slow growers compared to any other ant, it will still take at least 1 month.



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#19 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted March 11 2017 - 2:20 PM

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Once again Anthony and Serafine, C. Floridanus aren't your typical northern Camponotus. They do not need hibernation, they thrive in heat. As you can see serafine, it took about 1 week for them to turn into larvae

Yes... Camponotus are still slow growers compared to any other ant, it will still take at least 1 month.

 

Like most ants yes, it will take about a month.


Edited by Alabama Anter, March 11 2017 - 2:20 PM.

YJK


#20 Offline Aaron567 - Posted March 16 2017 - 2:56 PM

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March 16, 2017

 

15 days after my Camponotus decipiens queen laid her eggs, she already has a cocoon! There is also another larva that looks like it will also pupate soon. I am surprised that these went through both the entire egg and larval stage in just 15 days, especially being Camponotus. I do not know how long the pupa stage will last.

 

fVIgRhG.jpg

NMW41mR.jpg


Edited by Aaron567, March 12 2019 - 8:25 PM.

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