82 replies to this topic

[Aaron567]

March 20, 2018

 

I tried feeding the colony crickets (I was only feeding them mealworms and moths for a while) and it seems to be what they enjoy the most. I have never seen them be so excited over food before. Since they've been eating crickets, I've notice quick growth in all the larvae and eggs were being laid again. It has been such a long time since this colony had eggs or growing larvae. They also just got some pupae. I counted about 50 eggs in the nest yesterday.

 

There are still around 50 workers (as it has been for months) but that will finally change soon. It is great to see this colony being productive again, since they basically stopped growing in July/August of last year. 

 

More updates should be on the way as I hope they will continue to grow this entire year. Who knows, it may even be possible for them to reach maturity by the end of 2018! Crickets are the miracle food

Edited by Aaron567, May 13 2018 - 9:10 AM.

[YsTheAnt]

Amazing colony. For some reason, I can no longer see the pictures, they were perfect before. Just thought I'd let you know! Keep up the great work.

[Waganga]

I think I'm a new owner of one of these queens (or something else very similar?) I know you keep them heated, but I was wondering what you think their ideal temperature is. Any advice?

 

Also only seeing broken pictures.  Hoping to see them again, I'd like to compare!

[Aaron567]

Amazing colony. For some reason, I can no longer see the pictures, they were perfect before. Just thought I'd let you know! Keep up the great work.

 

I think I'm a new owner of one of these queens (or something else very similar?) I know you keep them heated, but I was wondering what you think their ideal temperature is. Any advice?

 

Also only seeing broken pictures.  Hoping to see them again, I'd like to compare!

 

I fixed all of the photos, guys. I had to switch them to a new hosting site. 

 

Waganga, I am keeping mine at 82-83F and they seem to enjoy those temperatures the best. Any lower may slow down their brood growth a little, and any higher might force them to move out of their formicarium.

 

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May 13, 2018

 

Small update, the colony is doing very well. I am pretty sure they have now exceeded 100 workers and the queen is still regularly laying eggs. I kinda want to let them grow a little more and then try to move them into a new formicarium that is easier to photograph. The nest they are in right now makes it difficult to take pictures of all the workers and brood. I am seeing LOTS of large brood, most likely just lots of majors. 

 

 

They also just got this very large major last week. I did not even know the majors of this species could get such large heads.

 

Edited by Aaron567, May 13 2018 - 9:31 AM.

[Kaelwizard]

I believe that last major is a supermajor (if that is a real thing or just a AntsCanada thing).

[AntsSouthAfrica]

Awesome, these remind me of my late camponotus queen. She looks similar but from another continent, I got her in december last year and she died in may, in just 5 months her colony peaked at 60 workers. The worst part is, she is quite possibly a new ant species!

Sadness.

[Joehostile85]

Very nice looking ants.

[neoponera]

hibernation?

[Rstheant]

Update?

[Aaron567]

March 13, 2019

 

I've changed the title of this journal from Camponotus discolor to Camponotus decipiens because I've since realized that these ants are in fact decipiens rather than the more uncommon species C. discolor. Basically, C. discolor has a hairy face (more similar to C. caryae) while decipiens has a rather hairless face like C. nearcticus. In Florida, C. decipiens are the much more widespread and prominent species between the two.

 

The colony that I started this journal with unfortunately went through a downward spiral over the last few months. They became picky again, lost a LOT of workers, stopped laying eggs, and now they only have a few workers left with no brood at all. The post I made last May was them at their best point, and after that they just got worse. I decided a couple months ago that if I find a new decipiens queen this year that I would release the old colony and just start over new.

 

On February 27, 2019, I caught a single queen in my pool. I was very lucky to find her the day I did because I was going to leave town the day after that and could've missed the flight altogether.

 

When I checked on her yesterday (3/12), I found that she had shed two wings and laid two eggs, after two weeks of restless cotton-pulling.

[Nylanderiavividula]

Good luck!  What do you think accounted for the downward spiral?  I just caught a small C. nearcticus (all black, but way smaller than C. pennsylvanicus) colony for my brother.  I have them in a Genesis Test Tube for now while he figures out what formicarium he ultimately wants them in.

[Aaron567]

April 30, 2019

 

The first nanitic hatched yesterday. This queen's egg-to-worker journey took 7 weeks as opposed to the 4 weeks it took for my queen back in 2017. I'm pretty sure it's because my 2017 queen's setup was a few degrees warmer than the test tube my current queen is in. I just never expected it to take nearly twice as long.

 

[Aaron567]

June 27, 2019

 

13 workers now. Queen still has her wing.

 

[VoidElecent]

So red. So beautiful. Well done my little Floridian friend.

[NickAnter]

Update?

[Aaron567]

Update?

 

I keep selling them so I don't have any now.

[nixxx]

Great journal and amazing photos ! Thanks for sharing !

[Aaron567]

March 13, 2021

 

On March 13, I found a single queen of this species floating in the pool, as usual. I did not find any more after that.

 

 

 

 

March 21, 2021

 

Today she is wingless and has three eggs. For the last two years I've sold and given away my small colonies of this species, but this time I will keep them for myself as I did in the old days.

 

[NickAnter]

Yay! can't wait to see this queen hopefully prosper. One of my favorite ants you have down south.

[Aaron567]

April 18, 2021

 

The first two nanitics have eclosed. I forgot how tiny they were.