54 replies to this topic

[Mdrogun]

Nah pretty sure it's Tetramorium all right, Just because it hasn't been found doesn't mean it can't exist.
I have encountered a bunch of Tetras (in different colours too) everywhere even have a colony of them but who knows maybe we don't have Tetras

The chances of you discovering/keeping a species that has not been discovered in your area is super super low. I'm not saying it's impossible just saying it's highly unlikely.

[LC3]

I agree, but the Tetras we have are sp. e which have been discovered already and I'm pretty sure that the different coloured ones are variants of sp. e and BTW they are really rare.

[dermy]

Gearing up shortly [Maybe early/mid September] for waking up this Colony. But I'm not 100% sure I will be waking them up just yet. I want to have it transition, I'm going to Hibernate my Current Colony shortly after waking up this Colony. Then vica-versa when Spring Time rolls around next Year. Plus I plan on keeping a few other Ants awake during the Winter Months. Will try to keep you updated.

[dermy]

I have woken up the colony about 2 weeks ago [less then that I think] and haven't noticed any eggs yet. I've been feeding them and keeping them moist, in a new setup. The old one got really moldy in the fridge.

 

I'll try to get some pictures and video of them soon.

[dermy]

Well here is a quick update for you, They are still doing well, no eggs yet, but I have decided that their current setup just isn't working. They can climb up your fingers [and bite!] whenever you do Maintenance and I could just imagine if this Colony was in the 100's the amount of junk they'd be piling up everywhere. So I've started working on a new Setup for them, hopefully I'll have it done with in a month. 

 

Other then that little issue they are doing well, eating and being Myrmica.

[dermy]

I finally got them a new setup! I think it will work very well for them, at least during Winter, I'll have to spend a bit of time figuring out something bigger for them as well as the other Colonies I have [and future Colonies]. That's why we have 7 months of winter so at the very end I can procrastinate and finally build something

 

I have never done something on time ever, not even in school

[dermy]

Here is the video on the colony [A lot of workers died in hibernation this year which sucked] I'm hopeful they eventually bounce back, I'm surprised they are even alive at all with what they've been through over the year[s].

 

https://youtu.be/DI2MPoH9svc

 

[Edit: I have no clue why Youtube links have been doing this lately, but it hasn't just been me, I know Crystals has had the same issue with Videos posting on the site]

 

If I get the time I'll do more of a "write up" on the colony, I'm already working on a Topic showing my new nest thing that I made for them.

Edited by dermy, October 9 2015 - 10:10 PM.

[antmaniac]

Some of my Pheidole workers also just died after the winter season. But the queen has started laying lots of eggs, so it is all good I guess. 

[LC3]

Try keeping the humidity pretty high for Myrmica during the winter, I find them very cold resilient but they require a lot of humidity.

[dermy]

Ah okay, yeah last time I had them in a not so very humid container. I'll try that this year.

 

 

I have another video coming up of the ant's foraging.

[dermy]

Boy am I glad that I can get into the nest of these ants! They are still fairly small for the Nest and like to leave in dead insect parts inside the nest, and of course we all know what would happen if I didn't take it out. Mould is not something I like to deal with, since it grows and spreads crazy. So I cleaned it out of the nest, I can see that being a little harder when the Colony reaches 100+ workers or so. I haven't seen any eggs, but I haven't really looked hard either.

[dermy]

I've finally found at least a few eggs in the colony, they are really hard to find so for all I know they could have been there already without me noticing. I fed the colony again yesterday and next Feeding I'll get a better video then last time. Never use red for a background colour!!! Or Color

[dermy]

Well something bad has happened

 

They have lost all but 1 worker. I haven't seen any larvae, and now the "eggs" have disappeared. I think this Colony may be doomed.

[LC3]

So out of no where they decided to die.

[dermy]

Yep, that seems to happen with some of my ants, they just couldn't take it anymore I still have the queens I might just hibernate them, and brood boost them come next summer