2110 replies to this topic

[ConcordAntman]

I’ve got nanitics😁!
http://www.formicult...d-7420adcffb6d/

This is the setup I’ve devised for feeding and changing out moldy test tubes until I get formicaria. I put the food on aluminum foil in the portal and take it out after feeding.
http://www.formicult...4-290fe9f35941/

So far I’ve been feeding honey and cherries. Plan to add wingless fruit flies (if I can find them) or mealworms (but it’s not clear C pennsylvanicus likes them).

As of today, my third queen’s first nanitic has eclosed. I’m 3 for 3!

Edited by ConcordAntman, July 17 2018 - 11:29 AM.

[akaant]

Pheidole pilifera flew today at 4:30 pm in a mass just above my car in the RAIN. 

[noebl1]

@ConcordAtman Congrats!!!! Always a great feeling when that happens

 

@akaant  Too much rain for me to blacklight tonight, that's a major bummer. I had heard they fly immediately after rains, but didn't realize during rain.

[akaant]

@ConcordAtman Congrats!!!! Always a great feeling when that happens

 

@akaant  Too much rain for me to blacklight tonight, that's a major bummer. I had heard they fly immediately after rains, but didn't realize during rain.

Bummer. That was the strangest nuptial flight I've yet seen. I managed to capture several queens.

@ConcordAtman Great start!

[noebl1]

@ConcordAtman Great start!

 

Bummer. That was the strangest nuptial flight I've yet seen. I managed to capture several queens.

 

 

That's crazy, congrats on the captures!  You catch them attracted to lights or wandering around?  Soil here isn't right; we don't have a lot of open fields or sandy soil near me at all, closest is a couple miles away so TBH really surprised I caught the queen I did.  I was like "Well that's interesting, haven't seen one of you before..." Got her inside and got the ID confirmed. Dropped her wings overnight, so hoping she lays/survives.  I saw evidence another one landed on the sand box (maybe not so ironically) as found the shed wings, but I did not find her.

 

I was swarmed with Temnothorax last night too, hundreds and hundreds of them.  They appeared to be mating on the sheet as well, I would grab a queen as she dropped her wings after mating.

 

It's still raining here, just picked up more, JUST shy of 1.5". Rainy heavy enough we lost satellite for a few minutes which isn't a common occurrence at all. 

 

Aphaenogaster should be flying very soon too.

[fleetingyouth]

I went out after Noebl1 said there was a flight last night with a light and surprise surprise I only found a tetramorium queen haha I did find what looks like maybe a Temnothorax male alate. 

 

I ran out of tubes so put her in one of those takeout containers for sauce with a cotton ball stuffed in a hole in the lid. I then put het in a box with the rest of my queens in my closet closed the door for the night and went to my bed about 20 feet away. I woke up at 5 am with a bug crawling on my back. It turned out to be a tetra queen so I checked all my queens and sure enough the newest one escaped and found her way to min. What are the chances haha

 

@akaant that's cool I've never seen any of those ants in my area. I wish I could have found some. 

[akaant]

The rain died down a bit when they flew. The swarm was 7-8 feet above the ground and over my car. I was picking them off of my roof and hood shortly after they landed. I was at work in a industrial park that has a bit of tall grass and few sandy spots.

Edited by akaant, July 17 2018 - 6:26 PM.

[fmoreira60]

The rain died down a bit when they flew. The swarm was 7-8 feet above the ground and over my car. I was picking them off of my roof and hood shortly after they landed. I was at work in a industrial park that has a bit of tall grass and few sandy spots.

How much queens did you capture?

[akaant]

13 queens total. I'll check on them for the first time on friday.

[fleetingyouth]

Tried to get some better photos today. I needed to move the first queen I caught cause her vial is almost out of water. 

 

Still not great but getting better. 

 

Check out the dent in her gaster. Doesn't seem to be affecting her though she has a large brood pile with plenty of larvae. 

[noebl1]

Tetramorium lay large brood really fast, @fleetingyouth you should have the first batch of workers in September-ish +/- a bit (potentially sooner depending on temperature)

 

My Pheidole queen is laying quite a bit more as well, checked on her today after being gone for a couple days.  

 

Also found my C. americanus have their first nanitic, so about 8 weeks from capture, to egg laying to eclosing.  I'll get some better pics that bring out their color once she chills out a bit:

Edited by noebl1, July 22 2018 - 4:19 PM.

[akaant]

Parasitic Formica flew just as the rains stopped around 12:30 pm.

[ConcordAntman]

Also found my C. americanus have their first nanitic, so about 8 weeks from capture, to egg laying to eclosing.  I'll get some better pics that bring out their color once she chills out a bit:

Noebl1, just wondering what you used for your pictures. I’ve got a DSLR and am considering a macro lens and ring flash. I’m trying to get an idea from photographers before I buy anything. Thanks!

[noebl1]

@ConcordAntman  Most of my photos are taken with my Pixel 2 XL phone if I am in a hurry.  However if I take real macro shots, I use a Canon 60D with the 100mm EF telephoto lens.  If I actually prepare properly for it, I've got a clip on flash for it as well (the Speedlite 430EX II).  I have a heck of a time with the focus with it, as the ants don't stop moving (there are tricks), but I'd rather minimize stress.    I have a clip on LED light ring for it somewhere, but with challenge I have is the reflection off the glass if too bright.  FWIW a lot of people get really good shots with using a macro lens on their camera phone.

 

This is my attempt with a couple quick shots with the macro and a bright light, you can see how the glass is frustrating to take through:

[fmoreira60]

Temnothorax curvispinosus flew tonight. It was 74 F and 89% humidity. There were hundreds of ants on my drive way. 

[fleetingyouth]

went out for an hour at dusk looking for queens but saw nothing. I did see 3 ant swarms on the side walks. what does that usually mean? I didn't see any alates at all.  

[noebl1]

went out for an hour at dusk looking for queens but saw nothing. I did see 3 ant swarms on the side walks. what does that usually mean? I didn't see any alates at all.  

 

Depends on the ants.  Some species like Tetramorium normally have battles (though mostly in the Spring), there are slave making Formica that raid other colonies in huge swarms, Camponotus when they are establishing a satellite colony, and Tapinoma when they are moving locations, etc.  Often if a flight is going to happen, you'll see the entrances opened up, and alates crowding the opening until they eventually pour out and stage for flying. The workers often will be all around the area they are flying to help insure they get off the ground.

 

Temnothorax and Lasius americanus still flying, caught some last night blacklighting.  

[akaant]

Solenopsis molesta flew today at 6pm ish. I captured about 25 queens.

[noebl1]

Lasius americanus flying right now, only finding them on blacklight.

[fleetingyouth]

Did my weekly check-up and the 4 tetramorium queens I caught on the 29th all have their first worker ants.  Hard to tell but about 5-10 each. With plenty of brood should have more in the next week or two. 

 

I'm taking off to NY for the weekend so won't get to do anything with them till tues. when should I try feeding them? sugar water first?