Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Cindy's Prenelopis Imparis Journal


  • Please log in to reply
66 replies to this topic

#41 Offline Cindy - Posted April 27 2017 - 4:41 PM

Cindy

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 193 posts
  • LocationRandolph, MA

 


  • noebl1 and MikeMc like this

#42 Offline Myrmidon - Posted April 28 2017 - 6:17 AM

Myrmidon

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 121 posts
  • LocationWaltham, Massachusetts

I love your updates, Cindy! Great videos :) I'm glad they are doing well.


  • Cindy likes this

Keeper of:

 

Prenolepis imparis (4 founding queens)

Camponotus pennsylvanicus (5 founding queens)

Reticulitermes flavipes (3 pairs, subterranean termite)

 


#43 Offline Cindy - Posted May 3 2017 - 4:48 PM

Cindy

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 193 posts
  • LocationRandolph, MA

5/3/17

 

We have larvae! I was able to capture some larvae wriggling about on my phone camera (second part of YT video). 

 

I've also moved my dual queen founding colony into a new Inception Chamber. I used a fine-tipped syringe to transfer the brood and lightly placed it on top of the water tower. No casualties, yay! Because this nest has a visible water tower, I am less worried about the hydration aspect than I was with the Atom B (sadly the queen in that nest passed away). They both seem to be enjoying the nest so far and I've taken some pictures of them in the nest. One interesting thing I noted was that these queens enjoyed using the sand in the nest to plug up any holes between the acrylic top and the nest itself.

 

 
IMG 20170503 195440
IMG 20170503 201358
IMG 20170503 201512
 
I was going to make a data chart showing the # of queens that ended up laying eggs depending on how they were found, but I think I can more easily sum it up in a few sentences. The queens that were found with males attached (yellow) ALL produced eggs regardless of whether they tore off their wings or not (7/7), while the ones found without males (blue) were less likely to do so (1 out of 3) and kept their wings. The ones who shed their wings before I found them (de-alates, red) all produced eggs (4/4). Currently I have 14 egg-laying queens, 15 before the one in the Atom nest passed away. 
 
Also... I found that the best light to photograph these queens under is natural daylight. They look golden-yellow under standard room lighting, but their natural amber coloration is truly spectacular when shown in natural daylight.
 
18289758 10155351720678217 1146699027 O

Edited by Cindy, May 3 2017 - 4:51 PM.

  • LC3, noebl1, Aaron567 and 3 others like this

#44 Offline Aaron567 - Posted May 3 2017 - 4:53 PM

Aaron567

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,005 posts
  • LocationPensacola, FL

Wow, I can't believe how long it takes for them to get larvae. They look nice, good luck!


  • Cindy likes this

#45 Offline Nathant2131 - Posted May 4 2017 - 2:41 AM

Nathant2131

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,509 posts
  • LocationDracut, Massachusetts
Funny how alll of us in the P imparis club are getting larvae- it's happening like dominoes!

I'll be checking mine hopefully today or tomorrow.
  • noebl1, Cindy and Myrmidon like this

#46 Offline MikeMc - Posted May 30 2017 - 5:49 AM

MikeMc

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 52 posts
  • LocationOhio

@cindy  - Any updates?


  • Nathant2131 likes this

Prenolepis imparis:  founding queens x15 | Journal


#47 Offline Cindy - Posted June 1 2017 - 8:08 PM

Cindy

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 193 posts
  • LocationRandolph, MA

@cindy  - Any updates?

I'll post an extensive update in the next few days! I've been in China and just landed tonight. From a quick glance, they all seem to be alive and doing well! 


  • dermy and Nathant2131 like this

#48 Offline Leo - Posted June 1 2017 - 8:55 PM

Leo

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,508 posts
  • LocationHong Kong
yay 4 china!

#49 Offline nurbs - Posted June 1 2017 - 11:37 PM

nurbs

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,630 posts
  • LocationLos Angeles

yay 4 china!

 

I hear there are a lot of Asians there.


Instagram:
nurbsants
 
YouTube
 
California Ants for Sale

 

Unidentified Myrmecocystus

https://www.formicul...ls-near-desert/

 

Undescribed "Modoc"

https://www.formicul...mp-ca-5-4-2017/

 

Camponotus or Colobopsis yogi:

https://www.formicul...a-ca-1-28-2018/

 
Camponotus us-ca02
https://www.formicul...onotus-us-ca02/

 

Unidentified Formica

https://www.formicul...l-ca-6-27-2020/

 
Pencil Case and Test Tube Formicariums
https://www.formicul...m-and-outworld/
 
Bloodworm Soup
https://www.formicul...bloodworm-soup/


#50 Offline Cindy - Posted June 10 2017 - 8:07 AM

Cindy

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 193 posts
  • LocationRandolph, MA

6/2/17 

 

This update is pretty late but I thought it'd be important to note he development of the brood + how easy to care for P. Imparis are. I went to China for over a week, leaving my 14 queens in their test tube holders undisturbed. When I came home, I saw that all of the queens had survived at room temperature (which fluctuated from the low 40s at night to the high 70s during the day throughout the week).

 

I was quite surprised at how hardy these queens are, given that all I've heard was that these queens were difficult to get started before I caught them. Here are some thing I've noted about the care of these queens during the founding stage:

 

-You can "set them and forget them". Literally. You don't need heat cables, they are tolerant of cold temperatures (at least down to the low 40s) and seem happy in the 70s as well.

-Conversely, they did not seem overly troubled when handled. I look at my queens at least once a day, and though they will scurry away at the site of bright light, looking at them under some dim lighting doesn't bother them at all. 

-They produce a lot of brood (for the most part). Maybe around 20-30 brood each. They also keep laying eggs during founding so I've been seeing a bunch of brood in different development stages when I check on them.

 

I've attached some close up shots of the brood, which can best be described as looking "plump" at this point. As for the queens' appearances, I've found that the ones who lay more eggs have a skinnier gaster, while the ones with 15 brood or less still look like I've caught them yesterday (fat gasters).

 

19048651 10155476840743217 1323694792 O
18948773 10155476840328217 778294588 O
19125152 10155476840173217 663756335 O
19095929 10155476840663217 1754964173 O
19074600 10155476840473217 2022116384 O
19073213 10155476840093217 419058220 O
19125230 10155476840243217 280066748 O
 
6/10/17
Today when I checked on my queens, I was able to notice some pupae in the mix. All queens are doing well! I was able to differentiate them from the brood due to their developing antennae and legs poking out. The pupae are the same color as the brood. I was unable to see any developing "eyes" like MikeMc had photographed in his journal, meaning that the pupae are a new occurrence and not close to eclosing by any means. I'm will attach pictures once I find my macro lens. I plan on feeding them a small wingless fruit fly and a drop of Sunburst Ant Nectar per tube once I see nanitics.

Edited by Cindy, June 10 2017 - 8:08 AM.

  • noebl1 and Myrmidon like this

#51 Offline Myrmidon - Posted June 10 2017 - 8:10 AM

Myrmidon

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 121 posts
  • LocationWaltham, Massachusetts

Yay! Congrats Cindy! They look great. 


  • Cindy likes this

Keeper of:

 

Prenolepis imparis (4 founding queens)

Camponotus pennsylvanicus (5 founding queens)

Reticulitermes flavipes (3 pairs, subterranean termite)

 


#52 Offline noebl1 - Posted June 10 2017 - 8:15 AM

noebl1

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,128 posts
  • LocationNorthern Massachusetts

NICE!!!  I also read the "how sensitive they are to movement" on other sites, and also observed they seem to be pretty easy going as well now that I have my own.


  • Cindy likes this

#53 Offline Cindy - Posted June 10 2017 - 8:18 AM

Cindy

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 193 posts
  • LocationRandolph, MA

NICE!!!  I also read the "how sensitive they are to movement" on other sites, and also observed they seem to be pretty easy going as well now that I have my own.

Yeah I remember per one of our discussions at some point, we had been afraid that the queens would eat their brood / not lay eggs if we disturbed them too much. I'm very glad that this turned out not to be the case, and that they are relatively easy to maintain by a novice like me. :P


  • noebl1 and Myrmidon like this

#54 Offline Myrmidon - Posted June 10 2017 - 8:20 AM

Myrmidon

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 121 posts
  • LocationWaltham, Massachusetts

 

NICE!!!  I also read the "how sensitive they are to movement" on other sites, and also observed they seem to be pretty easy going as well now that I have my own.

Yeah I remember per one of our discussions at some point, we had been afraid that the queens would eat their brood / not lay eggs if we disturbed them too much. I'm very glad that this turned out not to be the case, and that they are relatively easy to maintain by a novice like me. :P

 

 

 

I have definitely handled them incorrectly various times and caused them to roll over themselves as I tried to sneak a peak at their brood. They would just roll back over and tend to them like the earthquake was no big deal. :P


  • Cindy likes this

Keeper of:

 

Prenolepis imparis (4 founding queens)

Camponotus pennsylvanicus (5 founding queens)

Reticulitermes flavipes (3 pairs, subterranean termite)

 


#55 Offline Cindy - Posted June 10 2017 - 8:41 AM

Cindy

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 193 posts
  • LocationRandolph, MA
19096148 10155476984828217 313850381 O

 

Here's a picture of the new pupae. You can two little appendages kind of sticking out (that I think are the antennae). There are a few more articularly round and smooth larvae, and it is likely that they are the stage directly preceding the pupae stage. 


  • noebl1 and Myrmidon like this

#56 Offline Ants4fun - Posted June 10 2017 - 9:11 AM

Ants4fun

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,142 posts
  • LocationSouth Dakota
Congrats! Hopefully you have a thriving colony soon!
  • Cindy likes this

#57 Offline Nathant2131 - Posted June 10 2017 - 10:47 AM

Nathant2131

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,509 posts
  • LocationDracut, Massachusetts
Nice job on getting pupae. This is what I expect when I check on mine sometime today or tomorrow.
  • Cindy likes this

#58 Offline Cindy - Posted June 13 2017 - 6:09 PM

Cindy

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 193 posts
  • LocationRandolph, MA
6/13/17
 
The pupae's eyes are darkening! As you can see in the photo below they have a ruby-red color to them. The pupae are also starting to look more like ants and less like blobs. My guess is that they will eclose in the next week or so, given that MikeMc's P. Imparis took about 67 days from egg to worker they are developing at a "normal" rate. 
 
19179251 10155487086768217 158443860 O

  • noebl1, Leo, Nathant2131 and 2 others like this

#59 Offline Leo - Posted June 13 2017 - 6:23 PM

Leo

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,508 posts
  • LocationHong Kong
cool cindy
  • Cindy likes this

#60 Offline MikeMc - Posted June 14 2017 - 12:05 PM

MikeMc

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 52 posts
  • LocationOhio

Looking good - I'm glad to see out timelines are pretty close, it should really give some more credence to the length it takes for this species to get those first Nanites.

 

Please keep us posted, I enjoy the updates and look forward to your really excited post next week.


  • Cindy likes this

Prenolepis imparis:  founding queens x15 | Journal





0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users