April 16, 2017
I found this little lady under a rock in a very dry area here, Jackrabbit canyon just outside Laramie, Wyoming.
The days had been mild (50-60F) and the snow basically just melted, which is strange to find a queen since most colonies I've found while flipping rocks are still in hibernation with alate brood.
She's about 1.25cm, and has a nice pile of eggs. If they hatch into larvae (she laid them the day I found her after putting her in the tube) I might start a journal.
Probably shouldn't have disturbed her for photos, but I figure I won't bother her again for a few days or so before I check on her. IDK if she's fully or semi claustral but she seems to love drinking sunburst and eating chicken. Really nervous that this will work out, this is the first large ant species I've found that I really want to keep and seems to be the only colony I have that *isn't* giving me issues (my two others are refusing food and sugar entirely, and a myrmica queen I have I don't think is fertile).
If anyone's got tips for this species let me know please!
In the first photo it seems you can also count her antennal segments too which might help!
Edited by klawfran3, April 26 2017 - 10:11 AM.