55 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

Happy New Year everyone. Btw, Drew, the Pogos aren't doing so well. One died yesterday

Well that sucks.

[Gregory2455]

Feed them. Even though Pogonomyrmex rugosus are fully clausteral, they burn all their reserves over time. Once they start acting lethargic, you need to treat them as if they were semi-clausteral, because they are starving. I have been doing this technique to keep all my infertile Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Crematogaster sp, and fertile/infertile Myrmecocystus mexicanus queens alive.

[Tpro4]

Feed them. Even though Pogonomyrmex rugosus are fully clausteral, they burn all their reserves over time. Once they start acting lethargic, you need to treat them as if they were semi-clausteral, because they are starving. I have been doing this technique to keep all my infertile Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Crematogaster sp, and fertile/infertile Myrmecocystus mexicanus queens alive.

I have been feeding them byformica blue and Aqua, I'm getting green from one of my friends tomorrow.

[Foogoo]

Feed them. Even though Pogonomyrmex rugosus are fully clausteral, they burn all their reserves over time. Once they start acting lethargic, you need to treat them as if they were semi-clausteral, because they are starving. I have been doing this technique to keep all my infertile Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Crematogaster sp, and fertile/infertile Myrmecocystus mexicanus queens alive.

 

Hm. So I take it that seeing my queen wander around now and then is not a good sign? 

[Crystals]

Hm. So I take it that seeing my queen wander around now and then is not a good sign? 

Depends on the species and the queen in particular.  When she wanders, does she just go a few inches, or walk several feet?  You could even try a shelled sunflower seed or two, or some sugar water.

[Foogoo]

 

Hm. So I take it that seeing my queen wander around now and then is not a good sign? 

Depends on the species and the queen in particular.  When she wanders, does she just go a few inches, or walk several feet?  You could even try a shelled sunflower seed or two, or some sugar water.

 

This is the Pogonomyrmex queen. The container she's in is only 3" or so so she doesn't have room to wander too far. But I did not know they're supposed to be fully claustral.

 

My Crematogasters go crazy for dead fruit flies. Of my colonies, they're definitely the easiest to feed.

[dspdrew]

This is the Pogo queen. The container she's in is only 3" or so so she doesn't have room to wander too far. But I did not know they're supposed to be fully claustral.

It depends what species of Pogonomyrmex you are talking about. only three or four species are fully claustral.

[Foogoo]

 

This is the Pogonomyrmex queen. The container she's in is only 3" or so so she doesn't have room to wander too far. But I did not know they're supposed to be fully claustral.

It depends what species of Pogonomyrmex you are talking about. only three or four species are fully claustral.

 

 

P. rugosus. Only one occasionally wanders now and then. The other one I haven't seen outside since they moved in the nest.

[dspdrew]

P. rugosus are fully claustral.

[Tpro4]

Elza got her fourth worker today.

Drew I was wondering should I boost p. Rugosus with crematogaster brood?

[Gregory2455]

No. Do not. It will not work.

[Miles]

Elza got her fourth worker today.

Drew I was wondering should I boost p. Rugosus with crematogaster brood?

 

Absolutely not. 

[Tpro4]

For science! So anyway I tried it, the Queen is now caring for it, pics soon

[Miles]

She will most likely eat it.

[Gregory2455]

What Miles said. Either way, it cannot do harm giving it to her.

[dspdrew]

Dr. Trager did say once when he was younger he got Pogonomyrmex to accept a Crematogaster worker for a few weeks if I remember right, but he said the colony eventually died (I'm assuming before they killed it). Who knows why that happened, but I wouldn't count on having the same luck. Like I told you in chat, it will probably end up as dinner or in the trash pile.

[Gregory2455]

I would not be surprised if there were a possibility of freak accidents like that are possible within Myrmicinae. I would doubt it possible in Formicinae, or other subfamilies...

Edited by Gregory2455, January 13 2015 - 9:06 PM.

[Miles]

Myrmicinae do seem more likely to allow such behavior over the other subfamilies.

[Mercutia]

I remember Trager posting something like that along with a few other species that had accepted cross genus brood that matured into working adults that contributed to the colony. I found that fascinating. Can't seem to find the post now.

[Tpro4]

Good news, the queen I gave brood to has two eggs.
Bad news, the brood is gone