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

Pogonomyrmex queen questions

pogonomyrmex harvester ants question dirt box feeding fully claustral semi claustral

  • Please log in to reply
7 replies to this topic

#1 Offline YsTheAnt - Posted December 18 2017 - 5:34 PM

YsTheAnt

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,435 posts
  • LocationSan Jose, CA

So I wanted to raise a colony of pogonomyrmex next anting season. I have a few questions about the ones in CA for those who know some about them.

First off, how do I feed queens that are fully claustral in a setup like dspdrew's dirt boxes? I wanted to feed them because I hear that they have a much higher success rate if you do (for pogonomyrmex at least)

Second, what species in CA of pogonomyrmex are fully claustral? And if possible, a few that aren't?

Thanks for any advice!

 

Edit: I clarified that the questions only applied to pogonomyrmex


Edited by YsTheAnt, December 18 2017 - 6:43 PM.

Instagram          Journal           Shop


#2 Offline MegaMyrmex - Posted December 18 2017 - 6:16 PM

MegaMyrmex

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 637 posts
  • LocationEllicott City, Maryland
Basically almost any ant in the genus camponotus, formica, myrmecocystus, prenolepis, crematogaster, brachymyrmex, and dorymyrmex. Semi- claustral would be almost any ponerine ant, myrmica sp., trap jaws, some pogonomyrmex(?), acromyrmex, and some others. I myself don't recommend feesing founding fully claustral queens. I only do so if she seems weak or degenerate. If so, I generally just give her a small drop of honey and a tiny fruit fly for semi claustral queens.

Proverbs 6:6-8 New International Version (NIV)

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
    consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
    and gathers its food at harvest.

 


#3 Offline YsTheAnt - Posted December 18 2017 - 6:45 PM

YsTheAnt

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,435 posts
  • LocationSan Jose, CA

Thanks! I meant only for pogonomyrmex, but I can see that it wasn't very clear in my question. Edited it. Thanks for the help though! I never knew that acromyrmex was semi claustral.


Instagram          Journal           Shop


#4 Offline JasonD - Posted December 18 2017 - 7:34 PM

JasonD

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 57 posts

The only Pogonomyrmex species that I know is fully claustral is P. rugosus. There are probably others but I don't know. P. californicus is semi claustral, as are most (?) other california Pogonomyrmex.  



#5 Offline YsTheAnt - Posted December 18 2017 - 7:35 PM

YsTheAnt

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,435 posts
  • LocationSan Jose, CA
Alright, thanks. Also, does anyone know the best way to find foraging semi claustral queens, specifically pogonomyrmex?

Instagram          Journal           Shop


#6 Offline JasonD - Posted December 18 2017 - 7:40 PM

JasonD

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 57 posts

Find a place where there are lots of colonies around. Then wait till they fly in the summer, after a rain. Usually someone will post that they've flown. Go back to the place where there are lots of colonies and you should be able to find them running around during the day for several weeks. This was my experience with P. californicus. Just make sure you know what the queens look like because the difference between queen and worker is more subtle for semi claustral than fully. 



#7 Offline Ants_Texas - Posted December 19 2017 - 8:34 AM

Ants_Texas

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 389 posts
  • LocationTexas

So I wanted to raise a colony of pogonomyrmex next anting season. I have a few questions about the ones in CA for those who know some about them.

First off, how do I feed queens that are fully claustral in a setup like dspdrew's dirt boxes? I wanted to feed them because I hear that they have a much higher success rate if you do (for pogonomyrmex at least)

Second, what species in CA of pogonomyrmex are fully claustral? And if possible, a few that aren't?

Thanks for any advice!

 

Edit: I clarified that the questions only applied to pogonomyrmex

You could place some food on the surface dirt level, and if she goes exploring or wants it then she'll take it. Just make sure to change it out every once and a while. 



#8 Offline Ants_Texas - Posted December 19 2017 - 8:37 AM

Ants_Texas

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 389 posts
  • LocationTexas

Alright, thanks. Also, does anyone know the best way to find foraging semi claustral queens, specifically pogonomyrmex?

Have a stroll around an area with multiple nests during nuptial flight season, after a rain. You'll probably find some foraging queens or even some newly mated queens. Also, be looking for small holes with some scattered dirt around them in a circle. That's what most Pogonomyrmex founding chambers look like.







Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: pogonomyrmex, harvester ants, question, dirt box, feeding, fully claustral, semi claustral

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users