625 replies to this topic

[CatsnAnts]

I might name one of the queens this year after her since she didn’t make it last year, so whooo knowwsss. It was originally Topa after her topaz color, so I’ll give that name to queen number two.

[TennesseeAnts]

Yea! In honor of topa

[CatsnAnts]

Yea! In honor of topa

Yassss

[TennesseeAnts]

She was a good queen. She never produced anything but eggs though....

[CatsnAnts]

She was a good queen. She never produced anything but eggs though....

Ya, she was my first queen other than Tetramorium immigrans from the years past. I got so excited I took pictures of her multiple times everyday, I think she was too stressed, whoooops... this year will be better though !

[TennesseeAnts]

I've found that Camponotus don't really get stressed for me. Actually, none but maybe Colobopsis get stressed for me.

[CatsnAnts]

Ya, this year I’ve noticed my ants (nor termites) really mind it when I check up on them. They all just kinda chill. Although my most jumpy queen would have to be my brood boosted Camponotus subbarbatus, the other two queens are fine, but she starts running around the tube holding her brood when I look in on her.

[TennesseeAnts]

Btw the majors of Camponotus subbarbatus look awesome. My young queen now has 8 workers with 2 of them being majors! My large colony has 80 ish workers and lots of brood. I'd say 20 or them are majors, with some being as big, if not bigger than the queen.

[CatsnAnts]

Do they get majors pretty early on? That’s awesome! I’ve never had a camponotus queen get to workers before so it’ll be a whole new experience .

[TennesseeAnts]

Do they get majors pretty early on? That’s awesome! I’ve never had a camponotus queen get to workers before so it’ll be a whole new experience .

Not normally. My queen is hyper-productive. Usually they don't get majors until the 15-20 worker mark.

[CatsnAnts]

Do they get majors pretty early on? That’s awesome! I’ve never had a camponotus queen get to workers before so it’ll be a whole new experience .

Not normally. My queen is hyper-productive. Usually they don't get majors until the 15-20 worker mark.

Ah, that makes more sense

[CatsnAnts]

I just found a strange cluster of bugs on one of our trees. I’d really like help ID-ing them, so I posted and ID thread in off-topic ID’s. Help or suggestions are appreciated , please go check it out if you have any ideas! If they are able to survive in captivity, I might use it as a feeder colony for my ants.

[CatsnAnts]

My Strumigenys queen is was just sitting on a small piece of mulch this morning. I’m not sure what she’s doing, but she has moved her antennae so she is definitely alive. My springtail culture is arriving soon, but I’ll probably go out today and dig some up for her. I’m iffy on whether or not she will found a colony.

[NickAnter]

Not many people found strumigenys from a single queen. They might just take a while. Also, that setup looks a little too dry, try hydrating it.

Edited by NickAnter, June 25 2019 - 6:39 AM.

[CatsnAnts]

Not many people found strumigenys from a single queen. They might just take a while. Also, that setup looks a little too dry, try hydrating it.

Alright, Thxs!

[TennesseeAnts]

Any updates on the Camponotus?

[CatsnAnts]

Alright! Time for an update on all of my Camponotus with pictures!


6/25/2019 — Camponotus castaneus — no queen name yet — no colony name yet

This queen now has five eggs, and let me just say she is GORGEOUS! When I took a picture of her this morning, the sunlight made her orange color really stand out. Overall, she’s pretty calm:





6/25/2019 — Camponotus subbarbatus (#1) — Sygn — no colony name yet

Doing very well with lots of her brood and also Camponotus caryae brood. Mold has been growing now for over a month, but she keeps plucking it off and taking it to the dry end. She should be getting a worker any day now:




6/25/2019 — Camponotus subbarbatus (#2) — Topa — no colony name yet

She’s doing pretty well, she’s got more brood than I originally thought:




6/25/2019 — Camponotus subbarbatus (#3) — no queen name yet — no colony name yet

Basically in the same situation as queen two (Topa):

[TennesseeAnts]

Sygn's pupae should hatch tomorrow.

[CatsnAnts]

Sygn's pupae should hatch tomorrow.

That’s what I’m hoping for !

[TennesseeAnts]

Yep!