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Pogonomyrmex queen gone walkabout


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6 replies to this topic

#1 Offline MysticNanitic - Posted February 22 2021 - 4:30 PM

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Well, I recently swapped some outworlds around.  I connected a well-vented outworld to my P. rugosus colony so the seeds I supply are less likely to get moldy (like the first batch did).  The outworld has two offset holes, I rearranged everything a couple times and finally settled on the best-fit for all the colonies on my ant shelf in the garage.  Today I noticed a wandering rugosus worker on the floor, scooped her up and figured I left the lid loose when feeding yesterday.  To my surprise, when I peeked under the red darkscreen, except for the second worker the nest was empty!  A closer inspection revealed that a week ago when I swapped the outworlds I never plugged the second hole, so I've been feeding an empty nest for at least a few days - having not peeked under the darkscreen since the outworld swap.  The queen left and took her brood with her, leaving her two workers to fend for themselves.  

 

A first for me, a royal escape, I wish her well!  I'm hoping she turns up around the garage somewhere.  Plug those holes!  



#2 Offline gs5248 - Posted February 23 2021 - 8:40 AM

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I am a little surprised that the queen abandoned her workers!



#3 Offline MysticNanitic - Posted February 23 2021 - 10:23 AM

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Me too, kind of hoping she's nearby.  The wandering worker was 30 feet from the nest, kind of wishing I'd left her on the ground and followed her.  I've searched all over for the queen but no luck.  



#4 Offline gs5248 - Posted February 23 2021 - 10:25 AM

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Well, I hope you will find her.


Edited by gs5248, February 24 2021 - 8:41 AM.


#5 Offline SleepyAsianAnter - Posted February 23 2021 - 9:33 PM

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Ah this happened to me too, I didn't get the memo that rugosus were the only pogonomyrmex capable of scaling acrylic so I neglected to put a barrier, found the queen in my room a couple days later, and I'm still missing a worker so I fear being stung at night.



#6 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted February 24 2021 - 7:59 AM

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Ah this happened to me too, I didn't get the memo that rugosus were the only pogonomyrmex capable of scaling acrylic so I neglected to put a barrier, found the queen in my room a couple days later, and I'm still missing a worker so I fear being stung at night.

that is indeed a realistic fear...


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. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

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#7 Offline NickAnter - Posted February 24 2021 - 8:58 AM

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Pretty sure rogosus arent the only one... I think tenuispinis can too.


Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 





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