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Greg's Myrmecocystus testaceus Journal (Discontinued)

honeypot ant myrmecocystus myrmecocystus testaceus

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#1 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted February 15 2015 - 11:28 PM

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This journal is probably going to end fast, but dammit I am going to make a journal for this queen! I found this queen in a shallow founding chamber on the side of the road leading up to Pinyon Pines, CA. The flight was reported by dspdrew when he went and caught a bunch. This species was originally thought to be Myrmecocystus yuma, but it was agreed to be called Myrmecocystus testaceus.This was my only catch of the trip. She has a dent on her gaster, which I expect is something like dean_k's Lasius neoniger queen, except a bit larger. For this queen, I plan on using the technique used by Ray Mendez for rearing honey pot ants, as shown in a video by MrILoveTheAnts.


Edited by Gregory2455, February 20 2019 - 10:27 PM.

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#2 Offline LAnt - Posted February 15 2015 - 11:37 PM

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Now I'm confused. I thought Drew went to Palm springs last weekend or is this some other trip?

Edit: Well i was looking at Pinion Pines but you went to pinyon pines.  %)


Edited by LAnt, February 15 2015 - 11:39 PM.


#3 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted February 15 2015 - 11:42 PM

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Do you not hate it when two places are spelled nearly the same?  :mad2:



#4 Offline dspdrew - Posted February 15 2015 - 11:49 PM

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Now I'm confused. I thought Drew went to Palm springs last weekend or is this some other trip?

Edit: Well i was looking at Pinion Pines but you went to pinyon pines.  %)

 

It was Palm DESERT. We were just up the mountain a little ways.



#5 Offline dspdrew - Posted February 15 2015 - 11:51 PM

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Those yellow legs totally look like M. testaceus. The ones I caught don't have yellow legs, and I think they are indeed M. yuma.



#6 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted February 15 2015 - 11:53 PM

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Hehe same thing, no?


Those yellow legs totally look like M. testaceus. The ones I caught don't have yellow legs, and I think they are indeed M. yuma.

Hmm... Maybe we can share? :P



#7 Offline dspdrew - Posted February 16 2015 - 6:42 AM

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I really can't figure out what they are. I might just have to wait until one either has workers, or dies so I can put it on my microscope.

 

Edit: Actually Chromerust has one that died, so as soon as I get it, I'll find out for sure. Now if both species flew, then this won't really help.


Edited by dspdrew, February 16 2015 - 6:44 AM.


#8 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted February 24 2015 - 11:08 PM

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Update: 2/24/2015

So she was moved into the setup successfully about a week ago, and she is doing good now. :)



#9 Offline antmaniac - Posted February 25 2015 - 3:23 AM

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Those yellow legs go well with the sand. By the way, how you keep the new set up moisturized?



#10 Offline Miles - Posted February 25 2015 - 8:28 AM

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 For this queen, I plan on using the technique used by Ray Mendez for rearing honey pot ants

Next time, I would recommend less sand, and to compact it onto the hydrostone base. That is also what Ray said regarding a setup that one of our instructors made for their queen.


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#11 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted February 25 2015 - 9:57 AM

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For this queen, I plan on using the technique used by Ray Mendez for rearing honey pot ants

Next time, I would recommend less sand, and to compact it onto the hydrostone base. That is also what Ray said regarding a setup that one of our instructors made for their queen.
Actually funny you say, it was compacted down, but she dug it up like this so I just decided to let her do it the way that makes her comfortable. :D
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#12 Offline LAnt - Posted March 17 2015 - 1:16 PM

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Is she still kicking?

#13 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted March 17 2015 - 6:22 PM

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Update: 3/17/2015

I removed a significant amount of the substrate a week ago, and she has a nice little pile of eggs now. :D



#14 Offline Foogoo - Posted March 18 2015 - 8:24 AM

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 For this queen, I plan on using the technique used by Ray Mendez for rearing honey pot ants

Next time, I would recommend less sand, and to compact it onto the hydrostone base. That is also what Ray said regarding a setup that one of our instructors made for their queen.

 

Hope this isn't too far off topic, what substrate does Ray and the other "professional" ant keepers use? Hydrostone also? Or something different?

 

And Greg, did you buy your Hydrostone locally?


Camponotus vicinus, Crematogaster 1, Crematogaster 2, Formica francoeuri, *, *, Myrmecocystus testaceus, Novomessor cockerelli, Pheidole hyatti, Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Solenopsis invicta


#15 Offline kellakk - Posted March 18 2015 - 11:12 AM

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Foogoo, Ray apparently uses a hydrostone base with a little sand on top for founding Myrmecocystus (or was it Pogonomyrmex?)  The video where we found that out is in this thread.


Current Species:
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#16 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted March 18 2015 - 9:07 PM

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 For this queen, I plan on using the technique used by Ray Mendez for rearing honey pot ants

Next time, I would recommend less sand, and to compact it onto the hydrostone base. That is also what Ray said regarding a setup that one of our instructors made for their queen.

 

Hope this isn't too far off topic, what substrate does Ray and the other "professional" ant keepers use? Hydrostone also? Or something different?

 

And Greg, did you buy your Hydrostone locally?

 

It is a layer of hydrostone with a bit of loose sand on top. :)



#17 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted April 7 2015 - 10:44 PM

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Update: 4/7/2015

She maintains a large pile of eggs, and I think I see the heads of larvae growing on a few.



#18 Offline Alexant - Posted April 8 2015 - 2:01 AM

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I love honey pot ants and would love to see how these turn out. :D



#19 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted June 23 2015 - 11:35 PM

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Discontinued

I found her dead today... I think she was infertile. Hopefully my M.navajo do better. I am turning away from this setup, it doesn't suit the style of how I care for my ants...


Edited by Gregory2455, June 23 2015 - 11:36 PM.


#20 Offline dspdrew - Posted June 23 2015 - 11:45 PM

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I am turning away from this setup, it doesn't suit the style of how I care for my ants...

 

What do you mean by that?







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