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Just some things to share.


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4 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Scrixx - Posted July 11 2017 - 11:24 AM

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Thought I'd share some interesting things I experienced yesterday when I went anting for the first time.

 

The first thing I saw were these. Big paw prints. It spooked me a bit and I ended up looking around often the rest of the trip. Thought it was mountain lion at first but then you can see where the nails sunk into the ground and mountain lions don't walk around with their nails extended. But I'm not expert and I could've gotten eaten.

 

A488s2B.jpg

 

Found several nests of Pogonomyrmex rugosus in close proximity all with alates outside. I was scared they weren't going to fly today until I remembered Drew said they'd fly at around 10. Well they flew at 9:30 and his prediction was almost right on.

 

PsFGeEb.jpg

 

 

Now for the real point of this post. I'd like to share my first hand experience of a small ant taking out a larger prey. In this case, it was my Myrmecocsytus navajo. I caught my second M. navajo and put her into my container. On the drive home I realized I didn't take containers out of my pocket so as I took them out I saw a queen upside down and when I realized it was my M. navajo my heart dropped. I pulled over to see what happened.

 

There was one ant on its head! It was like David and Goliath. The smaller ant had killed my queen. She had bitten off the abdomen of the small ant but the jaws were still locked tight around her antennas. I took small scissors and cut off the jaws of the smaller ants.. I was scared she was a goner.

 

Moral of the story is make sure you don't pick up anything extra when collecting your queen!

 

You can see the rest of what happened in the video, I think it will be better than words. Thanks for reading!

 


Edited by Scrixx, July 11 2017 - 11:27 AM.

ScrixxAnts Queen Adoption

YouTube: View my ants

Keeping: Camponotus sansabeanus - C. vicinus - Formica francoeuri - Liometopum occidentale -  Pogonomyrmex californicus - P. rugosus - P. subnitidus - Solenopsis molesta - S. xyloni - Tapinoma sessile - Temnothorax sp.

Journals: Camponotus sansabeanus & C. vicinus | Pogonomyrmex californicus & P. rugosus | Solenopsis molesta & S. xyloni

Discontinued: Pogonomyrmex subnitidus


#2 Offline Scrixx - Posted July 11 2017 - 11:32 AM

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Just a bonus if anyone wants simple ant comic relief.

 


ScrixxAnts Queen Adoption

YouTube: View my ants

Keeping: Camponotus sansabeanus - C. vicinus - Formica francoeuri - Liometopum occidentale -  Pogonomyrmex californicus - P. rugosus - P. subnitidus - Solenopsis molesta - S. xyloni - Tapinoma sessile - Temnothorax sp.

Journals: Camponotus sansabeanus & C. vicinus | Pogonomyrmex californicus & P. rugosus | Solenopsis molesta & S. xyloni

Discontinued: Pogonomyrmex subnitidus


#3 Offline sgheaton - Posted July 11 2017 - 11:37 AM

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Eaten by a dingo perhaps....

 

Most unfortunate for your queen.... Bummer to watch her struggle. Here's hoping she'll pull through!


Edited by sgheaton, July 11 2017 - 11:38 AM.

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#4 Offline CallMeCraven - Posted July 11 2017 - 1:59 PM

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Ya that is just a dog track.

 

She was probably so shocked that the little ant was that ferocious, her only response was to play dead. Glad she pulled through that traumatic experience and congrats on your second M. navajo queen!


Current Colony:

 

4x Camponotus (hyatti?)

 

 

____________________________________________________

 

Harmony with land is like harmony with a friend; you cannot cherish his right hand and chop off his left.

-Aldo Leopold


#5 Offline Scrixx - Posted July 11 2017 - 7:03 PM

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Ya that is just a dog track.

 

She was probably so shocked that the little ant was that ferocious, her only response was to play dead. Glad she pulled through that traumatic experience and congrats on your second M. navajo queen!

 

Yep looks like a dog track to me too, but still a fairly big dog..

 

Thanks! It was a great first anting trip :D


ScrixxAnts Queen Adoption

YouTube: View my ants

Keeping: Camponotus sansabeanus - C. vicinus - Formica francoeuri - Liometopum occidentale -  Pogonomyrmex californicus - P. rugosus - P. subnitidus - Solenopsis molesta - S. xyloni - Tapinoma sessile - Temnothorax sp.

Journals: Camponotus sansabeanus & C. vicinus | Pogonomyrmex californicus & P. rugosus | Solenopsis molesta & S. xyloni

Discontinued: Pogonomyrmex subnitidus





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