How is this colony doing? Update?

How is this colony doing? Update?

Yep they're doing well! Recently I got a stipend from a school program so I plan on using a portion on that for fruit flies and other feeder insects. I might not update as often since schools started and I'm always busy. I'll try to post some more pics later today.

If anyone wants an update, just send a post and I'll do my best to get one out soon!

In the meanwhile, here's some pics of the pots and 1 termite pic because why not:

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Awesome news! They look so pretty looks like the mealworms have went over well.

Stipend well spent. One producing cup of fruit flies can be multiplied almost infinitely once you learn how to create your cultures. Look out for trash mites in the cultures, though. They can be prevented by starting new cultures faster than they can complete their life cycle, though.

Stipend well spent. One producing cup of fruit flies can be multiplied almost infinitely once you learn how to create your cultures. Look out for trash mites in the cultures, though. They can be prevented by starting new cultures faster than they can complete their life cycle, though.

I did try this before! Unfortunately, everytime I tried there would be mold or fungus growth within the first 24 hours. I think it was because I wasn't being sterile enough but I just gave up. I still have the materials sitting around, buy they're like a year old lol

The colony is just around 40 workers! It's slow, but its progress. I did hope they would be much larger but school and college apps are just eating up all my time. As I stated before, I likely won't be updating as frequently for a bit, but know that the colony is likely still alive and doing well (or okay-ish)! 

Here's those pictures I promised:

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Stipend well spent. One producing cup of fruit flies can be multiplied almost infinitely once you learn how to create your cultures. Look out for trash mites in the cultures, though. They can be prevented by starting new cultures faster than they can complete their life cycle, though.

I did try this before! Unfortunately, everytime I tried there would be mold or fungus growth within the first 24 hours. I think it was because I wasn't being sterile enough but I just gave up. I still have the materials sitting around, buy they're like a year old lol

Mush up one old banana and add a tablespoon each of honey and vinegar, along with a pinch of active yeast. Mix in instant mashed potato mix. The vinegar and proliferating yeast will prevent mold. In fact, I’ve never had mold using this recipe for years.

Sorry, it's been a while .
Quick life update, I'm just waiting for college decisions now and school is pretty relaxed. Hopefully I can put more effort into ants!

As for the colony, they are still alive, but they have shrunk down to roughly 25 workers. Currently they have 2 cocoons on the way, but also a new batch of eggs!

I really want to make sure this generation of workers can help the colony grow more in numbers. I've always struggled with finding insects this species will eat, as most colonies I've had in the past have been pretty picky. If anyone could give their experience on which insects this species responds the best to, it would be really appreciated!!!

As for now, here are some pictures-

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The colony has a massive batch of eggs and a small pile of newly hatched larvae!

 

Almost all the journals I've read on myrmecocystus, there was always a mention of ensuring that there was a consistent supply of sugar water, honey, nectar, etc. I've always thought this was so the colony could get repletes (as that is the whole point of this genus), but I've also noticed something interesting. I've never been good at constantly refilling their nectar feeder either because I was too busy, or just lazy. However, everytime I DID refill their nectar feeder, there was usually a new batch of eggs laid soon after. 

 

I thought this was something potentially useful I could add, as I don't recall any journal mentioning this sort of behavior (there probably is a mention of this somewhere and I just forgot), and I've always had a problem with this species producing new workers. Perhaps an abundance in carbohydrates encourages egg laying? I'm not sure, but I'm really glad I picked up on this.

That's a neat observation. In theory this species is adapted to withstand periods without sugar and water. I wonder if never encountering dry spells has some impact on them?

Great photos in this journal! Keep up the good work!

So um, I checked the colony today and I found a drone? Not sure why, they're still pretty small... Otherwise they seem to be doing pretty ok.

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Hey! So where did he come from? Lol. Glad the colony is doing okay!

The colony has a massive batch of eggs and a small pile of newly hatched larvae!

Almost all the journals I've read on myrmecocystus, there was always a mention of ensuring that there was a consistent supply of sugar water, honey, nectar, etc. I've always thought this was so the colony could get repletes (as that is the whole point of this genus), but I've also noticed something interesting. I've never been good at constantly refilling their nectar feeder either because I was too busy, or just lazy. However, everytime I DID refill their nectar feeder, there was usually a new batch of eggs laid soon after.

I thought this was something potentially useful I could add, as I don't recall any journal mentioning this sort of behavior (there probably is a mention of this somewhere and I just forgot), and I've always had a problem with this species producing new workers. Perhaps an abundance in carbohydrates encourages egg laying? I'm not sure, but I'm really glad I picked up on this.

Indeed I do believe an abundance of resources in general will stimulate egg laying. It’s observed in the wild brood is most abundant during the spring season when both resources(protein/nectar) is abundant. They just seem to KNOW.

My buddy feeds his M. placodops colonies twice a week of protein. I feed mines every day or every other day but less per instance. My thought process is during spring the foragers would be always collecting, so I try to mimic those conditions. While it’s anecdotal, both my colonies at the same stages always had more brood overall and always had a great cycle. I could be lucky and have gotten a good queens. Yes it’s common recommendation to always have water/carbohydrate source while feeding protein more sparingly. Although I do believe the protein sparingly stems from a study where ants fed all in one food source with higher protein ratio died earlier, but that study the ants had no choice where feeding them separately, they have a choice.

As for preferred food, soft bodied insects like fruit flies, crickets,dubia roaches are good choices. You can freeze them for later use also, although at least for my colonies, they prefer more fresh, but I’m sure they’ll take anything if they need to. I find even though they may have a stash of fruit flies in their nest, if I feed fresh ones, they can immediately set the fresh fruit flies onto the larvae pile for feeding. Fruit flies are easy to breed and you can make your own media that will last for years(1 culture a month can feed many colonies). There’s a fruit fly thread that has good info in there. You’re time crunched, so 2 times a week is sufficient. My buddies colonies do well on that schedule. He did also have a M. Mexicanus queen suddenly die but that’s not an uncommon theme for honeypots. Do well then a queen can suddenly die. We can only surmise.

Honeypots are just so much cleaner compared to Pogonomyrmex, when I kept them. Great pictures and good luck with your colony. Keep us posted!

Edited by Mushu, April 28 2024 - 10:20 AM.