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Ecthelion's Myrmecia pilosula and Odontomachus ruficeps journal

myrmecia pilosula bull ant journal

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#1 Offline Ecthelion - Posted September 28 2021 - 8:41 PM

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So, my first post about this queen was in the Australia section, but since then I have decided to make a journal on here. This queen is handicapped and mssing half of her back leg.

 

So, aafter aboout two weeks she laid eggs. About ten. And then, about two weeks later, the eggs hatched! at this stage she's got a few tiny larvae, but they are growing pretty fast! she's a lot more aggressive now then she was when I first caught her.

pilosula brood

 i'll be updating this as I see changes.

I may be adding more species to this.


Edited by Ecthelion, October 28 2021 - 11:50 AM.

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#2 Offline Ecthelion - Posted September 28 2021 - 8:58 PM

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Just took another picture, as the previous one is fairly old.

pilosula brood

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#3 Offline TestSubjectOne - Posted September 28 2021 - 9:52 PM

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I'm interested to see how your colony develops. It looks like they're off to a good start with plenty of healthy brood. The leech-like shape of the larvae and their tendency to actively eat reminds me a lot of my Novomessor cockerelli.

PXL 20210712 015533038

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TestSubjectOne's Experiences in Antkeeping General Journal

 

Currently Keeping:

- Veromessor pergandei (1 queen, 600 workers)

- Novomessor cockerelli (1 queen, 200 workers)

- Myrmecocystus mexicanus (1 queen, 100 workers)

- Brachymyrmex patagonicus (3 queens?, 2,000 workers? & alates)

- Crematogaster sp. (1 queen, 600 workers)

- Liometopum occidentale (1 queen, 800 workers)

- Camponotus absqualator (1 queen, 130 workers)


#4 Offline Ecthelion - Posted September 28 2021 - 11:28 PM

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I'm interested to see how your colony develops. It looks like they're off to a good start with plenty of healthy brood. The leech-like shape of the larvae and their tendency to actively eat reminds me a lot of my Novomessor cockerelli.

Yes, they do look similar!



#5 Offline Ecthelion - Posted September 30 2021 - 8:29 PM

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Update. I count 14 larvae. they are about as large as the queen's eye now, some 2-3 mms long.


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#6 Offline Ecthelion - Posted October 2 2021 - 1:59 PM

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The queen is down to ten larvae. She's been eating really well and the larvae are definitely getting larger.



#7 Offline JCRHJM - Posted October 2 2021 - 10:27 PM

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14 is usually a lot for the first generation of myrmecia I wonder if the queen consumed them from stress or fed the larvae to each other



#8 Offline Ecthelion - Posted October 3 2021 - 1:58 AM

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14 is usually a lot for the first generation of myrmecia I wonder if the queen consumed them from stress or fed the larvae to each other

I think stress as I checked up on her quite a bit, too much maybe. The larvae had lots of food so I don't think she fed them to each other.



#9 Offline Ecthelion - Posted October 4 2021 - 2:00 PM

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I must have miscounted, as there are 11 larvae. I am feeding them one day after they finish their previous meal, is this too often? they take the prey every time I feed them.


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#10 Offline JCRHJM - Posted October 4 2021 - 4:59 PM

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I must have miscounted, as there are 11 larvae. I am feeding them one day after they finish their previous meal, is this too often? they take the prey every time I feed them.

If they take food then its fine 


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#11 Offline Ecthelion - Posted October 7 2021 - 5:07 PM

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Well, she's still taking prey, her larvae are growing. I'm thinking of buying her a founding nest.


Edited by Ecthelion, October 7 2021 - 5:08 PM.

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#12 Offline Ecthelion - Posted October 7 2021 - 6:07 PM

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Well, one of the larvae appears to have doubled in size in less than a day.


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#13 Offline Ecthelion - Posted October 9 2021 - 9:44 PM

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Well, i'm still feeding her regularly and there isn't too much change, except the larvae are growing. There is one on particular that's getting pretty big. The queen seems to be doing quite well and she's drinking honey quite regularly.


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#14 Offline Ecthelion - Posted October 11 2021 - 5:28 PM

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This is her brood now!  :lol:

pilo

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#15 Offline Ecthelion - Posted October 17 2021 - 12:07 AM

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The queen is still accepting food and the larvae are still eating, they are definetely growing. I might get a nest for them, as the larvae are getting big!


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#16 Offline Ecthelion - Posted October 19 2021 - 4:52 PM

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They are no longer eating, and i would have thought they are close to pupating except they are really small. just about half the length of the queen. Any idea what's up? I've got a nest coming for them i think they'll like.



#17 Offline JCRHJM - Posted October 19 2021 - 5:02 PM

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I would give them a few days, sometimes they take a break



#18 Offline Ecthelion - Posted October 19 2021 - 11:37 PM

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The pilosula are eating again!!  :lol:


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#19 Offline Ecthelion - Posted October 21 2021 - 6:30 PM

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Got some pics!

pilo
pilo

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#20 Offline That_one_ant_guy - Posted October 21 2021 - 6:53 PM

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I don't know if it's just me but the second pic I think got corrupted
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