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Myrmecia chrysogaster


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#1 Offline CrazyLegs - Posted January 19 2017 - 7:57 PM

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Nature has a strange way of rewarding effort. After almost completing a formicarium to house Australia's largest ant.

I have stumbled across a queen from the smallest of Myrmecia.

 

Myrmecia chrysogaster.

Chrysogaster

This ant is as close to a wasp without wings as your going to get.

It's fast, agile and highly alert. It's vision is astounding.

By the time I got home she had already laid an egg in the jar. She must've been desperate to find somewhere to nest soon.

Her egg seemed unlike normal ant eggs, as it would roll around rather than stick to anything.
Sometimes I would see her gently place it down with all the care of a mother with a new born, and then turn around and kick it several millimeters as she wandered off seemingly uninterested.
Ereshkigal
Let me tell you, getting her into a test tube was challenging enough, but the egg was another story.
I had it stuck to a wet toothpick and carefully removed the cork stopper from the tube when the queen was up the far end. (Obviously :blush:  )
It all had to happen in around 1.5 seconds, 2 tops.
I can honestly say the sweat beads were forming, but I was confident.
Everything went to plan, except the moment I went to lay the egg down onto the glass, it was gone!!
It had fallen onto the carpet!! :facepalm:
For the next ten minutes my eyes were no further than an inch from the shag and low and behold I somehow found the thing.
All's well that ends well I suppose.
Here she is finally staying still for a measure up.
Measure Up
Might have to start carving a new formicarium for smaller ants. :)

 

 


Edited by CrazyLegs, January 19 2017 - 8:23 PM.

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#2 Offline Leo - Posted January 19 2017 - 8:07 PM

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nice colouring! i want one, when i grow up I'm gonna move to australia!!!!


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#3 Offline CrazyLegs - Posted January 19 2017 - 8:08 PM

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It's a nice place, Hot though. :)



#4 Offline Leo - Posted January 19 2017 - 8:12 PM

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i went there once got stung by the jack jumper when i attempted to dig a nest with my hands  :P  :sore:  :facepalm: .

i got scratched by a koala and fed a croc nachos :D



#5 Offline CrazyLegs - Posted January 19 2017 - 8:18 PM

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Hahaha, you'll fit right in. :lol:


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#6 Offline Leo - Posted January 19 2017 - 8:25 PM

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i mined for some opal, went off looking for sydney funnel webs in sydney before i realised they were venomous, attempted to grab a blue-ring octopus, made a snake mad, dived in the great barrier reef and speared a spiky starfish and told my brother to eat crocodile poop  :D


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#7 Offline Leo - Posted January 19 2017 - 8:28 PM

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he actually ate the poop, according to him the "candy" was too crumbly and salty and that he did not like it  rofl



#8 Offline Ntume - Posted January 20 2017 - 2:20 AM

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are you sure that it's not Myrmecia Fulvipes? :-)


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#9 Offline Canadian anter - Posted January 20 2017 - 5:53 AM

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what about Myrmecia piliventris


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Visit us at www.canada-ant-colony.com !

#10 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted January 20 2017 - 8:22 AM

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Omg! Love the colors! Congrats!
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YJK


#11 Offline CrazyLegs - Posted January 20 2017 - 12:32 PM

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Thanks Alabama Anter. She's gonna be tough to raise, she gets so easily disturbed.

She attempts to sting anything that comes into the tube, even a pin with a drop of maple syrup was attacked before being hurriedly consumed.

I open the cork just a crack and she drop kicks her egg and comes running. :D 

I thought it may have been a fulvipes at first but they have long slender black mandibles with the teeth concentrated at the tip.

This girl has brown mandibles with the teeth more spread along the shaft.

I think piliventris have black legs and the same longer black mandibles.

I may be wrong but I did look at those two species before concluding she was a chrysogaster.

Why are there so many similar. %)


Edited by CrazyLegs, January 20 2017 - 1:16 PM.


#12 Offline Martialis - Posted January 20 2017 - 2:07 PM

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Thanks Alabama Anter. She's gonna be tough to raise, she gets so easily disturbed.

She attempts to sting anything that comes into the tube, even a pin with a drop of maple syrup was attacked before being hurriedly consumed.

I open the cork just a crack and she drop kicks her egg and comes running. :D

I thought it may have been a fulvipes at first but they have long slender black mandibles with the teeth concentrated at the tip.

This girl has brown mandibles with the teeth more spread along the shaft.

I think piliventris have black legs and the same longer black mandibles.

I may be wrong but I did look at those two species before concluding she was a chrysogaster.

Why are there so many similar. %)

 

Don't forget to feed her, as she is semi-clausteral. 

 

Though you probably knew that :)


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#13 Offline CrazyLegs - Posted January 20 2017 - 8:20 PM

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Do you think I should feed her protein before she has larvae?

She is eating the syrup no problem.

 

Here she is doing the electric boogaloo

Grooming
If you look close her egg is still nearby.

Edited by CrazyLegs, January 20 2017 - 8:27 PM.

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#14 Offline T.C. - Posted January 20 2017 - 8:50 PM

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I just want to say how much I love your posts since you have been here. They are very informative with interesting content. Super cool species by the way.


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" Whatever You Are, Be a Good One "


#15 Offline CrazyLegs - Posted January 20 2017 - 8:55 PM

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Thanks T.C. I'm glad to share my experiences.

I enjoy getting to see all the ants from abroad that I don't get the chance to see here too.

We have a symbiotic relationship going on here. :lol:


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#16 Offline Canadian anter - Posted January 20 2017 - 9:15 PM

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I think feeding protein should be perfectly fine. I must say, I agree  with TC


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Visit us at www.canada-ant-colony.com !

#17 Offline Leo - Posted January 20 2017 - 9:30 PM

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dance ant dance


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#18 Offline CrazyLegs - Posted January 22 2017 - 5:36 AM

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Thanks Canadian anter, she is now chowing down on a termite queen dinner.

Protein
Feeding

She ate its brains out. (y)


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#19 Offline Martialis - Posted January 22 2017 - 7:28 AM

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Tasty.


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#20 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted January 22 2017 - 7:58 AM

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Why not catch the Termites and get them to have a reliable food source for you?

YJK





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