716 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

Update 5-23-25
These ants have really enjoyed the growing spring warmth and the generous feedings I’ve offered them during my spring break. Most of the queen pupae has eclosed by this point, and I can see lots of winged queens hanging out in the lower chambers of their nest. A new food I’ve been giving them is frozen bloodworms, and they’ve been a big hit. I didn’t make the bloodworm soup like Nurbs does since the last time I tried some ants got stuck in it. Instead, I’ve strained it a bit and put damp clumps in a little feeding dish. Yum.

Bloodworm feast:


New diva princess:

Edited by ANTdrew, May 2 2025 - 10:04 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Update 5-2-2025

This colony is insane right now. Every morning, all the queen alates are surging out into the outworld looking for opportunities to fly. There must be more than 50 of them total. The rate at which they empty huge nectar feeders makes me feel like they go through more sugar than my kids at this point, and that's saying something! Despite all the craziness, they thankfully have not staged a single escape in the two months since I brought them out of diapause.

I bought more bloodworms, and they are enjoying them. I also gave them some steamed tilapia the other day, and that was a big hit.


Overall nest view:


So many queens:

Edited by ANTdrew, May 2 2025 - 10:29 AM.

[Ants_Dakota]

Wow those queens are fat! It really shows you what heights ant colonies can reach with limitless food. If you decide to go that route, they would be a good food source for your other colonies. That would really create a circular ecosystem.

Edited by Ants_Dakota, May 2 2025 - 10:35 AM.

[Ernteameise]

Amazing colony.

How many workers do they have, any way of guessing?

[ANTdrew]

Amazing colony.
How many workers do they have, any way of guessing?

Several thousands now, but it would be impossible to count due to the nature of their setup and frenetic movement.

[AntBoi3030]

Don't Crematogaster usally fly in the late summer? Prehaps I'm wrong. Or maybe they are just confused.

[ANTdrew]

Don't Crematogaster usally fly in the late summer? Prehaps I'm wrong. Or maybe they are just confused.

They do, but these ants were given nice heat and ample protein since March. They’re ready now.

[ANTdrew]

I just noticed where most of the queen alates have been hanging out when they’re not going Braveheart “Freedom!” mode in the mornings:

[Ants_Dakota]

What are your plans to expand their nest? It seems like they are going to need that pretty soon.

[ANTdrew]

Now that you mention it, maybe I should work on something. Maybe I’ll follow my dream of making a flat nest that hangs on the wall like a painting?

[Ants_Dakota]

Now that you mention it, maybe I should work on something. Maybe I’ll follow my dream of making a flat nest that hangs on the wall like a painting?

As you probably know crystals has an excellent guide for that you can modify.

[MyrmecologyMaven]

Now that you mention it, maybe I should work on something. Maybe I’ll follow my dream of making a flat nest that hangs on the wall like a painting?

I love wall nests! Super cool concept. I just can't handle the stress of the chance it falls while I'm away! 

[ANTdrew]

I will make it happen. Anything for the divas.

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

A serious flight of alates is what i'm fearing, as i ordered up an open top outworld. Like a large open top at about 8x12 with no lid, but a fixed 1" inner overhang lip.

If they do go for full alates production with that open top i'm a have to rig up some kind of netting box to put over it to keep them from going off in the house.

[ANTdrew]

A serious flight of alates is what i'm fearing, as i ordered up an open top outworld. Like a large open top at about 8x12 with no lid, but a fixed 1" inner overhang lip.

If they do go for full alates production with that open top i'm a have to rig up some kind of netting box to put over it to keep them from going off in the house.

I doubt they’d actually fly indoors. These ones just run around Braveheart style. The only species I had that actually flew out of their box was Nylanderia vividula, and even then it was only a few males here and there.

[ANTdrew]

Update 5-13-25
The mega-colony continues to do very well this season. There are well over 100 queen alates now, but I can’t really get a full count. Interestingly, the colony has not produced any males. Thankfully, the colony has switched back to worker production, and they have some decent sized piles if worker brood about.
Heres a look at the queens rushing around the outworld on a warm morning:


The new colony is growing very rapidly as well. I’ll need to figure out what to do with them soon since my ant-keeping space is just about maxed out.

[ANTdrew]

Update 6-4-2025

The great cull is underway. I had been expecting it, based on this colony’s behavior last season, but I was still surprised at how quickly they turned on their own alates. A handful are still hanging on, but their days are clearly numbered. The colony has clearly switched back to prioritizing brood growth and has some large brood piles spread about. They also go through nectar at an astonishing rate. I’d like to challenge ant keeping companies to design an even bigger liquid feeder than the largest currently available. I’d buy some gladly!

A greatly reduced huddle of queens since last update:


Brood spread all about:

Edited by ANTdrew, June 4 2025 - 4:23 PM.