189 replies to this topic

[Mettcollsuss]

Pics of the Formica?

My computer broke, which is my only device that can process the photos from my camera. I’ll add photos as soon as possible.

Edited by Mettcollsuss, October 29 2019 - 5:46 PM.

[TennesseeAnts]

You could use the FC gallery.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis
Colony 1: So. Much. Brood.
Colony 2: 2 workers, okay brood pile.
Colony 3: 1 worker, small brood pile.
 
Formica neorufibarbis
Eggs and larvae. Making a good recovery.
 
Tetramorium immigrans
There have been a lot of extra workers milling about in the outworld recently and they seem to be chewing at the cotton exit plug. I'm not sure why. They're getting plenty of food, and the nest still has more room for growth. Anyone have any ideas?
 
Aphaenogaster rudis
Okay, but not thriving. They're at 20-30 workers with just enough brood to replace dying workers. Their mini hearth is getting dirty, but I'm apprehensive to move them, since last time I tried to 2/3 of the colony died.
 
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
I thought they were slowing down for the year, but looking into their Talus, I saw workers carrying tons of young larvae around. Strangely, most of their brood is being kept in the Talus, but the queen is staying in the AA acrylic nest.

also, something that pharaoh ant colonies do in preparation for diapause is carry larva out of the nest into the sun so they can stay warm while they prep the nest for hibernation

[DDD101DDD]

 

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis
Colony 1: So. Much. Brood.
Colony 2: 2 workers, okay brood pile.
Colony 3: 1 worker, small brood pile.
 
Formica neorufibarbis
Eggs and larvae. Making a good recovery.
 
Tetramorium immigrans
There have been a lot of extra workers milling about in the outworld recently and they seem to be chewing at the cotton exit plug. I'm not sure why. They're getting plenty of food, and the nest still has more room for growth. Anyone have any ideas?
 
Aphaenogaster rudis
Okay, but not thriving. They're at 20-30 workers with just enough brood to replace dying workers. Their mini hearth is getting dirty, but I'm apprehensive to move them, since last time I tried to 2/3 of the colony died.
 
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
I thought they were slowing down for the year, but looking into their Talus, I saw workers carrying tons of young larvae around. Strangely, most of their brood is being kept in the Talus, but the queen is staying in the AA acrylic nest.

also, something that pharaoh ant colonies do in preparation for diapause is carry larva out of the nest into the sun so they can stay warm while they prep the nest for hibernation

 

I don't think Pharaoh ants hibernate.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Pogonomyrmex occidentalisColony 1: So. Much. Brood.Colony 2: 2 workers, okay brood pile.Colony 3: 1 worker, small brood pile.
 Formica neorufibarbisEggs and larvae. Making a good recovery.
 Tetramorium immigransThere have been a lot of extra workers milling about in the outworld recently and they seem to be chewing at the cotton exit plug. I'm not sure why. They're getting plenty of food, and the nest still has more room for growth. Anyone have any ideas?
 Aphaenogaster rudisOkay, but not thriving. They're at 20-30 workers with just enough brood to replace dying workers. Their mini hearth is getting dirty, but I'm apprehensive to move them, since last time I tried to 2/3 of the colony died.
 Camponotus pennsylvanicus
I thought they were slowing down for the year, but looking into their Talus, I saw workers carrying tons of young larvae around. Strangely, most of their brood is being kept in the Talus, but the queen is staying in the AA acrylic nest.

also, something that pharaoh ant colonies do in preparation for diapause is carry larva out of the nest into the sun so they can stay warm while they prep the nest for hibernation

I don't think Pharaoh ants hibernate.

If they live in a temperate region they have to
Also where is the Lasius Americanus in this journal?

[TennesseeAnts]

Pogonomyrmex occidentalisColony 1: So. Much. Brood.Colony 2: 2 workers, okay brood pile.Colony 3: 1 worker, small brood pile.
 Formica neorufibarbisEggs and larvae. Making a good recovery.
 Tetramorium immigransThere have been a lot of extra workers milling about in the outworld recently and they seem to be chewing at the cotton exit plug. I'm not sure why. They're getting plenty of food, and the nest still has more room for growth. Anyone have any ideas?
 Aphaenogaster rudisOkay, but not thriving. They're at 20-30 workers with just enough brood to replace dying workers. Their mini hearth is getting dirty, but I'm apprehensive to move them, since last time I tried to 2/3 of the colony died.
 Camponotus pennsylvanicus
I thought they were slowing down for the year, but looking into their Talus, I saw workers carrying tons of young larvae around. Strangely, most of their brood is being kept in the Talus, but the queen is staying in the AA acrylic nest.

also, something that pharaoh ant colonies do in preparation for diapause is carry larva out of the nest into the sun so they can stay warm while they prep the nest for hibernation

I don't think Pharaoh ants hibernate.

If they live in a temperate region they have toAlso where is the Lasius Americanus in this journal?

Actually, not all ants in temperate regions hibernate. Take Tapinoma sessile for example. They move into buildings during the winter.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Beetles also live in the US because of the warmth. If we stopped heating our homes, all beetles would die, and the only remaining species would be the African species, where beetles originated from. Also, wouldn't Camponotous who live in houses not hibernate then as well?  

[DDD101DDD]

Beetles also live in the US because of the warmth. If we stopped heating our homes, all beetles would die, and the only remaining species would be the African species, where beetles originated from. Also, wouldn't Camponotous who live in houses not hibernate then as well?  

Camponoutus don't naturally live in houses. Some beetles actually hibernate, enter a state of torpor, or gather in big groups to stay warm, like lady bugs.

[AntsDakota]

 

 

also, something that pharaoh ant colonies do in preparation for diapause is carry larva out of the nest into the sun so they can stay warm while they prep the nest for hibernation

I don't think Pharaoh ants hibernate.

If they live in a temperate region they have to

 

No, I believe they inhabit warm buildings.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

About Camponotous, I was just asking because it seemed it was kind of different. Also I'm not into pharaoh/ invader ants, so its like talking to a brick wall if you ask me anything about pharaoh ants  

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Thanks for the answers though. I'm happy it didn't take a while to get an answer for something, unlike some other anting forums I've been on...  

[AntsDakota]

 

Beetles also live in the US because of the warmth. If we stopped heating our homes, all beetles would die, and the only remaining species would be the African species, where beetles originated from. Also, wouldn't Camponotous who live in houses not hibernate then as well?  

Camponoutus don't naturally live in houses.

 

I do agree with you, yet I could argue otherwise. They naturally nest in wood, and houses fall into that category. However, context is the key here, and I believe you meant they don't naturally live in houses specifically.

This has absolutely nothing to do with Mettcollsuss's ants.

[Mettcollsuss]

 

 

 

Pogonomyrmex occidentalisColony 1: So. Much. Brood.Colony 2: 2 workers, okay brood pile.Colony 3: 1 worker, small brood pile.
 Formica neorufibarbisEggs and larvae. Making a good recovery.
 Tetramorium immigransThere have been a lot of extra workers milling about in the outworld recently and they seem to be chewing at the cotton exit plug. I'm not sure why. They're getting plenty of food, and the nest still has more room for growth. Anyone have any ideas?
 Aphaenogaster rudisOkay, but not thriving. They're at 20-30 workers with just enough brood to replace dying workers. Their mini hearth is getting dirty, but I'm apprehensive to move them, since last time I tried to 2/3 of the colony died.
 Camponotus pennsylvanicus
I thought they were slowing down for the year, but looking into their Talus, I saw workers carrying tons of young larvae around. Strangely, most of their brood is being kept in the Talus, but the queen is staying in the AA acrylic nest.

also, something that pharaoh ant colonies do in preparation for diapause is carry larva out of the nest into the sun so they can stay warm while they prep the nest for hibernation

I don't think Pharaoh ants hibernate.

If they live in a temperate region they have to
Also where is the Lasius Americanus in this journal?

 

They died. I don't have great luck with Lasius.

[Mettcollsuss]

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Colony 1: 20 workers, roughly. Lots of brood. I added an extra tube to their setup to make sure they don't run out of water. They've already started to line the cotton with substrate. They've grown so much and yet required no care. I gave an outworld with some substrate and a tray with an assortment of seeds and they've grown a lot. I haven't given them any additional care other than the extra test tube. These gals are incredible.

Colony 2: Doing well. I gave them an extra tube as well, just to be safe

Colony 3: Died 

 

Formica subsericea

Nothing new. Winding down for hibernation.

 

Formica neorufibarbis

Doing great. Got some large larvae and even some pupae, I think. I finally got some new fruit flies, so feeding them should be easier, since they don't seem to like mealworms.

 

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Doing well. Preparing for winter.

 

Aphaenogaster picea

Gave them a new test tube. They are not good at keeping their tubes clean.

 

Prenolepis imparis

Sold em.

 

Temnothorax sp.

Still nothing. Are Temnothorax fully or semi-claustral? I'm assuming fully, because I haven't seen her trying to forage at all, but I'm not completely sure.

[Mettcollsuss]

I also just made this nest prototype. There's a small error in the hydration system, but one I've gotten that figured out, I was thinking this might be a nice nest for one of my P. occidentalis.

 

[NickAnter]

 

Temnothorax sp.

Still nothing. Are Temnothorax fully or semi-claustral? I'm assuming fully, because I haven't seen her trying to forage at all, but I'm not completely sure.

Yes, they are fully claustral with the exception of parasitic species.

[AntsDakota]

I also just made this nest prototype. There's a small error in the hydration system, but one I've gotten that figured out, I was thinking this might be a nice nest for one of my P. occidentalis.

 

What's it made out of? Did you 3D print it?

[Mettcollsuss]

 

I also just made this nest prototype. There's a small error in the hydration system, but one I've gotten that figured out, I was thinking this might be a nice nest for one of my P. occidentalis.

What's it made out of? Did you 3D print it?

 

I designed it in Tinkercad and then 3D printed it with nGen filament.

[Mettcollsuss]

Tetramorium immigrans

Most of my ants are in hibernation, so there hasn't been much to report on. But, as usual my Tetramorium aren't hibernating since they just refuse to whenever I try. I've started giving them some dubia roaches. They've only had two adult males so far since I don't have a ton to feed off, but hopefully I'll be able to get a more stable dubia population soon. They love them and have completely hollowed out both of them within 24 hours. Looking forward to a boom in eggs soon.

 

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Colony 1: Have filled their tube with dirt so I can't see what's going on, but seem to be doing fine. Always come swarming out of the tube whenever I open the outworld, even the queen.

Colony 2: Still at two workers. No new brood. I don't see them collecting seeds and they won't take any insects I give them so I'm not sure what to do to get them to produce some new brood. I'm trying to get their numbers up so I can sell them.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Looks like this forum is starting to come out of diapause...