8 replies to this topic

[Acutus]

Got another one guys!

These guys are currently feasting on a termite swarm coming from a stump.

Maryland, Howard County

Colony appears to be under same stump.

 

Sorry did the best I could with my phone! I'm hoping I'm right cause I think I know what they are!!

 

 

 

 

Edited by Acutus, May 2 2019 - 7:45 AM.

[FeedTheAnts]

Aphaenogaster tennesseensis, one of my personal favorites

[Acutus]

           

 

that's what I was hoping!!!! WoooHoooooo!!!!! now I just gotta find a queen one day!! Oh yeah and another Aphaenogaster species to raid lol!!

 

 

Thanks FTA!!!

Edited by Acutus, May 2 2019 - 7:54 AM.

[ponerinecat]

Congrats on finding what you were looking for! I don't have that kind of luck.

By the way, what are they nesting in?

[Acutus]

Congrats on finding what you were looking for! I don't have that kind of luck.

By the way, what are they nesting in?

 

Luck is right. If I hadn't noticed the termite swarm and then a couple ants grabbing the termites I'd have never had seen them!

The base of a stump. It's actually an old tree that was chainsaw carved into a work of art. the hole appears to go down through and into the ground. I found the species I was looking for but they need to hurry up an produce some queens for me to catch LOL!

[Jamiesname]

Congrats on finding what you were looking for! I don't have that kind of luck.
By the way, what are they nesting in?

 
Luck is right. If I hadn't noticed the termite swarm and then a couple ants grabbing the termites I'd have never had seen them!
The base of a stump. It's actually an old tree that was chainsaw carved into a work of art. the hole appears to go down through and into the ground. I found the species I was looking for but they need to hurry up an produce some queens for me to catch LOL!

A. Tenneseensis are parasitic to other Aphaenogaster species. You'll need to catch some workers from another colony, even some of the workers pictured would do. You might even be able to find some larvae/pupae to put in with your queen when you end up catching her.

I would suggest catching the workers now though, so that their queen's pheromones has time to dissipate before you introduce a new queen.

[Acutus]

 

 

Congrats on finding what you were looking for! I don't have that kind of luck.
By the way, what are they nesting in?

 
Luck is right. If I hadn't noticed the termite swarm and then a couple ants grabbing the termites I'd have never had seen them!
The base of a stump. It's actually an old tree that was chainsaw carved into a work of art. the hole appears to go down through and into the ground. I found the species I was looking for but they need to hurry up an produce some queens for me to catch LOL!

A. Tenneseensis are parasitic to other Aphaenogaster species. You'll need to catch some workers from another colony, even some of the workers pictured would do. You might even be able to find some larvae/pupae to put in with your queen when you end up catching her.

I would suggest catching the workers now though, so that their queen's pheromones has time to dissipate before you introduce a new queen.

 

 

Thanks for the tips!! I'll definitely do this!

[Jamiesname]

Anytime. This is one of my favorite species as well. I used to have 2 colonies, but I sold one and the other one dried out during hibernation. I was pretty bummed. I hope to catch another queen this summer though.

[Acutus]

Anytime. This is one of my favorite species as well. I used to have 2 colonies, but I sold one and the other one dried out during hibernation. I was pretty bummed. I hope to catch another queen this summer though.

Yeah I'm hoping to be able to find a queen. This is the first time I've ever seen this species in fact I didn't know it existed until a couple weeks ago!! LOL