42 replies to this topic

[Acutus]

They're about 6-8mm long but the Queen is slightly larger, but very very slight.

You'll find them in pine forests, oak forests, stream ways, decomposing leaf litter, wood piles, sometimes inside logs. They like the detritus/sand/soil mix
I found some more workers yesterday

 

I'm going to give this a try and see what I come up with. Right now I'd just like to find a worker. I'll worry about keeping them later but what a cool species to see!

[VenomousBeast]

I certainly agree!! They are great!! Too bad I can't sell outside of state, I would sell you some!

[Acutus]

I'll think about it. Since I run a Nature Center I can probably get a permit for educational use.

[VenomousBeast]

Haha, cool! Let me know if you do!

[TennesseeAnts]

5-11-19

I found a worker under a rock! They are getting along great! I have a tiny colony now!!!

[TennesseeAnts]

Owwww. I caught a geo centipede to feed these girls, and before I took it's head off, it turned around and bit me. They have some potent venom! Now the queen of the colony is attacking the lifeless body.

[Acutus]

Describe the area you located the ants. I mean the habitat they were in. Thanks.

[TennesseeAnts]

Woods, 66 degrees, rock with leaf litter on top and underneath. Oh! It is a deciduous forest.

[TennesseeAnts]

5-11-19

I caught the queen caring for the Aphaenogaster larvae! The worker is helping her bring another smaller centipede to the larvae. I will try to get another worker and/or queen today.

[TennesseeAnts]

5-11-19

Found another worker! Under the same rock as the other one too. Probably a colony under there. That is now my lucky rock. I got another centipede for them because they already processed the other small one. These are pretty easy to find when you know where to look.

[TennesseeAnts]

5-11-19

Found another, but she looks injured.

[VenomousBeast]

Yay!! Now you get a glimpse of what I do everyday! I found another queen and 6workers and a pile of eggs with 2 larvae!

[Acutus]

Guess I'm gonna have to give this a shot!

[TennesseeAnts]

I hear these queens only lay eggs twice a year. When are those batches?

[TennesseeAnts]

5-12-19

So I added some coco pete, and they seem to like it. I also pushed the cotton back a bit to increase humidity. Hopefully the queen lays some eggs soon!

[Ferox_Formicae]

I've definitely gotta look for some of these ants. They're definitely one of my target species! Most of the forest around me, however, are pine forests, with a few deciduous trees mixed in, so I gotta look for some deciduous forests to look in.

[TennesseeAnts]

They are actually pretty common. They are hard to find because they are slow moving and the same color as the soil they nest in. Trachymyrmex are supposedly common, but slow moving and our eyesight is hugely dependent on movement.

[Acutus]

Yeah I'm starting to think I've probably seen these things a million times and just never really noticed! 

[Ferox_Formicae]

They are actually pretty common. They are hard to find because they are slow moving and the same color as the soil they nest in. Trachymyrmex are supposedly common, but slow moving and our eyesight is hugely dependent on movement.

I mean, I've trained my eyes to see tiny Strumigenys moving around in soil samples, so Stigmatomma pallipes shouldn't be too hard to see, especially considering that they're a pretty decent size. And also, Trachymyrmex are really only common in specific areas, mostly in areas with lots of sandy soil. The best place to find them is in pine barrens. That's where I've found them.

[ponerinecat]

I is confused. I have trained my eyes to locate hypoponera standing still among black dirt with leaves and other insects in the way. I have looked in all the recommended areas. Yet my soul has been slowly crushed by the despair of failure until I have stopped trying for stigmatomma and strumigenys and settled for hypoponera. Teach me your mystical ways.