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W1Z25's Ant Journal *Hibernation over* updated 12/11/16


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#1 Offline MichiganAnts - Posted October 13 2016 - 8:09 PM

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Stardate 1013.2016
 
Welcome to the new journal of all my lovely ladies. For starters I'm going to list off the queens and how many eggs/workers they have and the nickname ill be referring them by. 
 
pics of the colonies!! named and numbers from left to right
 
 
Queen #1
 
Species: camponotus pennsylvanicus
 
Location: Bought by from a GAN farmer on 9/27/2016
 
Nickname: Trouble Makers
 
Workers: 5
 
Nanitics: 1
 
Eggs: 3
 
Queen #2
 
Species: lasius umbratus
 
Location: Found in a log next to my swamp behind my house on 9/28/2016
 
Nickname: Frankenstien
 
Workers: 12 
 
Nanitics: 0
 
Eggs: ~50
 
Queen #3
 
Species: camponotus noveboracensis
 
Found in a log next to my swamp behind my house on 10/11/2016
 
Nickname: Nova
 
Workers: 2
 
Nanitics: 14
 
Eggs: ~100
 
My last 3 queens in the pics are for sale. and i don't plan on keeping them. Due to that I'm not going to talk much about them
 
Now that introductions are out of the way Here's what's happened since i ended my last journal. If you want to read that then go here: http://forum.antscan...php?f=26&t=1917or http://www.formicult...l-first-colony/
 
Pics of what's happened: http://imgur.com/a/zAzOb
 
Since my last entry I have moved all 3 colonies into real nests. I even built a homemade outworld! My nest seller/friend even sent me a couple spare smaller nests so that way when the colonies grow i have more room for them. 
 
The First thing to do once i got my new nests was to move the queens in so i could prepare to hibernate them. I think moves went alright. Moving White Queen was first up. i did alright i think for my first time. i learned that you have to put them in the freezer, not the fridge for 3 minutes. all the fridge did was slow them for about 10 seconds. I also learned that to pick up loose eggs use a WET ear cleaner, not a dry one! That move i found out that the White Queen had more eggs that i thought. she had 5 total. however, i smashed 2 with the dry ear cleaner. i still put them in with her in case i was wrong. but i won't know until spring. 
 
Next up was the Lazy queen. Her move was perfect. all of the ants and eggs went into the new nest without a hitch. After those 2 settled in i had to do the Novas, whom had more than double the workers and 4x the eggs of the 2 Camp pennsylvanicus queens COMBINED!
 
So as i did with the camp pennsylvanicus queens, i put the Novas into the freezer for 3 minutes. Howver when i opened the freezer and looked in i still saw some workers and even the queen still moving alittle. i thought i could still move them. i was wrong. i got the queen and 3 workers and the eggs into the nest, before they woke up and tried to escape! i quickly covered the syringe. the rest of the colony was in with my thumb and closed up the nest that had the queen, eggs, and workers. CRAP CRAP CRAP!! i thought. then i had an idea. i grab some tubing and check, the tube would fit into syringe.... and it does!! i then grab some cotton and quickly block the opening of the syringe where my thumb was. and throw them back into the freezer for 3 more minutes. this time when i took them out they were sleeping. i gently connected the tube to the syringe and knocked them into the tube. and then connected the tube into the nest.
 
And then the novas started to derp and decided "hey there is a tube connected to the nest with sleeping workers.. lets move all the eggs into there!!" i saw that and started laughing. they almost barricaded the tube with all the eggs, but they sorted it out within a couple minutes. 
 
Then i saw something else i've never seen before. The Nova queen was still in the nest gathering her bearings and most workers were busily moving the eggs into the tube. when all of a sudden a worker came up to the queen and then laid a trail to the tube. and the queen followed it!! it was amazing to see!
 
That was all done last night, today i woke up and noticed that, even though my room is 76F, the colonies all acted as if it was cold. lower activity, sluggish moments. It was 46F outside, but somehow they knew and it showed. that's when i decided to not wait any longer and that today was hibernation day! After i went and had lunch i decided to check up on my girls, it was going to be the last warm day for them for 3 months. i checked back and the nova workers seemed to be planning something. I noticed 3-5 workers at any time tugging and pulling on the cotton i had used to cover up the holes in the nest that where not in use. After talking to my ant expert we concluded they either just want to explore.. or are hungry. So i first tried some sugar water. i put a drop on foil and then cut a small piece of tubing and plugged it into each nest. Both the White Queen and Novas drank it dry.(Lazys are still being very sluggish)
 
But after it was dry the workers in Nova went back to the cotton.  so i decided now is the time to test out my homemade outworld! after putting 2 separate layers of EVOO(Extra Virgin Olive Oil) on the walls, i hooked the colony up to it and gave them a drop of pure honey on foil and let them check it out. at first they didn't care, they started to mess with the 1 hole that had cotton on it. it was like i was being teased.. by ants!!! However after a few minutes a worker decided to investigate the tube, and found the honey. she ran back to tell the others. and they feasted on honey for about 30 minutes.
 
I tried 2 times to disconnect the outworld today, and both times lead to the same result, the Novas would go back to messing with the cotton. GRRRR!
 
I made the choice to hibernate them with the outworld(with a lid on it with an air hole) and began the move. I had 2 choices where i could put them. either under the stairs outside my room ( i live in a basement with bare  concrete floors outside my room) or in my closet (no carpet in it). i chose the closet as i could keep an eye on them and the closet is never used. I'm going to be buying a thermometer so i can keep an eye on the temperature. 
 
The move to my hibernation room...aka my closet. was easy. But now the boring part, leaving them alone to hibernate. Ill be checking up on the daily still, just a peak :) and of course to give them water once in a while. Ill be sure to update this if anything changes. Over the winter i have some work to do on a couple nests i got form my any expert. And I have my ant setup from Antscanada to look forward to in December. That will more than likely be the next update on here.
 
Good luck hibernating everyone! and  for those who don't have to hibernate.. GRRR!!! lol

Edited by W1Z25, December 10 2016 - 10:24 PM.

Owner of MichiganAnts, a YouTube Channel dedicated to all my Michigan colonies found and raise in my backyard

https://www.youtube.com/MichiganAnts

https://twitter.com/MichiganAnts

https://www.facebook.com/MichiganAnts/

 

Keeper of:

 

Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

 

Camponotus Noveboracensis

 

Tetramorium


#2 Offline fortysixandtwo - Posted October 14 2016 - 4:59 PM

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I know the hibernation makes you stir crazy. You are very thorough though which is great. 



#3 Offline MichiganAnts - Posted November 7 2016 - 9:20 PM

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http://imgur.com/a/2JBNi

 

OP updated with new pics and stats

 

man its been a while since  i posted. some things have changed. I've moved all queens into test tubes and are laying on cold concrete. all colonies are doing well except the Trouble Makers. they are refusing to hibernate. We have had a couple warm days and i've been out hunting for more ants. (i can't help myself lol) I've noticed that my forest seems to be filled with parasite queens, in the last 2 weeks i've found over 40 parasite queens. but no others. I decided that since I'm finding so many of these queens, i would try to raise a colony. long story short, it worked!! i combined ~20 lasius umbratus workers, 1 lasius umbratus queen, and ~50-100 lasius umbratus brood. at first i wasnt sure it was going to work. the queen killed 1 worker per day for the first 2 days. but then they finally started working together and the colony seems well. i even think that she has laid eggs along with the pupae. 

 

Now when out hunting today, i found something risky, yet fun. i found that an unknown ant species living in an oak log. i think I'm going to try and capture them tomorrow. if i do ill be sure to update.


Owner of MichiganAnts, a YouTube Channel dedicated to all my Michigan colonies found and raise in my backyard

https://www.youtube.com/MichiganAnts

https://twitter.com/MichiganAnts

https://www.facebook.com/MichiganAnts/

 

Keeper of:

 

Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

 

Camponotus Noveboracensis

 

Tetramorium


#4 Offline Solenoqueen - Posted November 7 2016 - 10:15 PM

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Hope it's not Linepithema xD


:>


#5 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted November 8 2016 - 5:37 AM

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http://imgur.com/a/2JBNi

OP updated with new pics and stats

man its been a while since i posted. some things have changed. I've moved all queens into test tubes and are laying on cold concrete. all colonies are doing well except the Trouble Makers. they are refusing to hibernate. We have had a couple warm days and i've been out hunting for more ants. (i can't help myself lol) I've noticed that my forest seems to be filled with parasite queens, in the last 2 weeks i've found over 40 parasite queens. but no others. I decided that since I'm finding so many of these queens, i would try to raise a colony. long story short, it worked!! i combined ~20 lasius umbratus workers, 1 lasius umbratus queen, and ~50-100 lasius umbratus brood. at first i wasnt sure it was going to work. the queen killed 1 worker per day for the first 2 days. but then they finally started working together and the colony seems well. i even think that she has laid eggs along with the pupae.

Now when out hunting today, i found something risky, yet fun. i found that an unknown ant species living in an oak log. i think I'm going to try and capture them tomorrow. if i do ill be sure to update.

What r the ants for sale?

YJK


#6 Offline MichiganAnts - Posted November 8 2016 - 5:41 AM

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http://imgur.com/a/2JBNi

OP updated with new pics and stats

man its been a while since i posted. some things have changed. I've moved all queens into test tubes and are laying on cold concrete. all colonies are doing well except the Trouble Makers. they are refusing to hibernate. We have had a couple warm days and i've been out hunting for more ants. (i can't help myself lol) I've noticed that my forest seems to be filled with parasite queens, in the last 2 weeks i've found over 40 parasite queens. but no others. I decided that since I'm finding so many of these queens, i would try to raise a colony. long story short, it worked!! i combined ~20 lasius umbratus workers, 1 lasius umbratus queen, and ~50-100 lasius umbratus brood. at first i wasnt sure it was going to work. the queen killed 1 worker per day for the first 2 days. but then they finally started working together and the colony seems well. i even think that she has laid eggs along with the pupae.

Now when out hunting today, i found something risky, yet fun. i found that an unknown ant species living in an oak log. i think I'm going to try and capture them tomorrow. if i do ill be sure to update.

What r the ants for sale?

 

2 Camponotus pennsylvanicus and 1 Camponotus nova. they are the 3 tubes on the right in the main pic


Owner of MichiganAnts, a YouTube Channel dedicated to all my Michigan colonies found and raise in my backyard

https://www.youtube.com/MichiganAnts

https://twitter.com/MichiganAnts

https://www.facebook.com/MichiganAnts/

 

Keeper of:

 

Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

 

Camponotus Noveboracensis

 

Tetramorium


#7 Offline MichiganAnts - Posted November 19 2016 - 6:33 PM

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Small update: I found 2 Tapinoma sessile colonies! 1 i know has a queen and the other I'm not sure, but they both are hibernating along with all my other ants. I know that these ants are a pain in the butt to raise and such but I'm willing to try. the Tapinoma sessile colony that i know has a queen is for sale through the GAN project, so if you live in Michigan take a look!

 

 

Also my parasite colony is actually Tapinoma sessile with a lasius queen, but i've since gotten rid of that queen. I must say that compared to Camponotus pennsylvanicus and nova queens, the T. Sessile queens are TINY!! its so hard to tell the queen/.workers apart!


Owner of MichiganAnts, a YouTube Channel dedicated to all my Michigan colonies found and raise in my backyard

https://www.youtube.com/MichiganAnts

https://twitter.com/MichiganAnts

https://www.facebook.com/MichiganAnts/

 

Keeper of:

 

Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

 

Camponotus Noveboracensis

 

Tetramorium


#8 Offline Ant-Will - Posted November 21 2016 - 6:13 AM

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I am interested in buying your queens. Please contact my Email wchu@flinthill.org  thanks

 



#9 Offline MichiganAnts - Posted November 21 2016 - 8:40 AM

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I am interested in buying your queens. Please contact my Email wchu@flinthill.org  thanks

you have to live in Michigan and contact me through the GAN project, thanks


Owner of MichiganAnts, a YouTube Channel dedicated to all my Michigan colonies found and raise in my backyard

https://www.youtube.com/MichiganAnts

https://twitter.com/MichiganAnts

https://www.facebook.com/MichiganAnts/

 

Keeper of:

 

Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

 

Camponotus Noveboracensis

 

Tetramorium


#10 Offline MichiganAnts - Posted December 10 2016 - 10:23 PM

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WAKE UP TIME!! 

 

After 2 months I decided to wake up 2 of my colonies for an experiment. 

 

Colony 1: Camponotus pennsylvanicus 

 

3 nanitics and ~20 eggs

 

Colony 2:

 

Camponotus Nova

 

14 nanitics, 2 workers, and ~100 eggs

 

well the first colony is Camponotus pennsylvanicus with 3 nanitics, they seem well however the queen was in a very deep sleep. she moved some and responds to light. but she's still waking up i expect her to take a few days. the 2nd colony is the large Camponotus novas. they woke up after a couple minutes and even the queen is moving. yet i don't expect them to be full awake for another 1-2 days. once i see them actively checking out the outworld ill place food in it. atm both outworlds only have sugar water

 

http://imgur.com/a/U4v85

 

The Camponotus pennsylvanicus was worken up ~6 hours ago and the Novas woke up less than an hour ago. I swear that Novas are alot more cold resistant than Penns. 


Owner of MichiganAnts, a YouTube Channel dedicated to all my Michigan colonies found and raise in my backyard

https://www.youtube.com/MichiganAnts

https://twitter.com/MichiganAnts

https://www.facebook.com/MichiganAnts/

 

Keeper of:

 

Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

 

Camponotus Noveboracensis

 

Tetramorium


#11 Offline Leo - Posted December 10 2016 - 10:29 PM

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its kinda funny reading about how you panic about hibernation. but I'm in hk so no worries  :D



#12 Offline FSTP - Posted December 10 2016 - 11:00 PM

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just put the pics IN the thread.... Please 



#13 Offline MichiganAnts - Posted December 10 2016 - 11:01 PM

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you can't click the imgur link? here just for you ;)

 

ROt9yX6.jpg

 

 

9wkwHWp.jpg

 

NtVodIA.jpg

 

envXZjM.jpg

 

KKZYqTI.jpg


Edited by W1Z25, December 10 2016 - 11:05 PM.

Owner of MichiganAnts, a YouTube Channel dedicated to all my Michigan colonies found and raise in my backyard

https://www.youtube.com/MichiganAnts

https://twitter.com/MichiganAnts

https://www.facebook.com/MichiganAnts/

 

Keeper of:

 

Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

 

Camponotus Noveboracensis

 

Tetramorium


#14 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted December 11 2016 - 7:47 AM

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you can't click the imgur link? here just for you ;)

ROt9yX6.jpg


9wkwHWp.jpg

NtVodIA.jpg

envXZjM.jpg

KKZYqTI.jpg

Very cool. It is just that having the image pasted on here is more efficient

YJK


#15 Offline noebl1 - Posted December 11 2016 - 8:50 AM

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@W1Z25 How did you end up gluing/affixing the tube entrances to the outworld box?  Trying to find a non-toxic way of keeping them attached, and silicone I found was a bit too soft of the job.  I lately have been printing PLA, but thought about using some ABS again to print them as with acetone, you can basically weld two side together, and it's not going to come apart.



#16 Offline MichiganAnts - Posted December 11 2016 - 8:54 AM

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there is a hole in the side and then  a connected goes in the hole. the tube goes in the connector


Owner of MichiganAnts, a YouTube Channel dedicated to all my Michigan colonies found and raise in my backyard

https://www.youtube.com/MichiganAnts

https://twitter.com/MichiganAnts

https://www.facebook.com/MichiganAnts/

 

Keeper of:

 

Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

 

Camponotus Noveboracensis

 

Tetramorium


#17 Offline noebl1 - Posted December 11 2016 - 9:22 AM

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there is a hole in the side and then  a connected goes in the hole. the tube goes in the connector

OOOOH, any pics? Thanks!



#18 Offline MichiganAnts - Posted December 11 2016 - 9:23 AM

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http://anttopia.com/...1&product_id=52

 

he makes them in Michigan and lives near me


Owner of MichiganAnts, a YouTube Channel dedicated to all my Michigan colonies found and raise in my backyard

https://www.youtube.com/MichiganAnts

https://twitter.com/MichiganAnts

https://www.facebook.com/MichiganAnts/

 

Keeper of:

 

Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

 

Camponotus Noveboracensis

 

Tetramorium


#19 Offline noebl1 - Posted December 11 2016 - 9:36 AM

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Hadn't seen his stuff before; thank you!  I like his designs.



#20 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted December 11 2016 - 1:17 PM

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It sounds more like you didn't want to wait for your ants to have a full hibernation.


  • Loops117 likes this

If you've enjoyed using my expertise and identifications, please do not create undue ecological risk by releasing your ants. The environment which we keep our pet insects is alien and oftentimes unsanitary, so ensure that wild populations stay safe by giving your ants the best care you can manage for the rest of their lives, as we must do with any other pet.

 

Exotic ants are for those who think that vibrant diversity is something you need to pay money to see. It is illegal to transport live ants across state lines.

 

----

Black lives still matter.





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