1106 replies to this topic

[greendragon]

looking for Pogonomyrmex occidentalis  for sale any ideas? SFV

[TennesseeAnts]

looking for Pogonomyrmex occidentalis  for sale any ideas? SFV

I'll be selling some queens in the next month or so.

[PurdueEntomology]

A book to order:  https://www.hup.harv...n=9780674241558

[TennesseeAnts]

A book to order:  https://www.hup.harv...n=9780674241558

Thank you!

[TennesseeAnts]

Update; 5/2/20

Prenolepis imparis; Colony #1
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They have been filling their repletes with anything I give them recently. Probably in preparation for the summer estivation. The queen have laid their first batch of eggs in captivity, consisting of 6 eggs. Very few worker deaths have occurred, and they have 2-3 dozen workers, most of which being repletes.

[madbiologist]

Yes, Prenolepis queens lay before estivation is what I've heard.

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[TennesseeAnts]

Update; 5/2/20

Camponotus pennsylvanicus; Colony #1
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Verdandi is one of the fastest producing Camponotus pennsylvanicus queens I've had! I got some pics today for you guys. She has one C. chromaiodes pupa I gave her as an experiment, as well as 4 of her own pupae, several small larvae and a new batch of eggs.

 

 

[TennesseeAnts]

Its only been 4 weeks since collection for Verdandi. Good growth!

[AntsDakota]

Its only been 4 weeks since collection for Verdandi. Good growth!

The pupae should take at least another two weeks, though.

[TennesseeAnts]

 

Its only been 4 weeks since collection for Verdandi. Good growth!

The pupae should take at least another two weeks, though.

 

Not for Verdandi. The reason she has had such rapid growth so far is due to the constant 84 F that I keep all of my small colonies at. The pupal stage should last 3-4 days.

[AntsExodus]

I have 2 fertile prenolepis queens who where caught late and have eggs. Any tips on what to do for their estivation cause I don't think they will have workers before estivation. What do I do for their estivation anyway?

[madbiologist]

I have 2 fertile prenolepis queens who where caught late and have eggs. Any tips on what to do for their estivation cause I don't think they will have workers before estivation. What do I do for their estivation anyway?

Prenolepis imparis generally lay eggs right before estivation, and then they develop during estivation and come out to forage when it ends. Considering estivation is so long in Florida, your queens likely have enough energy to survive it while their workers develop. (Bear in mind I'm assuming you are Floridian because I've seen all your cool ants).

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Edited by madbiologist, May 3 2020 - 4:53 PM.

[TennesseeAnts]

 

I have 2 fertile prenolepis queens who where caught late and have eggs. Any tips on what to do for their estivation cause I don't think they will have workers before estivation. What do I do for their estivation anyway?

Prenolepis imparis generally lay eggs right before estivation, and then they develop during estivation and come out to forage when it ends. Considering estivation is so long in Florida, your queens likely have enough energy to survive it while their workers develop. (Bear in mind I'm assuming you are Floridian because I've seen all your cool ants).

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He's from Georgia. 

 

I'd recommend giving your queens a boost (a small drop of sugar water) and just leave them alone until her workers arrive. Then I think the queen will continue to feed the workers until they come out again in the fall. I'm not entirely sure, though, as I collected my colony from under a rock. They are in their 3rd year given how many workers they have.

[TennesseeAnts]

[ANTdrew]

Good name, Dude! Long live Verdandi!

[TennesseeAnts]

Update; 5/9/20

Prenolepis imparis; Colony #1
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The egg pile has grown to about 20 or so eggs, and each queen has laid some now. I gave them some fruit flies and some sugar water today, and they're loving it. I am going to have to move them to a new tube, though.

[TennesseeAnts]

Update: 5/23/20

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis (Colony #1)
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Up to 55 workers now, plus some new eggs and larvae. The colony has been very active lately, and I've been stung twice by them now. That happened while feeding them a cricket... I didn't see the worker crawling up my forceps...

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, May 23 2020 - 9:44 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Oh, and Verdandi got her first worker on 5/12/20, and is up to 7 now, with 15 or so more on the way.

[TennesseeAnts]

Here's a new video:

 

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, May 24 2020 - 4:11 PM.

[AntsDakota]

Update: 5/23/20Pogonomyrmex occidentalis (Colony #1)
-------------------------------------
Up to 55 workers now, plus some new eggs and larvae. The colony has been very active lately, and I've been stung twice by them now. That happened while feeding them a cricket... I didn't see the worker crawling up my forceps...

I have never been stung. I even have had them crawling on my hands, and I picked up a few escapees with my bare hands (very quickly and lightly, in a position that would make stinging difficult, btw). My colony has 40 or so, and should have 50-60 within a couple weeks.

Edited by AntsDakota, May 24 2020 - 5:55 PM.