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NickAnter's Solenopsis spp. Journal (Cool Video)

Started By NickAnter , Jun 11 2019 5:58 AM
solenopsis molesta solenopsis monomorium

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#21 Offline NickAnter - Posted June 29 2019 - 3:15 PM

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All monomorium are dead. Only two molestas left.

Edited by NickAnter, June 29 2019 - 3:15 PM.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#22 Offline CatsnAnts - Posted June 29 2019 - 4:00 PM

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Nooo

Spoiler

#23 Offline NickAnter - Posted June 30 2019 - 4:08 PM

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Found four more molesta queens last night, at 8 to 9 pm.. I am tempted to make a dirt setup for them.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#24 Offline NickAnter - Posted June 30 2019 - 6:29 PM

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I caught three more Mononorium queens.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#25 Offline NickAnter - Posted July 2 2019 - 7:53 AM

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Well, all monomorium are dead, and there are still four of the old molestas left.  However, last night I caught thirty molestas, but I saw one mate for sure, so I put her in a separate container.  I decided to release the thirty, and keep the one.    Also, the tube that used to have fifteen queens, but now has two, has no eggs. The tube with two queens, has lots of eggs.  Still likely infertile though.  Hopefully the one that is fertile lays lots of fertile eggs.


Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#26 Offline NickAnter - Posted July 3 2019 - 5:55 AM

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In another huge flight, at my black light I caught two for sure mated queens. I put them together this time, so that I now have four tubes, 3 with 2 queens, and 1 with one queen. The original grouping is doing poorly.

Edited by NickAnter, July 3 2019 - 5:56 AM.

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Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#27 Offline AntsDakota - Posted July 3 2019 - 7:44 AM

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I heard somewhere on the forum (I forgot who said it) that S. molesta on the East Coast tend to be polygynous, but on the West Coast they will 'tear each other to shreds'. The ants here seem to be more influenced by the East Coast, as I once found a colony with 70 plus queens. They became the Royal Legion until I hibernated them in the garage, and they froze to death (my Camponotus colony was the only one that made it). :*(


"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

#28 Offline NickAnter - Posted July 3 2019 - 10:14 AM

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Oooh. Yeah, I have read that too, but wanted to test it out.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#29 Offline NickAnter - Posted July 17 2019 - 11:02 AM

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All dead. I will get more though. They fly nightly.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#30 Offline NickAnter - Posted July 24 2019 - 5:52 AM

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Caught three more, as they seemed to be the calmest at the black light, and because one removed her wings.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#31 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 1 2019 - 9:39 AM

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I now have three single queens and two pairs.  Some of the single queens have eggs, but I can't tell with the pairs, as they are very huddled up against the cotton.  I really hope one is fertile, as their flights seem to have stopped.


Edited by NickAnter, August 1 2019 - 9:40 AM.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#32 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 12 2019 - 7:55 AM

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I have caught three more so far while in the Eastern Sierras, hopefully, because they are in a rural area, more males were produced, so they will hopefully be fertile. I put them together to conserve test tubes.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#33 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 19 2019 - 8:27 AM

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Hmm. Well this is interesting. The ones I caught in the Sierras are close to twice the size of the ones here in HB. Not in lenght, but in bulk, though they are about 2mm larger. Rather interesting. That means that they are about 6mm, as the ones here are 4mm on the mark. Not S. molesta size. Could they have evolved larger in the Sierras due to the altitude? Or are they a different species? Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#34 Offline Amazant - Posted August 19 2019 - 5:28 PM

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I’m guessing it’s an Solenopsis amblychila queen because they are around 6 mm and are much bulkier.
Pictures???

Edited by Amazant, August 19 2019 - 5:28 PM.

Colonies: Formica pallidefulva, Lasius neoniger, Camponotus decipiens, Camponotus sp, Camponotus Vicinus, Crematogaster Sp

#35 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 20 2019 - 6:25 AM

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They are definetly not S. amblychila. That is a non hibernating ant. All ants in the Sierras hibernate, they get over a foot of snow. I will get pictures later today. Oh, and S. amblychila are parasitic. These are basically scaled up S. molesta

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#36 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted August 20 2019 - 6:57 AM

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I found some like that too. I got 7mm queens, 4mm queens and 5mm queens.

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#37 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 20 2019 - 9:37 AM

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It must some weird genotype. Or they are a diferent species. I will take some pics in a couple days.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#38 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted August 20 2019 - 9:49 AM

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Maybe S. molesta is actually multiple species?


#39 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 20 2019 - 10:07 AM

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Gcsnelling said that they apparently do not occur in Cali. However, the species is unknown, because the types are lost. Maybe there are multiple versions of S. molesta?
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Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#40 Offline ponerinecat - Posted August 20 2019 - 2:30 PM

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Gcsnelling said that they apparently do not occur in Cali. However, the species is unknown, because the types are lost. Maybe there are multiple versions of S. molesta?

I preserved two queens. One's abdomen was greatly distended, one was not. Both were at max length.


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