The fusca-group Formica duo ended up murdering one of their queens very shortly after that last post.
They did, however, end up with about 12 workers before going into hibernation.
The aerata ended up with 6 workers before hibernation. 1 died in hibernation, and one shortly after being taken out.
Both now have some pupae, although naturally the cf. argentea have 6 times as much brood as the cf. aerata. The cf. aerata are in a mini hearth, which I am now regretting, since the cf. argentea are going to outgrow their tube soon. I may have to do a switcheroo to right that issue there.
Here are five pictures: (the argentea have 12 pupae, set to double their population quickly, but they took a bunch of pupae as soon as I shined a light on them)





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TacticalHandleGaming likes this
Species being kept:
Solenopsis "plebeius", Camponotus maritimus, Formica cf. subaenescens, Formica cf. aerata, Lasius cf. americanus, Lasius aphidicola, Lasius brevicornis, Lasius nr claviger, Nylanderia vividula, Temnothorax nevadensis, Temnothorax chandleri, Temnothorax arboreus Solenopsis validiuscula, Solenopsis truncorum, Solenopsis xyloni, Formica perpilosa, Formica cf. lasiodes, Formica cf. neogagates Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex salinus, and Myrmecocystus testaceus!!!!
Hoping to find this year:
Myrmecocystus, Liometopum occidentale, Camponotus essigi, Camponotus fragilis, Manica bradleyi, Formica perpilosa, Pheidole hyatti, and a Parasitic Formica sp.
People are stupid. It explains a lot...