11 replies to this topic

[AntJohnny]

I have been wanting to find a species of ant similar to harvester ants but I live in Michigan.

I have tried searching online and there is always so many results that aren't what I'm looking for or for different areas. And any time I search pretty much the main results are for harvester ants Wich aren't in Michigan. The past few days I have been looking it up when I have time and am able to but I always have stuff I need to do for the kids and work. If I can find any seed collecting species and species with repletes I would have most of the diversity of species in Michigan.

If anyone knows of a species around Michigan I would really appreciate it if you could let me know. Since hibernation had started already I am trying to get everything planned for spring to start the anting season right away.

[Martialis]

Aphaenogaster, Pheidole and Tetramorium will all take small, oily seeds. Pheidole are the least selective of the three.  Sandy pecan cookies are a popular ant bait because they're so attractive to ants as food, and these three genera are pretty receptive to them.

[Ferox_Formicae]

I know Pheidole bicarinata are pretty avid seed collectors, as is Tetramorium immigrans. Aphaenogaster spp. don't collect as many seeds as the previous two species though.

[Martialis]

I know Pheidole bicarinata are pretty avid seed collectors, as is Tetramorium immigrans. Aphaenogaster spp. don't collect as many seeds as the previous two species though.

 

Yeah, Aphaenogaster are often important seed dispersers and spread myrmecochorous plant seeds (like bloodroot) throughout forests. They don't necessarily eat the seeds themselves, but rather the elaiosomes attatched to them. Aphaenogaster is fairly closely related to some of the true harvesters, however.

Edited by Martialis, November 6 2019 - 10:00 AM.

[AntJohnny]

Thanks for the help I appreciate it. I definitely went to catch a Pheidole sp queen I didn't find any this year.Aphaenogaster would be great to find too. So I'll try harder next year for them and at least one false honey pot queen. I had allot of luck with parasitic Lasious queens this year and Camponotus flew so thick at my house they were landing on me just walking out my door. I'm trying to have at least one species of each major type of ant species.

[Manitobant]

You can also buy pogonomyrmex occidentalis, which are some of the most prominent seed harvesters from tar heel ants as they can be shipped throughout the country legally.

[AntJohnny]

You can also buy pogonomyrmex occidentalis, which are some of the most prominent seed harvesters from tar heel ants as they can be shipped throughout the country legally.

Those are really legal across state lines. Aren't they a slave raider species like the queen in my picture.

[AntJohnny]

The queen in my pic was a slave raider but I don't think she was fertile I caught her awhile back and she didn't live that long but I gave her Formica pupa and she kept them in a pile and stayed on them.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

 

You can also buy pogonomyrmex occidentalis, which are some of the most prominent seed harvesters from tar heel ants as they can be shipped throughout the country legally.

Those are really legal across state lines. Aren't they a slave raider species like the queen in my picture.

 

No, they are not a slave raiding species, though they are sometimes semi-claustral.

[AntJohnny]

I looked them up at tar heels and debating on wether or not to buy them. It's fun catching queens yourself but when it comes down to it, it's raising the colony I enjoy. And they are $80 for a queen and 4 workers. So I'll have to think about it.

[Martialis]

I looked them up at tar heels and debating on wether or not to buy them. It's fun catching queens yourself but when it comes down to it, it's raising the colony I enjoy. And they are $80 for a queen and 4 workers. So I'll have to think about it.

Don’t buy them

[TennesseeAnts]

Mine are doing fine. I think they've been worth the $80.