66 replies to this topic

[Ants4fun]

The old byformica grotube. It’s been discontinued.

[AntsDakota]

Oh- no wonder I didn’t recognize it.

[Canadant]

Love the pics, especially the golden knee tarantula!

[Ants4fun]

4-6-2020

 

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

 

Had an issue with lack of hydration when moving. I estimate up to half of the adult worker population died at once. Corrected the issue, and they should bounce back nicely. Kind of nice in a way, as they are far easier to contain, but the goal is to have as massive a colony as possible, right?

 

New!

 

Tetramorium immigrans

 

Got these in a trade with one of the ants dakotas. They had 17 workers and some brood when I got them from him. I estimate they have high 20's workers with a ton on the way. Really cool, easy to contain, and fast growing colony. I will probably relocate them to a proper formicarium in a couple weeks.

 

 

Super hard photographing test tubes. Can't even see the queen, she's tucked away.

 

 

Prenolepis imparis

 

Finally found some queens. Got about 16 or so in total and gave some away/sold a couple. I have them in groups of 4. So far in the house, but will probably move them into the garage, so temperature changes will occur. Otherwise, might move heating cable later to imitate summer temps. Really excited about these guys. 

 

 

And for kicks and giggles, here's some of my new mantids!

 

Dead leaf mantis (truncata)

 

 

 

Ghost mantis

 

 

 

 

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

It's recommended you don't heat your P. Imparis as several members have and subsequently, had them die off because of it. Otherwise the Tetra look stunning! I love your pictures!

[AntsDakota]

He’s trying to mimic estivation temperatures.

[Ants4fun]

Not sure the actual temperature differential during the summer, but a founding queen wouldn’t dig insanely deep like a mature colony. During the summer, it would be reasonable for temperatures to go into high 70’s low 80’s a foot or two underground.

Edited by Ants4fun, April 7 2020 - 6:56 AM.

[AntsDakota]

But what about mature colonies? Could they be kept at room temperature?

[NickAnter]

Not sure the actual temperature differential during the summer, but a founding queen wouldn’t dig insanely deep like a mature colony. During the summer, it would be reasonable for temperatures to go into high 70’s low 80’s a foot or two underground.

Prenolepis go much farther down than that in summer time.

[Ants4fun]

Not sure the actual temperature differential during the summer, but a founding queen wouldn’t dig insanely deep like a mature colony. During the summer, it would be reasonable for temperatures to go into high 70’s low 80’s a foot or two underground.

Prenolepis go much farther down than that in summer time.

yeah, but a founding queen wouldn’t be able to. It takes them about 6 weeks to get workers. So they wouldn’t be further than a foot or two by June when they would get their first nanitics.

[Ants_Dakota]

Is prenolepis hard to raise? I have heard that it is.

[Ants4fun]

Is prenolepis hard to raise? I have heard that it is.

But what about mature colonies? Could they be kept at room temperature?

Yes, but hard to elaborate on a journal topic. There are several other threads that might give you more information. The main issue is inducing them to lay post hibernation it seems.

Yes, I believe most keep them at room temp during summer, but winter they would need it colder. An insulated garage would be fine if you have one. Otherwise, a wine cooler would work perfect. I assume it would be quite a bit warmer as far down as they dig. Well below the frost line. Probably in the mid 40’s to 50’s consistently. Probably why they are able to raise brood during winter.

[AntsDakota]

I'll probably keep mine in the fridge. It's usually in the 40s or 50s in there, I believe.

[AntsDakota]

Tetramorium immigrans

 

Got these in a trade with one of the ants dakotas. They had 17 workers and some brood when I got them from him. I estimate they have high 20's workers with a ton on the way. Really cool, easy to contain, and fast growing colony. I will probably relocate them to a proper formicarium in a couple weeks.

 

What about the Solenopsis molesta he gave you?

[Thunder_Birds]

Again, nice pictures @Ants4Fun

[Ants4fun]

Tetramorium immigrans
 
Got these in a trade with one of the ants dakotas. They had 17 workers and some brood when I got them from him. I estimate they have high 20's workers with a ton on the way. Really cool, easy to contain, and fast growing colony. I will probably relocate them to a proper formicarium in a couple weeks.

What about the Solenopsis molesta he gave you?

Unfortunately the Queen's died. I think they had workers in the past, and the workers died out during hibernation. So it might have been a long shot for them for raise workers again.

[AntsDakota]

Well, finding queens again this year shouldn't be a problem. 

[Ants4fun]

Update - May 6th. As spring has sprung, ants are coming out of the woodwork. I have obtained a few more colonies for my collection.

 

Not as many pictures today, but my new camera will be coming in soon.

 

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

 

This colony is doing great. So great I had to move them into a TarHeelAnts mini-Labrynth. They've put substrate on the glass, so I will get a picture later, as there's not much to see. They've been going to town on fruit flies and red runner roaches, and seeds.

 

Tetramorium immigrans

 

This colony is doing great and exploding in growth. 

 

Prenolepis imparis

 

Had kind of a set back with a couple queens dying after scattering their eggs. I have boosted them with some workers, and will probably collect some more to boost them with.

 

 

Formica subsericea

 

Collected this colony from an old branch. There are perhaps 400-500 workers. Have them in my custom nest for now. They are a pretty decent sized colony, but they can grow much larger. Already laid a good group of eggs.

 

 

 

Aephenogaster tennesseensis

 

Collected this colony from an old branch as well. I have had this species before and it is definitely one of my favorites. Really great coloration and such cool behavior. One of the few species where the queen is incredibly small. Probably smaller than most workers, just with a larger gaster. They are really enjoying ant nectar and red runner roaches. There are probably 600 workers in this fortress and they still don't use the top to chambers. Aephenogaster love to jam pack themselves into every nook and cranny.

 

 

Lasius brevicornis

 

Another target species of mine, I traded for this colony with AntsDakota. Really cool light colored Lasius species. This colony originally had 5 queens but 1 or 2 died. They were moved to an AntsCanada classic nest, which suits their underground lifestyle. I have put a weed root in there and they seem to be tending a couple root aphids on it, but have gotten most nourishment so far from antnectar I gave them. They have plugged most of their entrances into the outworld, and don't have any interest in foraging. This might be a hard colony to feed.

 

 

 

 

Anddd here's my ghost mantis...

 

 

[AntsDakota]

It’s great they (the Lasius) have eggs already! Unfortunately the one queen I kept for my self died just hours after being separated. It appears her workers (I kept around fifty that were in the outworld at the time, as the queen was already in the outworld to begin with) killed her, as at first I saw her dead body, but the next day I only saw her gaster............. I’m wondering if they ate her or something.

[AntsDakota]

I also fed the Aphaenogaster some sunflower seeds, which they chewed into some sort of lumpy paste, which they surrounded their larvae with. Interesting feeding behavior.........