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Ants_Dakota's General Ant Journal(Hibernation issues and experiments in South Dakota)

ants_dakota south dakota south dakotan ants ant journal formica montana camponotus novaeboracensis camponotus pennsalvanicus lasius americanus aphaenogaster rudis myrmica americana formica

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#1 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted February 15 2020 - 6:13 PM

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Ok, so here is my journal on my still small but rapidly growing tetramorium colony. Immigrans, I believe, but do correct me if I am wrong. So, originally, this colony was an experiment. You may notice the two bigger ants in the picture.P1040472.JPG

These workers were introduced as pupa from another colony around my house, in order to see if they were the same species. Turns out they are, as they now loyally serve the queen, basically as her body guards. There size difference is huge, compared to the nanitics. I had 3 colonies of tetramorium at first, but i heard that they grew really fast, and that you didn't want more than one of them. So I took the brood out of the first two and put them into this one. That is why there is so much brood. They also disembodied a cricket, which is not even visible anymore, as it is literally shredded up! In my opinion, tetramorium is the easiest to keep ants around here, as all of my colonies have grown into huge success, and have been sold, or were killed due to an experiment(like up above).

(also sorry the test tube looks weird. that is because the camera is really close)


Edited by Ants_Dakota, December 8 2020 - 6:02 PM.

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Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#2 Offline AntsDakota - Posted February 15 2020 - 7:32 PM

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In my opinion, tetramorium is the easiest to keep ants around here.

Easiest to raise, I agree, but ANTdrew could probably testify against that with large colonies......  :lol:


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"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


#3 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted February 16 2020 - 6:45 AM

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Well, I am sure a ravenous colony of tetramorium would be hard to handle!


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Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#4 Offline ANTdrew - Posted February 16 2020 - 7:36 AM

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Definitely one of my favorite species to keep. You can read my Tetrararium journal to see the story of my mega-colony. They’re insane. I have tough decisions to make once they wake up.
  • ConTejas, Ants_Dakota and jushi like this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#5 Offline AntsDakota - Posted February 16 2020 - 3:06 PM

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Definitely one of my favorite species to keep. You can read my Tetrararium journal to see the story of my mega-colony. They’re insane. I have tough decisions to make once they wake up.

Make a hundred gallon tropical paludarium setup for them and start a YouTube channel.  :lol:


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"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


#6 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted February 25 2020 - 10:15 AM

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I am actually trading my colony to ants4fun, so he now is the one who has to worry about 100 gallon tropical paludariums :lol:!


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#7 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted February 27 2020 - 10:09 AM

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Ok, so here is my update. My solenopsis colony is doing good, a couple of eggs, i think. (this is being traded to ants4fun)

P1040559.JPG

Next, I have my tetramorium colony, which is as ravenous as ever. (this is also being traded to ants4fun)

P1040561.JPG

Next is formica, who have got a whole new batch of eggs.

P1040567.JPG

And finally, we have my Lasius Americanus colony.

P1040572.JPG


  • Ants4fun, TennesseeAnts, ANTdrew and 3 others like this

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#8 Offline Thunder_Birds - Posted February 27 2020 - 4:15 PM

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Nice man!


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#Ants4Life


#9 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted February 27 2020 - 4:30 PM

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yeah, real butes! I love Solenopsis growth and some of their colors, but don't feel like getting stung lol


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There is a important time for everything, important place for everyone, an important person for everybody, and an important ant for each and every ant keeper and myrmecologist alike


#10 Offline AntsDakota - Posted February 27 2020 - 4:52 PM

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These are too small to sting. You’re thinking of RIFAs. These are thief ants.

Edited by AntsDakota, February 27 2020 - 5:09 PM.

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"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


#11 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted February 27 2020 - 5:41 PM

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oh


There is a important time for everything, important place for everyone, an important person for everybody, and an important ant for each and every ant keeper and myrmecologist alike


#12 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted March 4 2020 - 8:22 AM

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Yes,these are really mini solenopsis, that will not harm a human with it's sting. They are actually very numerous up here.


  • TennesseeAnts likes this

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#13 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted March 4 2020 - 8:44 AM

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What're you trading for? If you don't mind me asking.

#14 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted March 4 2020 - 8:46 AM

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What're you trading for? If you don't mind me asking.

I am trading my tetramorium and solenopsis colony for a firebrick formicarium with an outworld. 


  • TennesseeAnts likes this

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#15 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted March 4 2020 - 2:39 PM

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wow, fair trade?


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There is a important time for everything, important place for everyone, an important person for everybody, and an important ant for each and every ant keeper and myrmecologist alike


#16 Offline AntsDakota - Posted March 4 2020 - 3:06 PM

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Both species queens fly in massive numbers each year, so I guess you could say that.

"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


#17 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted March 4 2020 - 7:09 PM

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wow, fair trade?

do you think it is?


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#18 Offline Thunder_Birds - Posted March 4 2020 - 8:09 PM

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:D  :D  :D Well, maybe... sounds like a good deal for you ;)


Edited by Thunder_Birds, March 4 2020 - 8:11 PM.

#Ants4Life


#19 Offline Mdrogun - Posted March 4 2020 - 8:46 PM

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In my experience with Solenopsis molesta I could never get more than a few queens to found together succesfully. Yet 57 queens do just fine together if in a large colony  :lol: . Good luck lol


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Currently Keeping:
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis

Pheidole pilifera

Forelius sp. (Monogynous, bicolored) "Midwestern Forelius"
Crematogaster cerasi

Pheidole bicarinata

Aphaenogaster rudis

Camponotus chromaiodes

Formica sp. (microgena species)

Nylanderia cf. arenivega


#20 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted March 5 2020 - 9:07 AM

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Here is my solenopsis colony. They have eggs!

P1040610.JPG

here is my tetramorium colony. they have some huge larva and pupa.

P1040612.JPG

and here is my formica. they are really successful, and have a clump of eggs and 2 larva!

P1040615.JPG

P1040621.JPG

and here is my lasius americana colony. I don't know if she has eggs, because of the substrate.

P1040624.JPG


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Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)






Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: ants_dakota, south dakota, south dakotan ants, ant journal, formica montana, camponotus novaeboracensis, camponotus pennsalvanicus, lasius americanus, aphaenogaster rudis, myrmica americana, formica

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