Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Temperateants's Crematogaster Journal


  • Please log in to reply
62 replies to this topic

#41 Offline ANTdrew - Posted April 29 2020 - 6:09 AM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,376 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
They can last a long time dormant in your fridge. That’s what I do. You could also freeze a bunch for even longer term storage.
  • Temperateants likes 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.

#42 Offline Temperateants - Posted May 12 2020 - 11:48 AM

Temperateants

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 436 posts

My crematogaster are moving into a new tube. I put a heating cable under the new tube, and the brood and queen have already gone to it. Their old "hunting trophies" (hollowed out shells of mealworms that they haven't discarded) are growing mold.
¨


  • ANTdrew likes this

Check out my Youtube Channel! https://www.youtube....xh-HaScAuE5CShQ

Check out my Crematogaster Journal! https://www.formicul...e-2#entry141180

 

 


#43 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 12 2020 - 12:30 PM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,376 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
Good work getting them to move. Crematogaster never clean their nest like ever.
  • Temperateants likes 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.

#44 Offline Temperateants - Posted May 22 2020 - 9:49 AM

Temperateants

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 436 posts

Not much has changed, but there are about 20 workers and 20 mature larvae/prepupae/pupae. A small pile ~10 eggs. I have been feeding them regularly though.


  • AntsDakota likes this

Check out my Youtube Channel! https://www.youtube....xh-HaScAuE5CShQ

Check out my Crematogaster Journal! https://www.formicul...e-2#entry141180

 

 


#45 Offline Antkid12 - Posted May 22 2020 - 10:08 AM

Antkid12

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,009 posts
  • LocationFairfax, Virginia

Nice! I am planning to buy/catch one of these this year.


Ants I have: Tapinoma sessile(2 queen colony). RED MORPH Camponotus neacticus(now has pupae!), Tetramorium immigrans (x3), Aphaenogaster sp, Temnothorax sp, Brachymyrmex sp.   possibly infertile   :(,  Ponera pennsylvanica, and Pheidole morrisi!  :yahoo: 

 

Other insects: Polistes sp. Queen

                    

Ants I need: Pheidole sp., Trachymyrmex sp., Crematogaster cerasi , Dorymyrmex sp. Most wanted: Pheidole morrisii

 

                    

                   

 

 


#46 Offline AntsDakota - Posted May 22 2020 - 10:33 AM

AntsDakota

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,994 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota
I can’t find any.
  • Ants_Dakota likes this

"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


#47 Offline Antkid12 - Posted May 22 2020 - 12:43 PM

Antkid12

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,009 posts
  • LocationFairfax, Virginia

I can’t find any.

I have a ton of workers where I live, I've seen a dead queen and a few males but I have never seen and actual living queen tho.


Edited by Antkid12, May 22 2020 - 12:43 PM.

Ants I have: Tapinoma sessile(2 queen colony). RED MORPH Camponotus neacticus(now has pupae!), Tetramorium immigrans (x3), Aphaenogaster sp, Temnothorax sp, Brachymyrmex sp.   possibly infertile   :(,  Ponera pennsylvanica, and Pheidole morrisi!  :yahoo: 

 

Other insects: Polistes sp. Queen

                    

Ants I need: Pheidole sp., Trachymyrmex sp., Crematogaster cerasi , Dorymyrmex sp. Most wanted: Pheidole morrisii

 

                    

                   

 

 


#48 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 22 2020 - 12:54 PM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,376 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA


I can’t find any.

I have a ton of workers where I live, I've seen a dead queen and a few males but I have never seen and actual living queen tho.
I gotchu, bro. They fly Labor Day around here.
  • Temperateants likes 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.

#49 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted May 22 2020 - 7:12 PM

Ants_Dakota

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,059 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota

Today. Any tips for long term storage? I'm planning on putting some of the new mealworms in my existing farm to add new genes and add to the population. But how do I get the rest to last long for my ants?

Mealworms can love for up to 2 weeks in the fridge. I raise superworms, and prefer them, because they do not pupate when with other superworms, grow up to 2 inches long, and can live for 6-12 months with other superworms.


I can’t find any.

they would be an interesting catch. 


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)


#50 Offline Temperateants - Posted June 14 2020 - 10:36 AM

Temperateants

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 436 posts

They hit 30 workers, and there is a new pile of new eggs. Probably going to do a video on them on my youtube channel soon, even though I haven't uploaded recently.


  • Canadant and Antennal_Scrobe like this

Check out my Youtube Channel! https://www.youtube....xh-HaScAuE5CShQ

Check out my Crematogaster Journal! https://www.formicul...e-2#entry141180

 

 


#51 Offline Temperateants - Posted June 26 2020 - 6:24 AM

Temperateants

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 436 posts

My crematogaster as really slowed down, unfortunately. I've been feeding them mealworms, which they have kind of lost interest in. I started feeding them biscuit beetle larvae, they really like it, hopefully they'll eat more of this and the queen will make more eggs.


  • Antennal_Scrobe likes this

Check out my Youtube Channel! https://www.youtube....xh-HaScAuE5CShQ

Check out my Crematogaster Journal! https://www.formicul...e-2#entry141180

 

 


#52 Offline AntsDakota - Posted June 26 2020 - 7:32 AM

AntsDakota

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,994 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota

Mealworms can love for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

Uhh..... You do mean 'live', don't you?!  :lol:


Edited by AntsDakota, June 26 2020 - 7:32 AM.

  • Antkid12 likes this

"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


#53 Offline antsandmore - Posted March 3 2021 - 4:18 PM

antsandmore

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 705 posts
  • LocationSan Diego California

I started feeding my Cremas Nurbs blood soup/mush and they love it. They appreciate it way more than my other ants. So that's something to try - freeze dried/frozen bloodworms.

I'm hoping to grow my colony this season too. Got some fruit flies on the way!

Good luck.

ohhhh no wonder mine like mosquito larvae lol


Ants I am keeping:

 none for now, planning on being more active this year


#54 Offline Temperateants - Posted March 14 2022 - 11:44 AM

Temperateants

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 436 posts

I haven't posted here in so long. Time to resurrect this journal. 

Changes since last time:

The original queen of this species died of hibernation stresses. I have a new one. The colony isn't doing too great right now. Brood is well fed, but not too abundant. In my opinion, brood should usually outnumber workers. 

I'm going to do videos on my channel in parallel with this journal.

 

Immediate plans: Ease them onto a heating cable.

 

Start feeding daily protein of alternating sources.

Mealworms, Fruit flies, Maggots. Will feed them termites when the weather is warmer. 

 

Start feeding daily sugars of alternating sources.

Sugar solution, honey, and (maybe) purple sweet potato. 

 

Biggest plan:

Put them in an outworld. Relating to this, I have a strange question. How can you "track" the number of workers? These ants are escape artists, I need to know if workers have escaped or not in order to increase security of their setup. Any tips on securely containing these guys?

 

Any feedback is appreciated.


Check out my Youtube Channel! https://www.youtube....xh-HaScAuE5CShQ

Check out my Crematogaster Journal! https://www.formicul...e-2#entry141180

 

 


#55 Offline Lemon.Water - Posted March 14 2022 - 11:56 AM

Lemon.Water

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 14 posts

I don't know of any way to accurately track the exact number of workers but if you suspect some have escaped you could put honey water near the outside of their setup as when mine escaped their broken outworld they didn't go too far from the nest. Right now I'm using olive oil however others recommend against it because it can be messy and ineffective after the colony becomes larger, so for the long term Fluon is probably the best way to contain them and keep the outworld more clean with less smudges. Also having a lip before the opening of the lid can make it much more difficult for them to cross any barrier. These ants can effectively chew through lots of materials so a high quality durable nest is necessary. 


  • Temperateants likes this

#56 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 14 2022 - 12:37 PM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,376 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
Just glue tiny radio transmitters on all their backs.
Jokes aside, just read my journal. Everything I’ve learned is in there. Three biggest tips are 1) lots of outworld space, 2) don’t dick around with any barrier but high grade fluon, 3) make a good lid with a barrier rim glued under the lid.
  • Temperateants likes 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.

#57 Offline Temperateants - Posted March 14 2022 - 2:48 PM

Temperateants

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 436 posts

In terms of heating, do you guys leave the cable on 24/7? or only turn it on for a few hours during the noon/afternoon?


Check out my Youtube Channel! https://www.youtube....xh-HaScAuE5CShQ

Check out my Crematogaster Journal! https://www.formicul...e-2#entry141180

 

 


#58 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 14 2022 - 3:36 PM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,376 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
Keep it on all the time. Heat is vital for these ants.
  • Temperateants likes 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.

#59 Offline Lemon.Water - Posted March 14 2022 - 6:20 PM

Lemon.Water

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 14 posts

They will thrive with heat on all the time, but make sure there is a gradient for temperature and humidity. 


  • Temperateants likes this

#60 Offline Temperateants - Posted April 5 2022 - 11:59 AM

Temperateants

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 436 posts

No pictures, but after a few weeks of acclimating and feeding the colony has started to produce again. The queen laid her first 10-20 batch of eggs for the year, and last year's small larvae are starting to become pupae. They are eating the fruit flies/mealworms well, and drink a lot of sugar water (still doing that cute gaster tapping thing). I can't wait for when the weather improves and I can feed these guys some termites.

 

One interesting fact is unlike my pavement ants which digest everything in a matter of hours, these guys will slowly nibble at food, often times not touching it until several days after I gave it to them. Their appetite doesn't look that large unfortunately. 


Edited by Temperateants, April 5 2022 - 12:00 PM.

Check out my Youtube Channel! https://www.youtube....xh-HaScAuE5CShQ

Check out my Crematogaster Journal! https://www.formicul...e-2#entry141180

 

 





0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users