123 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

They’ll really kick butt this year, for sure. Check out my new Formica journal when you get a chance.

[ANTdrew]

I checked my slacker queen, and she sure isn't slacking anymore! Check out this massive brood pile:

 

Here's the simple set up I have them in that I think is the best way to raise Tetras:

 

[Canadant]

Looking good!

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

I feel like this is not only applicable to Tertra, but all fast growing and small ants

[AntsDakota]

I'm looking forward to finding some queens this year. They usually fly the first week of July, alongside the start of the month or two long Formica flights.

[Antkid12]

Never saw this thread. I have two queens with pupae! The rest have eggs or larvae.

Edited by Antkid12, July 12 2020 - 2:10 PM.

[Kaelwizard]

I caught a queen yesterday. I’ll have to check on her when I get back home from my lake house. She is the most chill thing ever though. I literally started flicking and messing with her tube just to make sure that she was actually alive, and she only moved after like a minute of chaos.

I would also like to say that here in Michigan, Tetramorium are more prevalent further south in more disturbed areas. Even in disturbed areas up here I have only seen Formica, and at my lake house Aphaenogaster are EVERYWHERE, and the Formica are too, but not as much. From what I can tell, Formica and Camponotus are prevalent in pretty much everywhere in the state, while Aphaenogaster are more prevalent up north and rarer down south, while the Tetramorium are pretty much nonexistent up north. Even down south where my house is the Tetramorium seem to be constantly trading nests (presumably fighting and taking over them, but I haven’t seen that) with Lasius, who seem to be the only ants that live in the same areas as Tetras.

Edited by Kaelwizard, July 12 2020 - 5:45 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Extreme cold may limit them or give an edge to native competition. Aphaenogaster are under every dang log here in forested areas.

[Antkid12]

 Aphaenogaster are under every dang log here in forested areas.

So true, They rule the forest in my backyard.

Edited by Antkid12, July 12 2020 - 3:58 PM.

[Canadant]

My tetras found and escape spot on my omni nest. The good news is they just kinda saunter about. So no huge panic to get them back in. I swapped out the omni nest for my old Camponotus Hybrid 2.0 and they moved right in (once I dumped them into the outworld). They're tough and resilient and do what you want.

I second the point Drew made about moving dirt around. They're always doing something in my outworld. They're busy ants.

[Antkid12]

My queen's pupae have eyes now.

[ANTdrew]

Just got first workers for two new queens.

[AntsDakota]

I boosted my queen with callows and pupae from a mature colony.

[Nogbert]

i have ~10 tetra queen in test tube setups, some of which i have had for nearly a month and i still only see larvae... is this normal? the care sheet says keep them at 70-75 and i've had them at a solid 74 during the day and like 70-72 at night. please advise

[ANTdrew]

Those temperature ranges in the care sheets are far too low in my opinion. Keep you Tetras 80-90F if you really want to speed up their growth.

[Nogbert]

Those temperature ranges in the care sheets are far too low in my opinion. Keep you Tetras 80-90F if you really want to speed up their growth.

Thanks! i had suspected as such and had my tetras in with my Pogonomyrmex queens and Camponotus at 85 for about a week but got paranoid when i read the temp thing and saw mold in pretty much all my tubes. i moved them back this morning 

Edited by Nogbert, July 15 2020 - 7:13 AM.

[Antkid12]

First workers of Tetra queen 1 enclosed today!!

[Kaelwizard]

My queen now has lots of eggs and small larvae.

Edited by Kaelwizard, July 21 2020 - 7:05 AM.

[Kaelwizard]

She has large larvae now.

[Nogbert]

finally got nanitics in 3 of my tubes 

Edited by Nogbert, July 21 2020 - 8:19 AM.