212 replies to this topic

[Kaelwizard]

I'm sure it's still mostly accurate, but that is from more than a century ago.

[Ants_Dakota]

I'm sure it's still mostly accurate, but that is from more than a century ago.

no one in the recent times has dedicated their live to formica, so that is all we have to rely on. if only some one will...

[Canadant]

Lovin' this natural style formicarium. Do you keep it covered/sheathed?

[ANTdrew]

I actually decided not to cover it this time around because they freaked out more when I used to take off their cover. I think it's pretty shaded in their chambers as is, plus I really enjoy seeing the tunnels form. They are working around the clock!

[TennesseeAnts]

Kael, for a lot of Eastern F. fusca-group species color does actually seem to play a significant role in IDing them. I know, kinda opposite from most ants, but that's just the way it is, lol.

[ANTdrew]

Update 2-25-2021

 

I'm really pleased with this setup so far. There is always something to watch, and the ants are living out their natural behaviors. Their digging continues around the clock and so do my daily soil vacuuming efforts. The springtails are really thriving and they seem to be living in peace with the ants. I see several of them down in their chambers at all times now. I'm really looking forward to when the eggs hatch, which may be next week at some point.

 

Here's a GIF of one of the workers expanding a new tunnel.

 

[Kaelwizard]

Kael, for a lot of Eastern F. fusca-group species color does actually seem to play a significant role in IDing them. I know, kinda opposite from most ants, but that's just the way it is, lol.

I see. I should have remembered from when I was keying out my Formica as color seemed to play a role in their ID as well.

Update 2-25-2021

 

I'm really pleased with this setup so far. There is always something to watch, and the ants are living out their natural behaviors. Their digging continues around the clock and so do my daily soil vacuuming efforts. The springtails are really thriving and they seem to be living in peace with the ants. I see several of them down in their chambers at all times now. I'm really looking forward to when the eggs hatch, which may be next week at some point.

 

Here's a GIF of one of the workers expanding a new tunnel.

I'm going to have to do a natural set up sometime. It's just really satisfying to watch them dig.

Edited by Kaelwizard, February 25 2021 - 6:07 AM.

[ANTdrew]

I highly recommend it. The setup cost me about $20 to make. In a typical formicarium, you can only observe feeding and brood care, but with a setup like this, you can see a whole new set of nest creation behaviors. You can also see the symbiosis with the clean-up crew springtails.

[Ants_Dakota]

 

Kael, for a lot of Eastern F. fusca-group species color does actually seem to play a significant role in IDing them. I know, kinda opposite from most ants, but that's just the way it is, lol.

I see. I should have remembered from when I was keying out my Formica as color seemed to play a role in their ID as well.

Update 2-25-2021

 

I'm really pleased with this setup so far. There is always something to watch, and the ants are living out their natural behaviors. Their digging continues around the clock and so do my daily soil vacuuming efforts. The springtails are really thriving and they seem to be living in peace with the ants. I see several of them down in their chambers at all times now. I'm really looking forward to when the eggs hatch, which may be next week at some point.

 

Here's a GIF of one of the workers expanding a new tunnel.

I'm going to have to do a natural set up sometime. It's just really satisfying to watch them dig.

 

the whole reason i got into ants is because of spending hours watching them dig. i really want to see that happen more, so i will for sure try this in the future.

[Canadian anter]

I agree on the F. subsericea ID.

 

If it changes anything, the F. argentea queens I usually see are 13mm+

Edited by Canadian anter, February 25 2021 - 10:54 AM.

[AnthonyP163]

I agree on the F. subsericea ID.

 

If it changes anything, the F. argentea queens I usually see are 13mm+

I see positively identified subsericea reaching similar sizes, it amazes me how big they can. 

 

I too agree that this is likely subsericea, but unless we get microscopic photos, we can't completely rule out the possibility of argentea. Antdrew, I have a cheap USB microscope (cheap for microscopes, that is) that works wonderfully for these things. It's what I use to ID all of my ants, including incredibly small ones, and it comes with a decent software. They've stopped making them, but there's still a few being sold in some places. Here's the link.

 

Anyway, sorry to continue that and add more to the thread. I love the dirt setup and I've been following the journal for a while, good luck and may the colony explode this year!

[ANTdrew]

Update 3-4-2021

 

Plot twist! It turns out that TennesseeAntDude's suspicions were right all along: these are NOT Formica argentea. I mailed him three dead workers this week in a padded envelope, and he was kind enough to key these out to be:

 

                     Formica subsericea

 

It's still an awesome colony, and they are doing really well with quite a few fat new larvae now. I expect a surge in population soon.

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Edited by ANTdrew, March 4 2021 - 9:08 AM.

[antsandmore]

Update 3-4-2021

 

Plot twist! It turns out that TennesseeAntDude's suspicions were right all along: these are NOT Formica argentea. I mailed him three dead workers this week in a padded envelope, and he was kind enough to key these out to be:

 

                     Formica subsericea

 

It's still an awesome colony, and they are doing really well with quite a few fat new larvae now. I expect a surge in population soon.

Still awesome of course!!! You probably feel way better knowing the true Identity of these ants.

[Canadant]

The face only a mother could love! Thanks to TennesseeAntDude - Such a cool community.

[ANTdrew]

Update 3-5-2021

 

 This colony is getting close to a year old now. Things continue to go great in their FormicaFarm, and I'm not sure who likes it more, the ants or the springtails! Last night I gave the colony a chopped up mealworm I had flash boiled, and they had their biggest feeding response yet! The larvae down in their tunnels must be getting hungry.

 

A bunch of workers came out to help haul off the worm segments. I never tire of watching them drag food down in their lair.

 

The best news is that I spotted freshly spun cocoons down in their tunnels last night. They've only been on heat three weeks.

 

[TennesseeAnts]

Congrats! Formica subsericea really do grow fast once they have an abundance of resources.

[Canadant]

I'm really digging this natural set up! It just seems so.... well... natural. A busy ant is a happy ant. Love the gif. Such a good ant to view - great size.

[tdlnx]

I’m going to be paying even more attention to this journal now that I’m going to be keeping the same species.

[ANTdrew]

Update 3-11-2021

 

It's pretty safe to say that this colony is thriving in their new FormicaFarm setup. Many pupae cocoons from the first batch of eggs are now visible in various spots throughout their tunnel network. Yesterday, I also spotted a new big clump of eggs. There are at least 20 in this mass, so when these eclose, the colony will be getting close to 80-90 workers. They should break 100 soon, hopefully! They are readily taking in protein now, and I am feeding them at least one mealworm, cricket, or wild caught earwig a day. They drag the food off in quick ninja stealth fashion, usually when I'm not watching.

 

 

Really fun, spastic ants.

 

[Antcatcherpro3]

wow that's a lot of eggs. My queen of that same spieces just started to lay more eggs. Yours grows faster then mine.