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List of average mature colony sizes

Started By Skwiggledork , May 17 2020 11:26 PM

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9 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Skwiggledork - Posted May 17 2020 - 11:26 PM

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I've been looking up the various species I have and have realized it is hard to find out how large of colony they can potentially get too.

Is there a good resource to find out the average colony size for various species? If not, would it be a good idea to start a list in this thread, so it would be easily searchable?

Like I've read  that Tetramorium immigrans gets to around 10,000 workers, Ponera pennsylvanica usually stay less than 100 workers and species that mate in the nest like Tapinoma sessile or Tetramorium bicarinatum can grow essentially infinitely.

I know heat, food and genetics make the number vary, but even ball park estimates would be helpful to some people. 

Thoughts?


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#2 Offline AntsDakota - Posted May 18 2020 - 4:50 AM

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Here's some I know (either from outside sources or from people's journals)-

 

Aphaenogaster sp.- a few thousand

Camponotus sp. - 10,000-50,000 (depends on species)

Formica sp.- 1,000-10,000 (depends on species)

parasitic Formica sp.- a couple hundred thousand

Lasius sp. a few thousand

parasitic Lasius- several ten thousands

Myrmica sp. - a few hundred

Pogonomyrmex sp.- over 20,000

Solenopsis molesta- infinite (breed in the nest)


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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 ANTdrew - Posted May 18 2020 - 4:54 AM

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Crematogaster cerasi - 10,000
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#4 Offline Antkid12 - Posted May 18 2020 - 5:01 AM

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Found from random websites

 

 

Odontomachus: 100 to 650

Pheidole morrisi(dream species):5000-10,000

Solenopsis invicta: 200,000-300,000


Edited by Antkid12, May 18 2020 - 5:10 AM.

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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

 

                    

                   

 

 

#5 Offline ArmyAntz - Posted May 18 2020 - 5:40 AM

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Not that its any use to antkeepers but:

 

Dorylus - up to 20 million 

 

Eciton: 1 - 5 million


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#6 Offline NickAnter - Posted May 18 2020 - 6:43 AM

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Nylanderia vividula- 2,000-3,000.


Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#7 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted May 18 2020 - 6:50 AM

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Does he mean:

How large do colonies get before alates appear?

Or

How large do colonies normally get?

Edit: Nvm, I'm dumb...

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, May 18 2020 - 6:50 AM.

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#8 Offline AntsDakota - Posted May 18 2020 - 7:11 AM

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Nvm, I'm dumb...

If you are dumb, than what am I?  :o  :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

#9 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted May 18 2020 - 12:10 PM

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Nvm, I'm dumb...

If you are dumb, than what am I?  :o  :lol:

You are a South Dakotan antkeeper.
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#10 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted May 18 2020 - 1:32 PM

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Nvm, I'm dumb...

If you are dumb, than what am I?  :o  :lol:

You are a South Dakotan antkeeper.

 

Haha! :lol: Yes he is!


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