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My new ant! Pseudomyrmex gracilis(i think)

pseudomyrmex gracilis florida north florida

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13 replies to this topic

#1 Offline garrettl - Posted April 21 2020 - 2:07 PM

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Hello everyone! I recently caught an ant in my house and put him in a little house. I'm pretty sure he's a  Pseudomyrmex gracilis but I'm not entirely sure. I might try to go look for a queen but i don't think i would have much luck with that, unless I have a queen. From the looks of it I don't think I do. I feed him some honey about twice a day and he's super hyper. He won't stop moving! unless he's eating. I've never had a pet ant but I really want to keep this guy as a pet maybe. Or ill let him go, I'm not sure. he's pretty long and has a plump translucent gastor with black stripes. How do I know if he is getting enough oxygen? And should i feed him more or give him water?

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#2 Offline AntsDakota - Posted April 21 2020 - 2:12 PM

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Workers cannot survive alone. She will either need other workers or a queen.


"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 garrettl - Posted April 21 2020 - 2:19 PM

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Oh no! Should I just let him go then?



#4 Offline AntsDakota - Posted April 21 2020 - 2:32 PM

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Yes. It would probably be best to release her in the vicinity of where you captured her. She would be most likely to find her way back to the colony from there. Anyways, Psuedomyrmex aren't good ants to start with, in my opinion. I would start with a Camponotus sp., as they're much more hardy. Camponotus floridanus is prevalent in the state of Florida, and shouldn't be too difficult to find.


"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


#5 Offline B_rad0806 - Posted April 21 2020 - 2:33 PM

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Why would you keep a single worker? Just release it.


Edited by B_rad0806, April 21 2020 - 2:34 PM.

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#6 Offline JenC - Posted April 21 2020 - 2:36 PM

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Worker ants are girls
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Current Colonies:
1x Camponotus Vicinus (3 Workers)

Single Queens:
3x Camponotus Clarithorax
4x Camponotus Maritimus
5x Camponotus Ca02
7x Camponotus Sansabeanus
1x Myrmecocustus Testaceus
3x Prenolepis Imparis

#7 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted April 21 2020 - 2:37 PM

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You should probably release her in the area you found her in in order to allow her to scope out any pheromone trails or use visual clues (as Pseudomyrmex rely largely on sight) to return to the nest. If you're up to it, you could possibly follow her back to the nest and collect it. Colonies of this species are typically small--in the hundreds--and can often be found inside of hollow twigs. As AntsDakota pointed out though, Pseudomyrmex are not the easiest ants to keep and should not be kept by a new keeper such as yourself. I would instead recommend a Camponotus species (probably not floridanus though as they are known to be a fast-growing and aggressive species), Lasius neoniger, or perhaps a Formica species if you can find any. Good luck, and let me know if you have any more questions.


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#8 Offline ponerinecat - Posted April 21 2020 - 2:38 PM

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SHE


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#9 Offline AntsDakota - Posted April 21 2020 - 2:39 PM

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I didn't know Lasius were common in Florida. A subtropical climate just doesn't seem to fit them.


"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


#10 Offline garrettl - Posted April 21 2020 - 2:40 PM

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o dang there are a lot of people on this site. sorry, she. my bad lol. I just found her in my house, i didn't go out looking for her. ill probably release her so she can go find her colony again. Thanks for the pointers :D


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#11 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted April 21 2020 - 2:41 PM

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I didn't know Lasius were common in Florida. A subtropical climate just doesn't seem to fit them.

Lasius neoniger is common in certain areas, mostly in more notherly oriented, sandy, open areas.


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Currently Keeping:

 

Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipesStrumigenys brevisetosaStrumigenys clypeataStrumigenys louisianaeStrumigenys membraniferaStrumigenys reflexaStrumigenys rostrata

 

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#12 Offline AntsDakota - Posted April 21 2020 - 2:45 PM

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I didn't know Lasius were common in Florida. A subtropical climate just doesn't seem to fit them.

Lasius neoniger is common in certain areas, mostly in more notherly oriented, sandy, open areas.

 

Interesting.

 

Also, I think it would be good for you to get to know some Floridan ant keepers. They would know best about local diversity.

 

SuperFrank - Viewing Profile - Ants & Myrmecology Forum

 

Aaron567 - Viewing Profile - Ants & Myrmecology Forum


"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


#13 Offline garrettl - Posted April 21 2020 - 3:27 PM

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I released the ant guys. hopefully she can find her way back to her colony :D


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#14 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted April 21 2020 - 5:53 PM

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I didn't know Lasius were common in Florida. A subtropical climate just doesn't seem to fit them.

Lasius neoniger is common in certain areas, mostly in more notherly oriented, sandy, open areas.

 

Interesting.

 

Also, I think it would be good for you to get to know some Floridan ant keepers. They would know best about local diversity.

 

SuperFrank - Viewing Profile - Ants & Myrmecology Forum

 

Aaron567 - Viewing Profile - Ants & Myrmecology Forum

 

I talk with Aaron quite a bit. I've also studied the species diversity of Florida quite a bit, so I definitely know my stuff.


Currently Keeping:

 

Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipesStrumigenys brevisetosaStrumigenys clypeataStrumigenys louisianaeStrumigenys membraniferaStrumigenys reflexaStrumigenys rostrata

 

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