35 replies to this topic

[Devi]

After reading this journal I can determine three things:

 

1. This is awesome so far.

2. You have some pretty great grandparents. 

3. I will most certainly be following this.  I've got a soft spot for Pogonomyrmex.

[Spazmops]

After successfully founding around 30 P. occidentalis queens, I have some tips:
1. Test tube setups can work, but you’ll have a much higher success rate if you put some small gravel in the tubes. I got mine from an old P. occidentalis nest and baked it.
2. Keep the tube still. The tube being able to roll means the tube at some point WILL roll, which will shake the gravel and can kill the eggs.
3. Put some seeds in there. This helped my queens produce more eggs and raise more brood.
I know the species in this journal is P. rugosus, but I figure some of these tips might be universal for Pogonomyrmex in general.

Edited by Spazmops, October 29 2020 - 8:35 PM.

[Ants_Dakota]

After reading this journal I can determine three things:

 

1. This is awesome so far.

2. You have some pretty great grandparents. 

3. I will most certainly be following this.  I've got a soft spot for Pogonomyrmex.

wish i had grandparents like that!

[Antkeeper01]

 

After reading this journal I can determine three things:

 

1. This is awesome so far.

2. You have some pretty great grandparents. 

3. I will most certainly be following this.  I've got a soft spot for Pogonomyrmex.

wish i had grandparents like that!

 

at least my grandpa showed me the P. occidentalis queen that walked into their driveway RIP Queen Persephone 2020-2020

[B_rad0806]

Update 7-18-21

On a trip I ended up stopping near the CA/Nevada border where it got rain. I ended up catching 2 of these queens in about an hour of searching. As for my last colony, those ended up being sold.

Edited by B_rad0806, July 18 2021 - 7:58 PM.

[B_rad0806]

Update 8-5-21

Queens are doing good. One queen has a good size larvae, a few smaller ones and some eggs. The other queen just has a small pile of eggs. I expect pupae in the next week or 2 out of my best queen.

[Antkeeper_21]

doesnt seem to be in stress, doing good

[B_rad0806]

Update 8-26-21

Colony is doing awesome! Queen got its first worker yesterday and will have 2 more coming soon.

[B_rad0806]

Update 9-25-21

So earlier today I went out to the desert thinking I was going to have to use all my might digging up 5 of these queens. Well I was completely wrong, I ended up catching 114 of these queens. Not sure why they were flying at almost 5:00 in the evening and not early in the morning confuses me. As for my other colony it is doing great with 3 workers, 3 pupae, 3 larvae and a clump of eggs.

 

Edited by B_rad0806, September 25 2021 - 9:58 PM.

[B_rad0806]

Update 10-20-21

Queens are doing great, yet to have a death (except for the 9 that I forgot to tube due to laziness). Currently sitting at around like 60 queens I think. All the queens are at different brood stages because I tubed like 20 a week. The queens have absolutely massive egg piles with like 40 eggs but most of those will be eaten. The queens that I tubed the day of capture have just gotten pupae and all have large larvae. As for the second group of queens they all have medium-small larvae and eggs. For the last group of queens, they have big egg piles and have small larvae. I expect workers from the first group of queens in about a week or 2.

[B_rad0806]

Update 10-30-21

Everything is going fantastic with this species for me. 0 deaths so far and the best queens will be getting workers soon. My big colony is doing amazing with 10 workers, 5 pupae, 5 large larvae and eggs. 

[B_rad0806]

Update 11-15-21

Pretty much all of these have workers now. My best colony has 5 workers with pupae, larvae, and eggs. The others all have around 1-4 workers. My other colony is doing so good, 16 workers, 6 pupae, tons of eggs and larvae. I will most likely move them into one of my Nurbs formicariums since they are getting to hard to feed inside just a tube.

[antsriondel]

awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[B_rad0806]

Update 8-4-22

Everything was either sold or died so we are starting fresh this year. Found a few a week ago as well as a good amount 2 days ago. I promise you I will actually try get a large colony of these this year.

[KadinB]

you better