193 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

The only reason I know that is from a schmaltzy inspirational video I saw at an educator’s professional development. We were told to be “the wolves of our school.” Gag.

Edited by ANTdrew, May 31 2020 - 4:36 AM.

[ponerinecat]

Ah yes, attack the students and keep their numbers in check so they don't decimate the schools limited supply of...uh...something.

[PurdueEntomology]

The only reason I know that is from a schmaltzy inspirational video I saw at an educator’s professional development. We were told to be “the wolves of our school.” Gag.

I can see that as an effective image. 

[PurdueEntomology]

Update:

Most of the larvae have pupated and foraging activity has decreased noticeably.  Tonight there is very little activity.  The colony is bivouaced with the pupae.  I do not believe the queen has laid a batch of eggs yet though I know she is physogastric. Definitely without stimuli from the larvae worker foraging has decreased 80%,

[TennesseeAnts]

Update:
Most of the larvae have pupated and foraging activity has decreased noticeably. Tonight there is very little activity. The colony is bivouaced with the pupae. I do not believe the queen has laid a batch of eggs yet though I know she is physogastric. Definitely without stimuli from the larvae worker foraging has decreased 80%,

I was able to locate the remnants of my colony, and collected them. The colony now contains 9-10k workers, and has a large stash of food brood, mostly Aphaenogaster and Tapinoma.

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, June 2 2020 - 6:47 PM.

[PurdueEntomology]

 

Update:
Most of the larvae have pupated and foraging activity has decreased noticeably. Tonight there is very little activity. The colony is bivouaced with the pupae. I do not believe the queen has laid a batch of eggs yet though I know she is physogastric. Definitely without stimuli from the larvae worker foraging has decreased 80%,

I was able to locate the remnants of my colony, and collected them. The colony now contains 9-10k workers, and has a large stash of food brood, mostly Aphaenogaster and Tapinoma.

 

Well that is good to hear. Surprised they made it on their own without brood or queen. 

[Canadant]

This is an awesome journal. Great research, discussion and attention to detail. I wish you all the best with your master's. I also wish I had this genera in my neck of the woods up north. So cool.

Looks like you're about to be eyeball deep in ants in the coming weeks. Best of luck with your research. I'm going to follow this journal.

[PurdueEntomology]

This is an awesome journal. Great research, discussion and attention to detail. I wish you all the best with your master's. I also wish I had this genera in my neck of the woods up north. So cool.

Looks like you're about to be eyeball deep in ants in the coming weeks. Best of luck with your research. I'm going to follow this journal.

Thank you Canadant!! Good to hear positive feedback and support.  Fortunately I have almost completed my transects of East Tennessee for my research sampling....12-14 hour days for the past 10 days!!  I will now only have to focus on Mount Mitchell in North Carolina and the two peaks in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Mt. Le Conte and Clingmans Dome!!!

[TennesseeAnts]

 

This is an awesome journal. Great research, discussion and attention to detail. I wish you all the best with your master's. I also wish I had this genera in my neck of the woods up north. So cool.

Looks like you're about to be eyeball deep in ants in the coming weeks. Best of luck with your research. I'm going to follow this journal.

Thank you Canadant!! Good to hear positive feedback and support.  Fortunately I have almost completed my transects of East Tennessee for my research sampling....12-14 hour days for the past 10 days!!  I will now only have to focus on Mount Mitchell in North Carolina and the two peaks in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Mt. Le Conte and Clingmans Dome!!!

 

Wow. That's crazy! I wish you luck with the collections!

[PurdueEntomology]

Update:

All first batch larvae have pupated and there is a second batch of eggs.   I was not sure if eggs were laid but was able to confirm. 

[TennesseeAnts]

Update:
All first batch larvae have pupated and there is a second batch of eggs.   I was not sure if eggs were laid but was able to confirm.

Mine too, have more eggs. It seems as though the pupae should eclose this week, too.

[PurdueEntomology]

 

Update:
All first batch larvae have pupated and there is a second batch of eggs.   I was not sure if eggs were laid but was able to confirm.

Mine too, have more eggs. It seems as though the pupae should eclose this week, too.

 

Well they will darken just before eclosing.

[PurdueEntomology]

Update:

I am not seeing any overall benefits of the predatory mites.  I am now going to my second choice: Oxalic Acid treatment. I have been looking into this as a possible treatment.  https://www.honeybee...dead effective.   Here is the original pdf on the treatment method: http://scientificbee...-Taktic-pdf.pdf

 

I am not sure how this will go.  I will follow the protocols of this website and place a few workers in a separate Petri dish with a small sample of the treatment to see how they respond and the effects on mites.  If all goes well   I will modify by placing small strips of treated towel where the workers will come in contact or be in proximity to them.  There is the possibility that the treatment will kill brood, though honey bee larvae in all developmental stages are not harmed. 

 

I am also giving Dr. Bernard some workers today where he will try to culture the mites to determine their genus and hopefully species. 

 

If this second method does not kill the colony and the mite issue is not resolved then I am going to release the colony.  

Edited by PurdueEntomology, June 9 2020 - 6:56 PM.

[PurdueEntomology]

I have gotten all my ingredients for the oxalic acid treatment.  I will begin applying today and monitoring the colony.  

[Canadant]

Best of luck.

[PurdueEntomology]

Best of luck.

Thanks, Canadant. When I took the live ants to Dr. Bernard yesterday he mentioned that in keeping their millipedes there was always a mite issue  and it seems to be a consistent problem in laboratory and housed arthropods.  He advised that if they are not causing any evident debilitating effects not to worry.  I however am now seeing this as more than keeping this colony going it is about finding a possible stop gap in helping to control mite infestations in laboratory/housed conditions.  I am sure the outcome will offer beneficial knowledge regarding this perennial issue. 

Edited by PurdueEntomology, June 10 2020 - 7:37 AM.

[PurdueEntomology]

I have made the mixture as per the above links. I took 7 workers in a Petri dish and put in three small strips of the soaked paper towel.  In less than an hour mites are falling off!!!!!!  The ants are showing no adverse effects.  I will leave them in now for 24 hours and see the outcome.  

[PurdueEntomology]

It has been about 1.5 hours since placing test ants with soaked paper towel pieces and almost all the mites are off the ants and hopefully dead!!!  Ants are doing fine.  I may have to time the application more rigorously and reduce the amount of oxalic acid to which they are exposed. 

Edited by PurdueEntomology, June 10 2020 - 12:56 PM.

[ponerinecat]

Wonderful!

[PurdueEntomology]

...but now the ants are showing effects.  This may be toxic to the ants.  I have removed them from the Petri dish, all the mites are off the ants.  Now I will see how the ants do.  I have taken another sample of ants and exposing them to a small piece of soaked paper towel.  The ants will have exposure but will have less direct contact. I will also keep regular observations and note when first mites fall off.

Edited by PurdueEntomology, June 10 2020 - 1:38 PM.