66 replies to this topic

[AntsDakota]

This is more than likely Solenopsis xyloni.

I second this. xyloni is prevalent in the southwestern U.S.

[NickAnter]

Probably over 200. Looks like there are a couple larvae as well.

Ooops. that's weird. It seems as though the post switched tabs.

[Dry_Twig]

 

Probably over 200. Looks like there are a couple larvae as well.

Ooops. that's weird. It seems as though the post switched tabs.

 

Oh ok, I was a bit confused. Also, I just saw a group of workers in the outworld killing their OWN major. It was a newly enclosed callow and I scared them off with some tweezers. They stopped but I feel like I should address the root of the problem. Does anyone know why my ants would do this?

[NickAnter]

 

 

Probably over 200. Looks like there are a couple larvae as well.

Ooops. that's weird. It seems as though the post switched tabs.

 

Oh ok, I was a bit confused. Also, I just saw a group of workers in the outworld killing their OWN major. It was a newly enclosed callow and I scared them off with some tweezers. They stopped but I feel like I should address the root of the problem. Does anyone know why my ants would do this?

 

My Pheidole did this to their first major. Try feeding them more protein.

[Dry_Twig]

Ok, will do. Thanks!

[Dry_Twig]

Okay, so now they have at LEAST doubled in size since the last update and now they're storing brood in the outworld permanently, so they need an upgrade in terms of nest size. I have a spare ten gallon aquarium, which I plan on using with a lid and some fluon. Does anyone know what dirt is the best for them and how I should get it? I may just go into the area I found them and take some, but I'd rather not. I have the same kind in my backyard, but it might have chemicals. I'm thinking of some sort of a dry, desert-y landscape with some plants. 

Pictures of the outworld and brood:

[M_Ants]

You need a clay/sand mix. I don't remember the ratio. I'm sure someone else will.

[Dry_Twig]

You need a clay/sand mix. I don't remember the ratio. I'm sure someone else will.

How would I obtain the clay/sand for this mix? I have a small feeling it's not going to the craft store and buying molding clay...     I live right next to a busy freeway so I think the dirt may be a little contaminated, but I think I can get some from the place I've seen colonies nest in. Would that be worse than mixing my own?

 

Also, fluon is pretty expensive ($35 for byformica), and my ants never really climb the walls or try to escape, so I'm going to not buy any and use olive oil instead. Hopefully, I don't regret this...

[M_Ants]

I got some from Ants World USA for way cheaper (but less).

[Dry_Twig]

I think they're around 150 workers or more now, which is insane for me since I guess I had underestimated the power of Solenopsis   (All from ONE queen and in only around 3 months!) Today they built a small 'nest' out of trash and are storing more brood in the outworld, so I'm going to be speeding up the move and will probably do it tomorrow. 

I'm going to be posting updates related to their new home on this topic for now: https://www.formicul...loni-terrarium/

[Dry_Twig]

They moved today, so here are some pictures of the queen, I probably won't ever see her again   Tunnel visibility is pretty terrible, but hopefully foraging will be fun to watch. 

Phone pictures, so low quality:

[Ants_Dakota]

bye, queen!

[Devi]

As long as you saw her move into the nest, she should be fine.

[Dry_Twig]

Just a random video I took with my phone:

Edit: Well, I guess the formiculture gallery doesn't work with videos, here's a link instead: https://www.formicul...63_11265579.mp4

Edited by Dry_Twig, September 25 2020 - 11:11 AM.

[Dry_Twig]

Seems like they're going through a somewhat large die-off, the nests they dug earlier are mostly empty, but that's also because I moved the heat pad and they have at least 25 ants in the trash pile. Not sure why this is happening or if its normal, but it could be a chemical in the dirt. Still, foraging is pretty strong with at least 30 ants out at all times.

Picture of trash pile:

Also, at least 30 workers have died of condensation , so some help with that would be appreciated.

Edited by Dry_Twig, September 29 2020 - 11:46 AM.

[Dry_Twig]

Today the pile was even bigger and I noticed that sometimes ants will climb up to the top and just sit there. If I move them to the ground, they just stick their gaster into the air and stop moving, so I think the thing that's killing them is definitely a chemical in the dirt that's also making them act wierd. I'll put the mini-hearth back in for them to use if they want. I fixed the condensation, but I still need help with the weird behavior from some of the workers and the die-off.

[Ants_Dakota]

Today the pile was even bigger and I noticed that sometimes ants will climb up to the top and just sit there. If I move them to the ground, they just stick their gaster into the air and stop moving, so I think the thing that's killing them is definitely a chemical in the dirt that's also making them act wierd. I'll put the mini-hearth back in for them to use if they want. I fixed the condensation, but I still need help with the weird behavior from some of the workers and the die-off.

that is too bad. it might be something different, though. i have had ants die for weird reasons. Maybe they are just loosing workers naturally?

[Dry_Twig]

 

Today the pile was even bigger and I noticed that sometimes ants will climb up to the top and just sit there. If I move them to the ground, they just stick their gaster into the air and stop moving, so I think the thing that's killing them is definitely a chemical in the dirt that's also making them act wierd. I'll put the mini-hearth back in for them to use if they want. I fixed the condensation, but I still need help with the weird behavior from some of the workers and the die-off.

that is too bad. it might be something different, though. i have had ants die for weird reasons. Maybe they are just loosing workers naturally?

 

I suppose that could be it, but the colony has only had workers for ~two months and I think the lifespan for them should be longer than that, but I'm not sure. They still have tons of workers, so the ~40 workers in the trash doesn't make much of a dent on activity. Maybe I'm just overreacting, but I would just feel terrible if I killed them with the dirt 

[Dry_Twig]

Die-off has mostly stopped, I think it was that the sugar water I gave them went rotten or it was that termite from the wild. Anyways, I'll update tomorrow or the day after, but my camera broke for the SECOND time (same problem as well) so no good pictures anymore.

[ANTdrew]

25 dead ants in a fast growing species isn’t too big of a deal. Sugar water won’t go rotten. Yeasts will ferment it into alcohol, which is something any sugar eating animal is going to encounter all the time in nature. Some insects, such as fruit flies, even seek it out.