Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

M_Ant's Camponotus absquatulator


  • Please log in to reply
32 replies to this topic

#1 Offline M_Ants - Posted December 1 2020 - 6:30 PM

M_Ants

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,392 posts
  • LocationSan Diego CA

Had these for a while but decided to make a journal on them since I don't see any others. I caught 2 of these on my blacklight. I know one was on 7/30/2020. Both had wings. I had to go on vacation the next day so I put them in test tubes and hoped for the best. When I got back both had eggs. One was really productive and the other was a dud. I sold the better of the 2 recently once it got workers. I have the other queen still. It only got one nanitic which died. I may not have fed it fast enough so I donated a larvae. Now it has a worker and eggs which aren't developing. Not sure if anything will ever happen to it. Anyways, after I got back caught a dealate at a local trail. It is the queen/colony this journal will follow. Her gaster swelled so big and she was/is super productive. I kept them in a test tube as long as I could then moved them into a nurb's pencil case setup. Then they moved into an Aus Ants ytong nest. That is currently where they live. I believe they have like 15 workers right now. Some look almost like medians but not really. The person who bought the other colony said they were bigger than the fraggles they had before. If you made it this far congrats! Now I'll talk about them being absquatulator. I sent some pics to AnthonyP163 who said he was 90% sure they were absquatulator. I have no expertise on the matter although I did read through this. http://file:///media...elling_2006.pdf Let me know if the link works. Essentially, and I'm quoting AnthonyP163 "The C. fragilis antwiki says that fragilis is discerned from absquatulator by: "...erect setae present along entire head margin; minor workers with at least a few setae along head margins". This is what I have used to identify specimens of fragilis from absquatulator, and from what I've seen it's the only viable way to do so. C. absquatulator also tends to have longer hair on its face from profile view (which matches with this specimen)." Here are some pics he sent me that show the difference. gallery_1225_733_393585.png

That was a fraggle. Here's a baldy down below. (I calm them bald fraggles or baldies)

gallery_1225_733_841659.png

Now here's some pics of my workers. 

absqu
absqu2
As far as I can tell. These are baldies.
Now here are some pics of their development. I don't know which pics are from which colony but whatever. You get the idea.
IMG 1047 (1)
IMG 1048 (1)
IMG 1298
IMG 1459
IMG 1778
IMG 1848 (1)
IMG 1846
IMG 1855
IMG 1879
IMG 2065
IMG 2091
IMG 2241
View recent photos
IMG 2493

 

 


  • gcsnelling, AnthonyP163, CheetoLord02 and 2 others like this

Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about


#2 Offline ZTYguy - Posted December 1 2020 - 6:32 PM

ZTYguy

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,680 posts
  • LocationNorthridge, California

Beautiful specimens you got there. I need to invest in a black light for next season.


  • Antkeeper01 likes this

Ant Keeping Since June 2018
Currently Keeping:
A. versicolor, C. us-ca02, C. yogi, C. Vicinus, C. laevigatus, C. clarithorax, C. maritimus, C. ocreatus, M. mexicanus, M. placodops 01, V. andrei, V. pergandei, N. cockerelli, P. barbata, P. montanus

Hoping to Catch This season:

M. romanei, M. placodops 02, P. imberbiculus, Polyergus sp., F. moki, A. megomatta, Cyphomyrmex sp.,Temnothorax sp.


#3 Offline M_Ants - Posted December 1 2020 - 6:36 PM

M_Ants

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,392 posts
  • LocationSan Diego CA

Thanks. They are worth it. 


Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about


#4 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted December 1 2020 - 8:03 PM

Swirlysnowflake

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,155 posts
  • LocationBay Area, CA
baldies for the win
  • M_Ants and Antkeeper01 like this

 My YouTube channel :)

 

 


#5 Offline NickAnter - Posted December 1 2020 - 9:27 PM

NickAnter

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,307 posts
  • LocationOrange County, California

Isn't it a great name for them?


  • M_Ants likes this

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). 


#6 Offline ZTYguy - Posted December 1 2020 - 9:39 PM

ZTYguy

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,680 posts
  • LocationNorthridge, California

#Baldies4thewin


  • M_Ants and Antkeeper01 like this

Ant Keeping Since June 2018
Currently Keeping:
A. versicolor, C. us-ca02, C. yogi, C. Vicinus, C. laevigatus, C. clarithorax, C. maritimus, C. ocreatus, M. mexicanus, M. placodops 01, V. andrei, V. pergandei, N. cockerelli, P. barbata, P. montanus

Hoping to Catch This season:

M. romanei, M. placodops 02, P. imberbiculus, Polyergus sp., F. moki, A. megomatta, Cyphomyrmex sp.,Temnothorax sp.


#7 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted December 2 2020 - 8:10 AM

Ants_Dakota

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,059 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota

i need to invest in a black light sometime...


  • Swirlysnowflake likes this

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#8 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted December 2 2020 - 8:15 AM

Swirlysnowflake

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,155 posts
  • LocationBay Area, CA

i need to invest in a black light sometime...

My blacklight only caught me two infertile prenos. :( 


  • Ants_Dakota likes this

 My YouTube channel :)

 

 


#9 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted December 2 2020 - 8:23 AM

Ants_Dakota

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,059 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota

 

i need to invest in a black light sometime...

My blacklight only caught me two infertile prenos. :(

 

is it a powerful one? i plan on hauling mine to the black hills to catch boatloads of ants. last year i saw 3 species of camponotus, pheidole queens, and more...


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My South Dakotan Shop Here

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#10 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted December 2 2020 - 8:24 AM

Swirlysnowflake

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,155 posts
  • LocationBay Area, CA

 

 

i need to invest in a black light sometime...

My blacklight only caught me two infertile prenos. :(

 

is it a powerful one? i plan on hauling mine to the black hills to catch boatloads of ants. last year i saw 3 species of camponotus, pheidole queens, and more...

 

idk, i got this one : https://www.amazon.c...e?ie=UTF8&psc=1


 My YouTube channel :)

 

 


#11 Offline KitsAntVa - Posted December 2 2020 - 8:54 AM

KitsAntVa

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,254 posts
  • LocationRichmond, Virginia

The blacklight you have is pretty good I just don't think your doing it in the right spot, usually ants are already attracted to the porch lights around so try either turning those off next time or going somewhere else. 


  • Swirlysnowflake likes this
We don’t talk about that

#12 Offline M_Ants - Posted January 5 2021 - 7:11 PM

M_Ants

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,392 posts
  • LocationSan Diego CA

The baldies fortress has arrived!


  • Swirlysnowflake likes this

Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about


#13 Offline B_rad0806 - Posted January 5 2021 - 8:34 PM

B_rad0806

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 690 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

How many workers are these at?


Journals:

Ant Journals

Shop:

Brad's Ant Adoption

Instagram:

brad_ants

YouTube:

B_rad0806


#14 Offline M_Ants - Posted January 5 2021 - 8:37 PM

M_Ants

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,392 posts
  • LocationSan Diego CA

How many workers are these at?

Around twenty I think.


Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about


#15 Offline M_Ants - Posted January 5 2021 - 8:46 PM

M_Ants

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,392 posts
  • LocationSan Diego CA
IMG 3562

  • Karma, Kaelwizard and TechAnt like this

Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about


#16 Offline antsandmore - Posted January 15 2021 - 10:35 AM

antsandmore

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 705 posts
  • LocationSan Diego California

do they ship the ants australia nest worldwide? isn't it expensive?


Ants I am keeping:

 none for now, planning on being more active this year


#17 Offline TechAnt - Posted January 15 2021 - 10:41 AM

TechAnt

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,303 posts
  • LocationLos Angeles, California

do they ship the ants australia nest worldwide? isn't it expensive?

Yep. They ship worldwide, expensive, also yes.


My Ants:
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen

#18 Offline M_Ants - Posted January 31 2021 - 11:59 AM

M_Ants

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,392 posts
  • LocationSan Diego CA


Edited by M_Ants, January 31 2021 - 12:02 PM.

Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about


#19 Offline M_Ants - Posted February 16 2021 - 8:34 PM

M_Ants

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,392 posts
  • LocationSan Diego CA

The baldies brood has been growing since I put them back on heat. Been feeding lots of fruit flies lately. They have a larvae spinning the first cocoon of this year right now. 


Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about


#20 Offline antsandmore - Posted February 17 2021 - 8:12 AM

antsandmore

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 705 posts
  • LocationSan Diego California

The baldies brood has been growing since I put them back on heat. Been feeding lots of fruit flies lately. They have a larvae spinning the first cocoon of this year right now. 

I love how they look! I need to get these lol


Ants I am keeping:

 none for now, planning on being more active this year





0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users