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Dspdrew's Crematogaster sp.6 Journal [244] (Updated 1-18-2021)


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#1 Offline dspdrew - Posted January 18 2021 - 4:11 AM

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1-18-2021
 
I dug up a bunch of these Crematogaster queens on August 16th in Big Bear, California. This was the first time I ever found Crematogaster queens by spotting their founding chambers. I normally catch them on a black light. This is the first time I ever caught them up in these higher elevations as well. These also looked completely different than any other Crematogaster queens I have caught before. They're really short and the gaster is really big and wide. I'm hoping their unique shape might help me ID them if I ever try to. I usually don't waste the time with a genus as difficult as Crematogaster.
 
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This is one of their founding chambers.
 
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These next two were in the process of digging their founding chambers.
 
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Here one of them is digging a founding chamber in a Dirt Box formicarium.

 

 

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Strangely, a month or so went by before a few of these finally started laying eggs.
 
I now have three colonies of these, the largest with about 20 workers.
 
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These built a little structure to close off the nest entrance a little bit just like other species of Crematogaster I have kept before.
 
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#2 Offline ANTdrew - Posted January 18 2021 - 4:24 AM

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Very cool. I’ve never seen any of my Crematogaster build an entrance wall like that before, but my Monomorium did the same thing.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#3 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted January 18 2021 - 8:16 AM

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That queen is super physiogastric!:gallery_2_1956_564738.jpg


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1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube....kUjx-dPFMyVqOLw

 

 Join Our Fledgling Discord Server https://discord.com/...089056687423489


#4 Offline Tyr_Ants - Posted January 18 2021 - 8:18 AM

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Wow very cool, the cermatogaster queen looks very fat best of luck to this queen!

Edited by Tyr_Ants, January 18 2021 - 8:18 AM.

Ant Shop: (restocking soon) https://www.formicul...op/#entry195574  (y)  (y)  (y)  (y)  (y)  (y)  (y)  B)  B)  B)


#5 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted January 18 2021 - 8:26 AM

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I always find it interesting when ants modify their formicaria like that.


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#6 Offline Manitobant - Posted January 18 2021 - 10:25 AM

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Those queens are thicc for crematogaster. Good luck!

#7 Offline antsandmore - Posted January 19 2021 - 11:44 AM

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They look awesome. SO cute!!! I will definitely follow this journal


Ants I am keeping:

 none for now, planning on being more active this year


#8 Offline Chickalo - Posted January 19 2021 - 11:55 AM

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ooh nice, how do you tell the diffrence between a founding chamber and a normal colonies ant hill btw


シグナチャーです。예.

 


#9 Offline antsandmore - Posted January 19 2021 - 12:55 PM

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its probably smaller, and also there's not going to be any workers


Ants I am keeping:

 none for now, planning on being more active this year


#10 Offline Devi - Posted January 19 2021 - 12:58 PM

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Very cool. I’ve never seen any of my Crematogaster build an entrance wall like that before, but my Monomorium did the same thing.

My tetras completely covered one of the side ports in their mini hearths and I couldn't see any of them.  It was really annoying, but I think it made them feel more secure.  



#11 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted January 19 2021 - 1:19 PM

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Wow, I've never seen a Crematogaster quite like that before. Nice catch!


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