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Tiny and Unusual
Started By
Quintessence
, Feb 18 2021 6:54 AM
14 replies to this topic
#1
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Posted February 18 2021 - 6:54 AM
I have a new colony of tiny ants which may need special care as their characteristics may be non-standard.
I caught the queen indoors – in an air-conditioned room. She could have flown in through a window, of course, but it does seem an unlikely place. Only 5 mm long, and I have normally ignored small queens, but having not caught queens for a long time, I tried my luck. The first time I noticed births, there were 6 nanitics, about 1.5 mm long.
Why is this species unusual? Unlike my other colonies, the queen and brood do not crave humidity. They started life in a tooth-pick container, and the queen laid her eggs in the green cap rather than near the cotton wool. The picture shows the only time I have seen the queen leave the cap, and it was only to sample the honey, not fill herself with it. She stays there with her brood, yes, away from the water supply. How odd. Sometimes one or two workers go for a drink of water, so it’s still necessary.
They have not eaten much. The workers do not seem interested in the honey, and I’ve given them only small cockroach legs for their protein so far. I hope they’ll be not too difficult to feed.
Another interesting observation is that it seems the larvae do not turn into pupae. Just before becoming adults, they look like tiny pale immobile ants, but they’re too small for me to be sure.
I think they’re a crematogaster species with pointy rear ends, but that could be part of my imagination. One might want to wait for them to grow a little to be more confident.
Perhaps it doesn’t matter what their exact name is. I’d be more interested in getting tips on how to keep them.
#2
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Posted February 18 2021 - 9:10 AM
Pheidole sp. Better pics, a location and a date would help. Also, no cocoon is a trait that all Myrmecine ants have.
Edited by TennesseeAnts, February 18 2021 - 9:13 AM.
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#3
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Posted February 18 2021 - 9:11 AM
it looks more like crematogaster to me. Look at the pointed gasters on the workers.Pheidole sp. Better pics, a location and a date would help.
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My journals:
Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Formica subintegra: https://www.formicul...ological-brood/
Harpagoxenus canadensis: https://www.formicul...-14th/?p=155079
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Formica subintegra: https://www.formicul...ological-brood/
Harpagoxenus canadensis: https://www.formicul...-14th/?p=155079
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
#4
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Posted February 18 2021 - 10:07 AM
it looks more like crematogaster to me. Look at the pointed gasters on the workers.Pheidole sp. Better pics, a location and a date would help.
i can see this, but the queen does not seem like a crematogaster. the size would probably make them a pheidole species. also, the gasters are hard to tell if they're actually hart shaped or just round from this angle.
Ants I am keeping:
- Crematogaster colony, queen and 15+ workers coming strong!
#5
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Posted February 18 2021 - 10:14 AM
The queen definitely looks like crematogaster. Look at the head. Also some crematogaster can be tiny, i had a species that was 2mm. Also as for OP’s question, I’d feed them fruit flies for now, and since honey doesn’t work, try sugar water.
Edited by Manitobant, February 18 2021 - 10:35 AM.
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My journals:
Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Formica subintegra: https://www.formicul...ological-brood/
Harpagoxenus canadensis: https://www.formicul...-14th/?p=155079
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Formica subintegra: https://www.formicul...ological-brood/
Harpagoxenus canadensis: https://www.formicul...-14th/?p=155079
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
#6
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Posted February 18 2021 - 11:00 AM
The queen definitely looks like crematogaster. Look at the head. Also some crematogaster can be tiny, i had a species that was 2mm. Also as for OP’s question, I’d feed them fruit flies for now, and since honey doesn’t work, try sugar water.
I can see what you're talking about, but until better pics and a date and location are specified, I'm sticking with my ID.
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#7
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Posted February 18 2021 - 11:10 AM
My first thought was Crematogaster but I agree better images and data are needed.
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#8
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Posted February 18 2021 - 1:40 PM
I agree with Crematogaster. Better pictures are needed, however.
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Ants in Possession:
Lasius americanus
Nylanderia vivdula
Temnothorax rudis My Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube....94qmMPiVKmlVldA
Pheidole navigans
It is a poor reflection upon our society that we now hope for one that forces everybody to be the same. Humanity is defined by our differences, without them, we would just be monotone blobs. Think of the similarity in the fact that we are different instead of the fact that someone else is evil or "racist" because they are different.
#9
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Posted February 18 2021 - 2:24 PM
I also agree with Crematogaster as the ID and that better pictures are needed.
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#10
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Posted February 19 2021 - 9:08 AM
Thanks to all who have replied.
Here's a slightly clearer photo that suggests gasters are indeed heart-shaped.
Still no interest in moving to be near water, and they don't seem to care for sugar water. Surely they must eat sooner or later.
Compare these with this other type. The queens look similar but the workers look different to me.
#11
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Posted February 19 2021 - 9:16 AM
Alright, definitely Crematogaster. A pretty queen!
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#12
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Posted February 19 2021 - 9:21 AM
Yeah that’s crematogaster. Are you in southeast asia by any chance?
- TennesseeAnts likes this
My journals:
Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Formica subintegra: https://www.formicul...ological-brood/
Harpagoxenus canadensis: https://www.formicul...-14th/?p=155079
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Formica subintegra: https://www.formicul...ological-brood/
Harpagoxenus canadensis: https://www.formicul...-14th/?p=155079
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
#14
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Posted February 19 2021 - 10:14 AM
noice
X1 Aphaenogaster .cf fulva Manica invidia queen with brood!
X1 Crematogaster species 1 worker
Ant Plants: Hydnophytum Puffii
Carnivorous plants:
X1 Venus fly trap
X1 pitcher plant
Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.
#15
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Posted February 19 2021 - 12:12 PM
Looks like Crematogaster Treubi.
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