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Dspdrew's Camponotus laevigatus Journal [219] (Updated 12-4-2023)
Started By
dspdrew
, Jun 5 2015 7:31 AM
camponotus quercicola carpenter ants journal dspdrew
81 replies to this topic
#1 Offline - Posted June 5 2015 - 7:31 AM
6-5-2015
I found this queen May 30th 2015 in Angelus Oaks, California. I was collecting C. laevigatus queens from giant downed trees in the forest, when later I found out one of them was C. quercicola.
1. Location of collection: Angelus Oaks, California.
2. Date of collection: 6-5-2015.
3. Habitat of collection: Pine/Oak Forest.
4. Length (from head to gaster): 16mm.
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: All black with brown at the tips of its legs and antennae; sparse gold hairs, numerous on cheeks; fairly dull.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: No clypeal carina; large head; elongated eggs.
About three days later, this queen laid three very elongated eggs, similar to those of C. laevigatus.
I found this queen May 30th 2015 in Angelus Oaks, California. I was collecting C. laevigatus queens from giant downed trees in the forest, when later I found out one of them was C. quercicola.
1. Location of collection: Angelus Oaks, California.
2. Date of collection: 6-5-2015.
3. Habitat of collection: Pine/Oak Forest.
4. Length (from head to gaster): 16mm.
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: All black with brown at the tips of its legs and antennae; sparse gold hairs, numerous on cheeks; fairly dull.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: No clypeal carina; large head; elongated eggs.
About three days later, this queen laid three very elongated eggs, similar to those of C. laevigatus.
- nurbs, Barristan, Diffeomorphismus and 3 others like this
#2 Offline - Posted June 5 2015 - 8:47 AM
wow! Great pictures. Beautiful species
#3 Offline - Posted June 5 2015 - 9:01 AM
You should see C. laevigatus with their glistening white hairs.
#4 Offline - Posted June 5 2015 - 1:05 PM
Nice!
#5 Offline - Posted June 8 2015 - 3:50 AM
You found one! I am jealous.
Instagram:
nurbsants
YouTube
California Ants for Sale
Unidentified Myrmecocystus
https://www.formicul...ls-near-desert/
Undescribed "Modoc"
https://www.formicul...mp-ca-5-4-2017/
Camponotus or Colobopsis yogi:
https://www.formicul...a-ca-1-28-2018/
Camponotus us-ca02
https://www.formicul...onotus-us-ca02/
Unidentified Formica
https://www.formicul...l-ca-6-27-2020/
Pencil Case and Test Tube Formicariums
https://www.formicul...m-and-outworld/
Bloodworm Soup
https://www.formicul...bloodworm-soup/
#6 Offline - Posted June 8 2015 - 6:21 AM
Yeah, now to see if I can get lucky enough to have my one and only C. quercicola queen end up a successful one. I have actually had this happen with quite a few other species, so it's not inconceivable.
- Miles likes this
#7 Offline - Posted June 8 2015 - 7:24 AM
Yeah, now to see if I can get lucky enough to have my one and only C. quercicola queen end up a successful one. I have actually had this happen with quite a few other species, so it's not inconceivable.
There's something to be said for collecting only one of a species. For some reason, it's like they know how important they are and are successful! I've definitely shared that experience.
- dspdrew, Ants4fun, Jonathan21700 and 2 others like this
PhD Student & NSF Graduate Research Fellow | University of Florida Dept. of Entomology & Nematology - Lucky Ant Lab
Founder & Director of The Ant Network. Ant keeper since 2009. Insect ecologist and science communicator. He/Him.
#8 Offline - Posted June 8 2015 - 8:08 AM
Yeah, now to see if I can get lucky enough to have my one and only C. quercicola queen end up a successful one. I have actually had this happen with quite a few other species, so it's not inconceivable.
There's something to be said for collecting only one of a species. For some reason, it's like they know how important they are and are successful! I've definitely shared that experience.
This has actually been my experience as well.
#9 Offline - Posted June 8 2015 - 12:35 PM
Yeah, now to see if I can get lucky enough to have my one and only C. quercicola queen end up a successful one. I have actually had this happen with quite a few other species, so it's not inconceivable.
There's something to be said for collecting only one of a species. For some reason, it's like they know how important they are and are successful! I've definitely shared that experience.
This has actually been my experience as well.
Same here.
#10 Offline - Posted June 8 2015 - 1:14 PM
Since this species lives in Oak trees specific to CA, I wonder how well she will thrive in a test tube. I will be following this thread with interest.
Instagram:
nurbsants
YouTube
California Ants for Sale
Unidentified Myrmecocystus
https://www.formicul...ls-near-desert/
Undescribed "Modoc"
https://www.formicul...mp-ca-5-4-2017/
Camponotus or Colobopsis yogi:
https://www.formicul...a-ca-1-28-2018/
Camponotus us-ca02
https://www.formicul...onotus-us-ca02/
Unidentified Formica
https://www.formicul...l-ca-6-27-2020/
Pencil Case and Test Tube Formicariums
https://www.formicul...m-and-outworld/
Bloodworm Soup
https://www.formicul...bloodworm-soup/
#11 Offline - Posted June 8 2015 - 1:33 PM
I wonder about that with many species, but I think it's probably no different than a lot of the dirt nesting species that do just fine in a test tube or other formicarium made from a material that they don't normally nest in. Given the choice, I think a living oak tree is just what they would prefer. I could be wrong though, and there might be a reason they just won't thrive in anything else, but I doubt it.
- JenC likes this
#13 Offline - Posted August 24 2015 - 7:37 PM
Update 8-24-2015
This colony is up to six workers now. I'm not sure if that is slow growth or normal for this species because I have never had them before, and haven't ever known anyone else who has. There hasn't been any deaths so that is good. They've been fairly inactive, just huddled together most of the time. They also have kept their test tube very clean.
- GOCAMPONOTUS likes this
#14 Offline - Posted September 16 2015 - 8:49 PM
Update 9-16-2015
Colony's up to eight workers now, with another just around the corner.
- GOCAMPONOTUS likes this
#15 Offline - Posted September 17 2015 - 11:25 AM
I think it's rather normal for most Camponotus species to have very slow growth. Especially in the First year. Hopefully things pick up next year.
- GOCAMPONOTUS likes this
#16 Offline - Posted September 17 2015 - 12:52 PM
Is that a median concavity I see on the clypeal margin? You know what that means...
- GOCAMPONOTUS likes this
#17 Offline - Posted September 17 2015 - 1:06 PM
Are you talking about a clypeal notch? What picture do you see this in? This queen is huge.
- GOCAMPONOTUS likes this
#18 Offline - Posted September 21 2015 - 10:13 PM
Is that a median concavity I see on the clypeal margin? You know what that means...
What does that mean? I mean I have an idea but I am not sure.
- GOCAMPONOTUS likes this
#19 Offline - Posted January 17 2016 - 7:52 PM
Update 1-17-2016
The colony has seven workers now.
A couple days ago I put them into hibernation in my new "hibernation cabinet".
The colony has seven workers now.
A couple days ago I put them into hibernation in my new "hibernation cabinet".
- smares, BADANT and GOCAMPONOTUS like this
#20 Offline - Posted April 28 2016 - 3:58 PM
Update 4-28-2016
I just took this colony out of hibernation yesterday. There's only four workers left now, so hopefully she lays some eggs soon.
They didn't seem interested in crickets when they first warmed up, but they did drink quite a bit of Sunburst Ant Nectar. I gave them a little piece of a cricket today and they did feed on it.
I'm keeping these, along with all the other Camponotus found up in the mountains in another area of my apartment where it's usually about 80 degrees instead of the room where it's always over 90. I think this will probably be better for them.
- GOCAMPONOTUS likes this
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