Jump to content

  • Gallery
  • Members
  • Member Map
  • 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

Orion’s Solonopsis Invicta Journal

Started By Orion8 , Jun 2 2021 11:34 AM

  • Please log in to reply
60 replies to this topic

#41 Offline ANTdrew - Posted June 27 2021 - 9:52 AM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,416 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
Do an ID thread, please.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#42 Offline Orion8 - Posted June 29 2021 - 11:44 AM

Orion8

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts
Another thing I do not know is their temperature requirements. When I try to find out I get seriously mixed messages, but I figure you guys know because some of you have probably kept this species yourselves.

#43 Offline ANTdrew - Posted June 29 2021 - 1:16 PM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,416 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
It depends on what your goals are. If you want a somewhat manageable experience, I’d shoot for lower temps around 75. If you want them to thrive and totally take over your entire house, shoot for temps in the 80s.
Read this article: http://tarheelants.b...or-ant.html?m=1
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#44 Offline Orion8 - Posted July 3 2021 - 3:02 PM

Orion8

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts
Weekly Update Four: Nothing has really changed since last week. I do not think there are any pupae yet, and the brood pile is about the same size. But, I thing there are some more eggs between the larvae. Also, my house is 73 F, so that is a factor in the colony growth.
  • AntBoi3030 likes this

#45 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 3 2021 - 3:46 PM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,416 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
Way too cold for colony growth, but that’s a good thing in this case.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#46 Offline Orion8 - Posted July 11 2021 - 4:34 PM

Orion8

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts
Weekly Update Five: I can see that there are 3 pupae, and a TON of larvae. I also have ordered a starter formicarium.
  • AntBoi3030 and eea like this

#47 Offline Orion8 - Posted July 13 2021 - 4:06 PM

Orion8

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts
Turns out I am blind, there are way more pupae than previously speculated.
  • yibsi likes this

#48 Offline yibsi - Posted July 13 2021 - 5:46 PM

yibsi

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 91 posts
  • LocationCentral Illinois

Turns out I am blind, there are way more pupae than previously speculated.


Yeah I’ve done that before, especially with the smaller species.

    Nylanderia parvula - 4 queen polygynous colony with larvae + devoloping workers

    Camponotus pennsylvanicus  - 1 queen with 2 cocoons, and a few larvae and eggs

    Tetramorium immigrans - 3 colonies, first nanetics!

    Formica pallidifulva - 1 queen, 8-10 eggs

    Tetramorium atratulum - 1 queen with roughly 17 host workers

    :D Pheidole pilifera - 1 queen! recently caught! :D

    Solenopsis Molesta - 2 queens so far, polygenous set-up

---------------------------------------------------

My Ant Journal - yibsi’s Wonderful Ant Keeping Journal 5-22-21 - Ant Keeping Journals - Ants & Myrmecology Forum (formiculture.com)

My T. Atratulum Journal - https://www.formicul...ontinued/page-2

#49 Offline Orion8 - Posted July 16 2021 - 8:58 AM

Orion8

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts
The Formicarium I ordered came with a bag or what feels like sand. I just wanted to double check if I am supposed to use it as the substrate, or if I am supposed to mix it with soil or something.

Attached Images

  • DC538E13-B920-40B4-AB3E-BA8E70BCECA6.jpeg
  • 9FB15D6A-643E-42ED-89D9-720932656A4D.jpeg

#50 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 16 2021 - 9:16 AM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,416 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
Which formicarium did you order? If that substrate can be rolled into a ball that retains its shape, then it has some clay in it and will work well. If it’s pure sand, you should mix some clay soil from outside in with it. Bake the soil a bit before hand to sterilize. There’s no magic ratio; you just want to prevent tunnel collapses.
  • DDD101DDD likes this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#51 Offline Orion8 - Posted July 19 2021 - 11:32 AM

Orion8

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts
Weekly Update Six: I got my formicarium, a AC ant tower small(I know they will not stay in it for long) and am currently setting it up. Also, the first worker eclosed, it is still hardening!

Attached Images

  • 8E95D626-373C-41ED-A559-51C36F89B34C.jpeg
  • 06F875F5-EE2E-4822-A3BF-24BB374A7642.jpeg

Edited by Orion8, July 19 2021 - 11:34 AM.

  • Antkeeper01, TacticalHandleGaming and AntBoi3030 like this

#52 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 19 2021 - 11:41 AM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,416 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
Look out!
  • Antkeeper01 and AntBoi3030 like this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#53 Offline Orion8 - Posted July 22 2021 - 5:01 AM

Orion8

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts
First worker hardened!

Attached Images

  • 331D55D3-9286-4C27-9858-140946C43DF3.jpeg

  • Antkeeper01, AntBoi3030 and Antkeeper_21 like this

#54 Offline Antkeeper_21 - Posted July 22 2021 - 5:04 AM

Antkeeper_21

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 54 posts
  • LocationSouthampton, England

WOOHOO, you can now feed them something small


  • Antkeeper01 likes this

#55 Offline Orion8 - Posted July 23 2021 - 5:04 AM

Orion8

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts
I am leaving on a weeklong trip, will they be fine without food until I get back?

#56 Offline AntBoi3030 - Posted July 23 2021 - 5:14 AM

AntBoi3030

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 716 posts
  • LocationMaryland
I don’t think so leave a little raw honey in there. Or you could just feed them now and they’d be A-ok

My favorite queens/colony’s:
Pheidole Tysoni, Selonopis Molesta, Brachymyrmex Depilis, Tetramorium Immagrians, Prenolepis Imparis, Pheidole Bicirinata 

#57 Offline AntBoi3030 - Posted July 23 2021 - 5:16 AM

AntBoi3030

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 716 posts
  • LocationMaryland
I don’t think so leave a little raw honey in there. Or you could just feed them now and they’d be A-ok

My favorite queens/colony’s:
Pheidole Tysoni, Selonopis Molesta, Brachymyrmex Depilis, Tetramorium Immagrians, Prenolepis Imparis, Pheidole Bicirinata 

#58 Offline Antkeeper_21 - Posted July 23 2021 - 6:59 AM

Antkeeper_21

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 54 posts
  • LocationSouthampton, England

how much workers do you have? The more workers, higher demand on food


#59 Offline Orion8 - Posted July 23 2021 - 9:21 AM

Orion8

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts
I put in a q tip tip dipped in honey in there, there is still only one hardened worker but there are maybe 3 others. They should survive off the little bit of honey and the rest of the queen’s stores, right?

#60 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 23 2021 - 9:59 AM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,416 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
Perhaps. Get them some protein, too.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.
Back to Ant Keeping Journals · Next Unread Topic →


0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users