49 replies to this topic

[NicholasP]

And I just fixed the problem. With the power of sugar water. Chunky Formica is happy Formica.

[NicholasP]

Yay. I forgot to say that one of the pupae was unraveled and it’s a Polyergus pupa! It’s still white colored though but it hasn’t died so I hope everything keeps going well.

[NicholasP]

I just finished moving them into their petri nest now. I wanted to get this out of the way before they get their nanitics. High quality pictures will come tonight.

[NicholasP]

Sorry guys! I feel asleep last night. But I now have the pictures! Enjoy.

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[ZTYguy]

Awesome!

[NicholasP]

Thank you! They had two larvae spin cocoons last night and it was really cool watching them pile dirt on the larvae.

[Chickalo]

Did you make that nest or did you buy it?  They look amazing in it nontheless!  Polyergus would be my favourite ant if it wasnt parasitic because of its awesome crimson colour.

[NicholasP]

Did you make that nest or did you buy it?  They look amazing in it nontheless!  Polyergus would be my favourite ant if it wasnt parasitic because of its awesome crimson colour.

I actually did made that nest. I will be starting up a buisness for the nests very soon so stay posted!

Edited by NicholasP, June 10 2021 - 8:47 AM.

[NicholasP]

I've also decided to name the queen "Valentina" which supposedly in latin means: Strong, Vigorous, and healthy. Let me know if you guys like that name.

[NicholasP]

Did you make that nest or did you buy it?  They look amazing in it nontheless!  Polyergus would be my favourite ant if it wasnt parasitic because of its awesome crimson colour.

Polyergus in my opinion should be classified as intermediate or Expert level if you don't live near mountains.

[NicholasP]

These ants are very fun though if you get a colony going well.

[ZTYguy]

I live in SoCal. Where do I find them. I really want some now after seeing all these journals popping up.

[NicholasP]

I live in SoCal. Where do I find them. I really want some now after seeing all these journals popping up.

The problem is they're mountainous ants that live at around 8,000 ft and they're rare. They must conduct raids at least twice a month because they can't eat or even care for themselves without Formica hosts. They're mandibles are shaped in the form of a scythe like some Neivamyrmex which allows them to carry away the raided brood. They need a lot of brood. Also I'm not sure where to find them in CA. But before trying to keep them search up all the info on them possible. Once that is complete try to only take one small colony of Polyergus as to not hurt the ecosystem. And I am begging to you not to feed them fish flakes. After that try getting a Fortress formicarium from THA like Cheeto with his ants. And you should be good to go.

[NicholasP]

Also, Please check out CheetoLord02's Polyergus journal to learn a little bit more about Polyergus care.

[azzaaazzzz00]

Sadly, I have to travle out of my town to find queens that aren't Camponotus. Our town is like the Camponotus target to take over, I could practically hear them in my sleep, Queen: GET EM CHILDREN, WE SHALL DOMINATE THE WORLD, MWAHAHAHA.

[NicholasP]

Sadly, I have to travle out of my town to find queens that aren't Camponotus. Our town is like the Camponotus target to take over, I could practically hear them in my sleep, Queen: GET EM CHILDREN, WE SHALL DOMINATE THE WORLD, MWAHAHAHA.

lol

I already here my queen plotting to take down with just her nanitics a 10,000 worker formica colony lol.

[azzaaazzzz00]

Lol, she is one cofident queen, while I, on the other hand have a queen with 20 workers who is to timid to take a step out of a test tube set up.

[NicholasP]

Lol, she is one cofident queen, while I, on the other hand have a queen with 20 workers who is to timid to take a step out of a test tube set up.

oof. I bet by the end of the week this queen will have biological workers.

[azzaaazzzz00]

Also, this is just a random question: what do you feed your queen the following few weeks after the first nanitic arrives?

[NicholasP]

Also, this is just a random question: what do you feed your queen the following few weeks after the first nanitic arrives?

do you mean for Polyergus?