109 replies to this topic

[JCRHJM]

First pic is a worker dragging the evenomated cricket, second is the cricket is being brought into the nest.

 

Feeding time for the Rhytidoponera, I dropped a cricket in for them to hunt, it was only found by 1 worker who had the job of neutralising the much larger cricket before dragging it all the way into the nest, A+ effort. Much like Myrmecia Rhytidoponera are aggressive and have a powerful sting so they aren't afraid of taking on larger prey individually. They also forage singly like the myrmecia as well, so they are not able to call for aid, cooperation only occurs if another foraging worker happens to encounter the issue. 

Edited by JCRHJM, September 11 2021 - 2:29 AM.

[JCRHJM]

The formicarium that I will be housing my myrmecia in arrived today, the brood were still larvae when I checked 2 days ago so they won't be moving in anytime soon but I thought I would show off their future home.

 

I must say I am absolutely chuffed with this, I bought it from ant shop australia, the pricing was very reasonable for such a high quality product and came pre assembled from their workshop. They ship internationally as well so I will leave a link to their site:

 

https://hailesaquari...cariums-acrylic

 

The nest measures 20cm by 13cm, with a depth of 1.5cm which is plenty of space for my myrmecia and comes with shutoff gates so it is suitable for growing out a founding colony. The outworld is 18 x 10 x 10 centimetres. 

 

I can't wait to move my bull ants in

[SYUTEO]

You may have to be patient because it can take a year or more before you can move them in.

 

Since you're also adding your Rhytidoponera metallica into the journal, why not edit the title of the thread?

[JCRHJM]

You may have to be patient because it can take a year or more before you can move them in.

 

Since you're also adding your Rhytidoponera metallica into the journal, why not edit the title of the thread?

I'm planning on moving them in once the first generation has eclosed which should take another month or so by my estimates, also I haven't figured out how to edit the title lol

[SYUTEO]

 

You may have to be patient because it can take a year or more before you can move them in.

 

Since you're also adding your Rhytidoponera metallica into the journal, why not edit the title of the thread?

I'm planning on moving them in once the first generation has eclosed which should take another month or so by my estimates, also I haven't figured out how to edit the title lol

 

You're moving them in so early? It may cause them to pile their trash in the nest may lead to mold.

 

Go to the first post and there should be an 'edit' button and the bottom right. It should take you the page where you first make a post. If not, then click the 'use full editor' button and then change the title.

[JCRHJM]

 

 

You may have to be patient because it can take a year or more before you can move them in.

 

Since you're also adding your Rhytidoponera metallica into the journal, why not edit the title of the thread?

I'm planning on moving them in once the first generation has eclosed which should take another month or so by my estimates, also I haven't figured out how to edit the title lol

 

You're moving them in so early? It may cause them to pile their trash in the nest may lead to mold.

 

Go to the first post and there should be an 'edit' button and the bottom right. It should take you the page where you first make a post. If not, then click the 'use full editor' button and then change the title.

 

this formicarium has shutoff gates so they will be confined to the bottom row initially until they are ready to expand which is pretty cool

[JCRHJM]

Forficata has moved all 6 of her larvae out of the test tube and into the outworld, I am crossing my fingers with all my might that she is not dumping them for some reason

[JCRHJM]

It appears she has moved them back in, no idea why she took her babies on a sightseeing tour.

[SYUTEO]

Perhaps it's due to humidity.

[JCRHJM]

The larvae are still.......... larvae

A few days ago Forficata moved her brood out of the test tube and back in again, it tends to occur when the room is dark, when I turn the light on, she brings them back into the test tube with a quickness.

 

Anyways I've added a second test tube in case she was dissatisfied with her original one. 

[JCRHJM]

Forficata has been refusing food for a few days now, hopefully this means larvae are getting ready to pupate

[JCRHJM]

I was bushwalking today and caught a myrmecia nigrocincta queen!!

Initial observations: she's smaller and slimmer than forficata which are pretty well built myrmecia, she also moves in a much more jerky and staccato manner and climbs a lot in contrast to forficata which prefers to stay on the ground. I am mega excited as this is probably my favourite myrmecia species even though I anticipate them to be more difficult to handle due to their jumping and climbing ability. 

Just like my forficata she is ready to throw down at all times and often postures aggressively towards any nearby movements

Edited by JCRHJM, September 24 2021 - 4:14 AM.

[JCRHJM]

Nigrocincta seems to have settled down in the space between the water tube and the paper rather than the tube itself, she's been eating honey but hasnt gone for a chopped up mealworm, hopefully she moves into the tube when/if she lays. I'm not 100% certain she will found successfully but its still early days yet.

The rhytidoponera metallica have been accepting food on the regular now, so I've released a few live mealworms into their naturalistic enclosure to hunt but they have burrowed down now, I imagine they will be met with a frenzy of stinging once they happen upon the ant chambers. 

Forficata are still all larvae though they have not been eating for over a week. I wonder if they are waiting for higher temperatures to pupate or if they just go through a stage of not eating before spinning coccoons. 

[SYUTEO]

Maybe you can try to water down the substrate a bit for M. forficata and see if that helps.

[Ecthelion]

more coarse susbstrate could make it easier for the queen to cover up her larvae.

Edited by Ecthelion, September 30 2021 - 8:14 PM.

[JCRHJM]

Forficata has started accepting food again, the larvae are still healthy looking and wriggling around. I've added in some coco fibre which has larger particles. 

[JCRHJM]

Metallica colony is getting into the swing of things, they have continued to accept food regularly and just had some roast chicken pieces. Some mealworm carcasses have also appeared which means that the live ones I released have been dispatched and eaten. Their setup is completely overrun by springtails though and the workers constantly chase them around even though I've never seen them catch any. 

They have also made a new entrance hole closer to the front of the setup. 

Edited by JCRHJM, October 2 2021 - 10:28 PM.

[JCRHJM]

Forficata FINALLY has her first cocoon, with another in the process of spinning. I'll get some photos when they have all finished spinning

[Shazza]

Looking foward to some photos

[JCRHJM]

Nigrocincta now spends the majority of the time inside the tube and ate a mealworm piece today as seen below, dare I say I am hopeful she will found successfully