110 replies to this topic

[Stubyvast]

Wow I gotta say that's a lot of alates! probably the increase of food helped with that. Are you planning to release them to mate during the next nuptial flight? Might be hard to do but who knows! Can these queens stay in the nest and mate with their brethren? 

[JAnt]

Wow I gotta say that's a lot of alates! probably the increase of food helped with that. Are you planning to release them to mate during the next nuptial flight? Might be hard to do but who knows! Can these queens stay in the nest and mate with their brethren?

The alates were from two years ago. I didn't release them, but I did pull out some of them, hoping they’d try to take flight; it didn't happen. Although they kept the queen alates, those same alates took their wings off and mainly did brood care within the nest. I have yet to be sure whether they can mate within the colony.

[JAnt]

Monthly update soon! I think we’ll see alates this year! Photos will be included.
Monthly update soon! I think we’ll see alates this year! Photos will be included.

Edited by JAnt, July 3 2024 - 7:01 AM.

[JAnt]

Update!

Male and female alates were spotted! The colony is still doing well, and much brood is coming!

They’ve been active this summer, possibly because they have alates again.

I finally decided and had the time to expand their nest, choosing my THA labyrinth (5x7 nest) instead of our traditional THA mini/xl hearths. They have a much bigger outworld this time.

BEFORE:


AFTER a few days:


Even with this amount, each of the mini/xl hearths is still full but not as tightly filled.

Four years and five months!

Thanks for checking out this journal!

[ANTdrew]

Very similar to the nest I have my bicarnata in. They look great in it.

[Zzz]

Wow, they are awesome! Will my Pheidole Pallidula get to that size one day, if they make it?

[JAnt]

Wow, they are awesome! Will my Pheidole Pallidula get to that size one day, if they make it?

If you provide them with the right care and meet their needs (heat, sweetness, food, and water), the colony will do well.

It also depends on the colony and how big they can get. My goal in ant keeping is to make them live as long as possible. The colony growth is just a bonus fun in the hobby. I get to see much more activity.

[JAnt]

Hey everyone,

This colony is still doing well! I usually keep them on heat, but this time, there has been no heating since the beginning of October.

Their alates have taken their wings off once again, living in the colony. None has been culled.

I had their natural die-offs + a bit of foragers that escaped. The numbers are still a lot.

I’ve just been providing without looking. I don’t know where my queens are, but I see fresh eggs! Even without heat, I might give it back.

Thanks for reading!

4 years 9 months!!!

[Zhuge]

Update? Also, how hard is the cleaning for your colony? (I am trying to get a colony of Pheidole californica myself.)

[JAnt]

Update? Also, how hard is cleaning your colony? (I am trying to get a colony of Pheidole California myself.)

Hello Zhuge,

I have never cleaned anything. They make a massive pile in the outworld. I used to clean it, but I’ve expanded their formicarium, which means “new outworld, new mountain pile,” so cleaning is easy; I just stopped doing it.

I know it's a late reply, but good luck!

[JAnt]

Hello everyone!

I know it’s been a while since I’ve updated this journal of my Pheidole californica, but this colony is still doing well!!!

They have new batches of eggs and brood on the glass.

After 5 years and 3 months (May 27, 2025), the Argentine ants discovered the existence of my colony and made a trail of invasion. The table I had them on was full of Argentines running around, but strangely, there was not a sign of a single Argentine ant the next day, which was pretty mysterious to me.

(For context: As I have mentioned before in one of my journal updates, I always have escapees that stick close to the formicarium, gathering debris near where they exited — only minor workers get out, while majors and queens cannot)

I got a single photo of the worker fighting for their life.
For context, the darker ant is the pheidole on the bottom, while the top is Argentine.

Thanks for reading!

5 years, 3 months!!! (May 27, 2025)

Edited by JAnt, May 27 2025 - 10:03 AM.