3 replies to this topic

[Darkchieftain]

After a couple-year hiatus from antkeeping, I got back into it in late summer and fall last year. I started antkeeping in 2016 and stopped in late 2019. Since most flights had already happened I was unable to catch many queens, aside from a lone Camponotus pennsylvanicus that died shortly after being caught and a random Formica subsericea. Most of my current colonies were bought from fellow antkeepers in Wisconsin. No pictures today as I want to get good pics of all my current colonies before posting them, which will be the first update. Here is my current colony list:
Camponotus novaeboracensis
Crematogastor cerasi
Formica pallidefulva
Formica subsericea x4-5

I plan on collecting as many queens as I can this year to expand my variety of colonies.

[DRpepper]

what species do you want? I'm also looking forward to updates

[Darkchieftain]

I don't have any species in mind specifically, it's more a matter of seeing what I find this season.
I'm excited to grow my currently colonies and update the journal along the way.

[Darkchieftain]

First Update 4/18:
There won't be any pics with this update but I plan on getting some for the next one, which will be on Thursday.

Camponotus novae: 9 workers with 3 pupae and numerous larvae+eggs. The first few workers from the 3rd generation are eclosing, so finally getting some full sized workers. They are in a test tube setup inside an Arthropod Antics outworld.

Crematogastor cerasi: 20-25 workers, ~10 pupae, ~larvae, ~20 eggs. This colony is also in a test tube set up inside an AA outworld. I had to put a new tube in today as their water is basically gone.

Formica pallidefulva: 9 workers , 10 pupae, and an unknown amount of larvae and eggs.

Formica subcericea 1: 10 workers and a pile of about 30 eggs.

Formica subcericea 2: 3 workers and 3 eggs. Just moved them to a fresh test tube, so hopefully the cleaner conditions prompt some development.

Formica subcericea 3: 1 worker and 5-10 eggs.

Formica subcericea 4: No workers, small amount of eggs. Found this queen in late summer during Lasius flights so I don't have high hopes for her, but I'll give her every opportunity.

Formica subcericea 5: Nothing but the queen. She has a relatively large gaster but doesn't seem interested in actually laying eggs.

 

I only plan on keeping one F. sub colony, the extras will be given to another ant keeper as they get workers.
All my colonies are kept in my room and heated with a reptile heating cable. Next month I plan to build a new shelf to house them all, as I'm a bit short on space.