18 replies to this topic

[Taco_Tuesday]

Starting another colony, and would like to grow Pheidole this time.  If you are or know a seller here in Texas, please reach out to me.  Thanks.

[Manitobant]

Ants emporium has some i think.

[Taco_Tuesday]

Thank you, Manitobant.  I did go by his website earlier, and he has a Pheidole species coming soon.  I hope to get started ASAP, but if I have to wait for his, I will.  Thanks again.

[T.C.]

I was down in Texas a few years ago and saw them flying in mass numbers. Might be easy to collect your own. Love the username by the way.

[Taco_Tuesday]

Thanks for the info, TC.  Down here in South Texas, we are loaded with Camponotus in the areas where mesquite trees are growing, and Solenopsis in all of the parks.  We've been focused on finding a mound for a few months now, but no luck.

[Ant_Bee_and_Opie]

I just joined today and from Texas......talk about timing!  I'm looking to start a colony, but don't know what would be a good species.  Is Pheidole a hard one to raise?  

[Ant_Bee_and_Opie]

I also ordered stuff from AntsCanada.  My son (the "Opie") is getting into this hobby, so I want to do it right.  If there's better quality out there, I want to know what to look for.

[That_one_ant_guy]

Check our tar heel ants, AC nests are ok but tar heel ants is much better

Edited by That_one_ant_guy, May 2 2022 - 1:49 PM.

[Taco_Tuesday]

Hey Ant Bee, welcome to the site. I’ve pieced my setup from multiple sellers, and custom-built the rest. I do have an enclosure I got from Ants Canada back in the day, it’s held up okay. As for Pheidole being the right fit, I couldn’t tell you - I bought what I thought was Pheidole on this forum about a year ago, but it turned out not to be from that genus - I never had one major or supermajor with the oversized head. So I’m giving it another try while I continue building this current colony. Good lick, though - if I can find someone to help me out, hopefully they can do the same for you.

[ColAnt735]

I also ordered stuff from AntsCanada.  My son (the "Opie") is getting into this hobby, so I want to do it right.  If there's better quality out there, I want to know what to look for.

Pheidole in general is not a hard genus to raise. I would recommend buying products from Tar Heel Ants linked here: https://tarheelants.com/. Unfortunately there is not a list of ant species of Texas' ants but I would recommend getting ants within the genus' of Pheidole, Tetramorium, Novomessor, and Myrmecocystus. As you progress in ant keeping you are fortunate enough to be able to catch Leafcutter Ants (Atta texana and Acromyrmex versicolor).

 

Taco_Tuesday we could identify your ants if you want.

Edited by ColAnt735, May 2 2022 - 1:55 PM.

[Ant_Bee_and_Opie]

How do you reply to a particular post?!? This is driving me f'n bananas.

 

Thank you OneAntGuy and ColAnt - just went to that site and making a Christmas list.  Atta is my goal (the Houston Museum here in Texas has a sweet setup of an Atta colony that's in constant leaf motion).

[Taco_Tuesday]

How do you reply to a particular post?!? This is driving me f'n bananas.

Thank you OneAntGuy and ColAnt - just went to that site and making a Christmas list. Atta is my goal (the Houston Museum here in Texas has a sweet setup of an Atta colony that's in constant leaf motion).

If you’re doing this on your phone, it’s hard to notice, but if you tap on a post, the “Quote” button shows up on the bottom. Tap that, then reply under the quotes text.

Enjoy!

Edited by Taco_Tuesday, May 2 2022 - 2:18 PM.

[Ant_Bee_and_Opie]

 

How do you reply to a particular post?!? This is driving me f'n bananas.

Thank you OneAntGuy and ColAnt - just went to that site and making a Christmas list. Atta is my goal (the Houston Museum here in Texas has a sweet setup of an Atta colony that's in constant leaf motion).

If you’re doing this on your phone, it’s hard to notice, but if you tap on a post, the “Quote” button shows up on the bottom. Tap that, then reply under the quotes text.

Enjoy!

 

 

Thank you, Taco.  And I'm an idiot.  And you're right..... I am on my phone.  I am smarter than this, trust me when you sell ants to me guys.  Ants eat Wolf Brand Chili, right?

Edited by Ant_Bee_and_Opie, May 2 2022 - 2:26 PM.

[Taco_Tuesday]

I also ordered stuff from AntsCanada. My son (the "Opie") is getting into this hobby, so I want to do it right. If there's better quality out there, I want to know what to look for.

Pheidole in general is not a hard genus to raise. I would recommend buying products from Tar Heel Ants linked here: https://tarheelants.com/. Unfortunately there is not a list of ant species of Texas' ants but I would recommend getting ants within the genus' of Pheidole, Tetramorium, Novomessor, and Myrmecocystus. As you progress in ant keeping you are fortunate enough to be able to catch Leafcutter Ants (Atta texana and Acromyrmex versicolor).

Taco_Tuesday we could identify your ants if you want.

That would be great, ColAnt. I visited the myrmecology department at Mississippi State last summer, and told them what I had (according to the seller, they were Pheidole texana). They didn’t have any samples of that species, so they couldn’t help identify it with the pics I had at that time. I’ll try to get a pic to send tonight.

[Manitobant]

I also ordered stuff from AntsCanada.  My son (the "Opie") is getting into this hobby, so I want to do it right.  If there's better quality out there, I want to know what to look for.

Pheidole in general is not a hard genus to raise. I would recommend buying products from Tar Heel Ants linked here: https://tarheelants.com/. Unfortunately there is not a list of ant species of Texas' ants but I would recommend getting ants within the genus' of Pheidole, Tetramorium, Novomessor, and Myrmecocystus. As you progress in ant keeping you are fortunate enough to be able to catch Leafcutter Ants (Atta texana and Acromyrmex versicolor).
 
Taco_Tuesday we could identify your ants if you want.

There is actually a list of ants in texas: https://www.antweb.o...e=United States

[Taco_Tuesday]

This pic is the best I could do for now. Hope you can make something of it.

[Taco_Tuesday]

I also ordered stuff from AntsCanada.  My son (the "Opie") is getting into this hobby, so I want to do it right.  If there's better quality out there, I want to know what to look for.

Pheidole in general is not a hard genus to raise. I would recommend buying products from Tar Heel Ants linked here: https://tarheelants.com/. Unfortunately there is not a list of ant species of Texas' ants but I would recommend getting ants within the genus' of Pheidole, Tetramorium, Novomessor, and Myrmecocystus. As you progress in ant keeping you are fortunate enough to be able to catch Leafcutter Ants (Atta texana and Acromyrmex versicolor).
 
Taco_Tuesday we could identify your ants if you want.

There is actually a list of ants in texas: https://www.antweb.o...e=United States

This pic is the best I could do for now. Hope you can make something of it.

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[ColAnt735]

 

 

I also ordered stuff from AntsCanada.  My son (the "Opie") is getting into this hobby, so I want to do it right.  If there's better quality out there, I want to know what to look for.

Pheidole in general is not a hard genus to raise. I would recommend buying products from Tar Heel Ants linked here: https://tarheelants.com/. Unfortunately there is not a list of ant species of Texas' ants but I would recommend getting ants within the genus' of Pheidole, Tetramorium, Novomessor, and Myrmecocystus. As you progress in ant keeping you are fortunate enough to be able to catch Leafcutter Ants (Atta texana and Acromyrmex versicolor).
 
Taco_Tuesday we could identify your ants if you want.

There is actually a list of ants in texas: https://www.antweb.o...e=United States

 

Never mind you guys should use Antweb to find out what species are in Texas (thanks for finding that Manitobant). Although it is pretty outdated. Also Taco_Tuesday that is definitely a Pheidole species.

Edited by ColAnt735, May 2 2022 - 7:13 PM.

[Taco_Tuesday]

Thank you for confirming, ColAnt. That’s very reassuring.

I also ordered stuff from AntsCanada. My son (the "Opie") is getting into this hobby, so I want to do it right. If there's better quality out there, I want to know what to look for.

Pheidole in general is not a hard genus to raise. I would recommend buying products from Tar Heel Ants linked here: https://tarheelants.com/. Unfortunately there is not a list of ant species of Texas' ants but I would recommend getting ants within the genus' of Pheidole, Tetramorium, Novomessor, and Myrmecocystus. As you progress in ant keeping you are fortunate enough to be able to catch Leafcutter Ants (Atta texana and Acromyrmex versicolor).

Taco_Tuesday we could identify your ants if you want.

There is actually a list of ants in texas: https://www.antweb.o...e=United States

Never mind you guys should use Antweb to find out what species are in Texas (thanks for finding that Manitobant). Although it is pretty outdated. Also Taco_Tuesday that is definitely a Pheidole species.

Thank you for confirming, ColAnt. That’s very reassuring.

Edited by Taco_Tuesday, May 3 2022 - 5:55 AM.