51 replies to this topic

[Ernteameise]

Since they have moved into their new larger outworld, these girls are much bolder. They are more willing to explore and are more active.

They also enjoy their food.

 

 

[antsinvirgina]

I love that they have gotten bigger

well done!  

[Propo.Fol]

Well done!

 

Question --who makes the outworlds you used here?  Were they also anthouse stuff?

[Ernteameise]

Well done!

 

Question --who makes the outworlds you used here?  Were they also anthouse stuff?

Yep- both the small plastic outworld as well as the new bigger one were both made by AntHouse.

I am VERY happy with the company.

Good and friendly customer service, fast delivery (they are from Spain but have faster delivery than the German AntStore!), the products are good quality for the price, my ants seem to love the products and they are more budget friendly.

No complaints from me.

[Ernteameise]

The girls have now so much brood, they have decided to remove all the seed from their test tube and store it between the two test tubes in the outworld.

Plus, I see some really large larvae in there, so I might get my first major (!!!) for this colony soon!

 

[Ernteameise]

I think there is indeed a major larvae in the works there!

 

This colony has really picked up speed with growing.

 

[Ernteameise]

I am happy to report these girls are doing well.

They are still growing and have started doing what I had planned.

Yeah, believe it or not, here are some ants that actually do what you expect them to do.

They have started to store their seed in the cork chambers at the back of their outworld while still living in the test tube.

 

 

[Ernteameise]

So for some reason, today this happened.

The puppae are now stored with the seed.

 

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

So for some reason, today this happened.

The puppae are now stored with the seed.

 

I have found that my pogonomyrmex occidentalis prefer heat for pupae and humidity for larvae.

They will consistently move larvae to be wherever it is most humid, even though that area might be in the low 70's to mid 60's Fahrenheit. While they leave the pupae in the nest on the heat cable where it is consistently between 83-85 all the time.
 

The larvae themselevs are kept in two separate groups. The youngest on the water tower in the nest all the time. While the "mid state" larvae are moved to be where the most humidity is, and warmth seem to be far less important to them during that time.  They bring them all the way to the big outworld if there is a fruit slice generating humidity there and none closer.

Based on my ants I'd imagine this is an expected behavior, pupae where it is warmer, larvae where it is moister.
Not that i knew to expect this,  but that i have recently been observing it.

[Ernteameise]

Right.

I am back from my scuba diving trip in Italy, and I am happy to report that all my girls survived their abandonment.

 

The Rescue colony is now scattered on different sites of the formicarium:

The queen, the seed and the puppae are in the cork nest.

The larvae are kept in the moist test tube.

These girls are eager outside foraging and were pretty happy about the cricket and seed I gave them today after my absence.

 

 

[100lols]

Glad the girls survived your absence! Their awareness of the needs of their young is amazing.

I recently traded for a young Veromessor andrei colony. I think your journal was part of my inspiration

[Ernteameise]

Glad the girls survived your absence! Their awareness of the needs of their young is amazing.
I recently traded for a young Veromessor andrei colony. I think your journal was part of my inspiration

Good luck with your new colony!
I love my harvester ants, there is always something going on.