7 replies to this topic

[B2-Bomber-Ants]

As this is my first experience in Ant Keeping, I am completely prepared if I fail at getting a successful colony, but being inspired by Game of Thrones I brought some fun into my first experience.

 

The following journal is one I had started in September this year (2017) and I will go ahead and post it as an attachment as it won't let me copy and paste on here. I will then continue my journal in real time and I welcome

feedback and help from anyone willing.

 

 

Also I am unsure what species I have, so please look in the ANT ID Forum and try to help me out. I think I have them down to either Harvester Ants or Big Headed Ants

 

 

 

Attached Files

•  Ant documentary.docx   16.07KB   71 downloads

[B2-Bomber-Ants]

Well it looks like my species of ant is Pogonomyrmex rugosus. Thank you for all who helped ID them. Here is a pic of what she looks like (Not actually her, just a pic I found online)

[B2-Bomber-Ants]

Day 35 (10/9/2017)

 

Went to check on Khaleesi today, and once again I am concerned. I can not see her eggs anymore. She either ate them or is hiding them in the cotton. She is also trying to pull out the cotton that keeps her in the tube. She also is digging a hole/tunnel into the water cotton swab as well. Any friendly advice I can get about her actions?

[Goldsystem]

Sometimes tugging on the cotton means the queen is infertile, but don't give up hope! When my queens start pulling on the cotton I give them a small foraging bin, that way they can wander about freely. Hopefully that helps

[B2-Bomber-Ants]

I am almost considering figuring out on the possibility of how to boost since I have located 3 nearby nests of where she probably came from.

[B2-Bomber-Ants]

Day 64 (11/7/2017)

 

Today I have decided to move Khaleesi to a test tube setup, as her make-shift syringe is getting pretty dirty. Low and behold she went straight to the new tube as soon as I connected them. Still no sign of eggs, but I will remain to keep her either till she does have eggs that results to a colony....or she dies.

[B2-Bomber-Ants]

Day 84 (11/27/17)

Finally got some good news, I made a quick peek after not disturbing Khaleesi, and she has a few eggs she seems to be hovering over and caring for. I will probably not disturb her again for another 3 weeks and hope by then I have a couple workers before she decides to hibernate. Not sure how the process goes for eggs and pupae, would they hibernate too, or do they fully develop and then hibernate?

[T.C.]

If it laid it might try to get to its first workers, however alot of species will hibernate with larva.