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SHmealer's Pheidole carrolli

pheidole pheidole carrolli shmealer

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#1 Offline SHmealer - Posted October 22 2023 - 8:15 AM

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Pheidole carrolli is an extremely rare species endemic to Florida, they are closely related to Pheidole pilifera with their differences being that carrolli is more orange and has (to my knowledge) larger majors. Their nest entrances are usually just holes in the ground with little to no tumuli present. I have found this species relatively abundant in their far northeastern range. They are extremely nocturnal only being active at night or late evening to excavate. I first found out this species was found by me early this year when digging into a Pheidole littoralis colony, i happened to, by chance, partially dig up a carrolli colony finding workers and brood. I had known from a friend they flew from July-August so i then waited... 

August, 17, 2023
 I was trying to dig up Pheidole littoralis founding chambers when I just to happened to dig up a founding colony of Pheidole carrolli with a single worker
IMG_4681.jpg?ex=65446491&is=6531ef91&hm=
I Knew a single worker most likely wouldn't be enough so i managed to get some pilifera brood from a friend and some wild carrolli workers to boost her with. 

August, 26, 2023
image.png?ex=6547c107&is=65354c07&hm=9e2
The large worker is pilifera, and the smaller workers are boosted carrolli workers.

September, 1st, 2023

Lots of small larvae and still some pilifera brood yet to eclose.
image.png?ex=6547c0c8&is=65354bc8&hm=b20
September, 26, 2023
image.png?ex=6547c070&is=65354b70&hm=241
Queen likes to play dead and a sign of a soon to be major.

October, 22, 2023
IMG_5039.jpg?ex=6547ab04&is=65353604&hm=

Heres them today, lots of brood, a major, and a packin seed pile. I'm really exited to see how this colony will turn out as they are very poorly studied and almost never kept.


I also have a photo comparing Pheidole carrolli (left) and Pheidole littoralis (right)

IMG_4738.jpg
I also have a Pheidole littoralis journal: https://www.formicul...is/#entry233615

Thanks for reading.


Edited by SHmealer, October 22 2023 - 8:22 AM.

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#2 Offline 100lols - Posted October 25 2023 - 8:08 AM

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Awesome find! It’s interesting how an ant can sometimes be considered rare until it’s discovered to be nocturnal lol.

Looks like the boosting is going well!

#3 Offline SHmealer - Posted November 20 2023 - 4:53 AM

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Colony is doing great, moved them into a petri dish nest and got some pics.
 IMG_5246.jpg?ex=656dc847&is=655b5347&hm=
IMG_5235.jpg?ex=656dc900&is=655b5400&hm=
IMG_5244.jpg?ex=656dc900&is=655b5400&hm=


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#4 Offline mazmurlo - Posted November 20 2023 - 6:11 PM

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Alates when! 



#5 Offline SHmealer - Posted January 9 2024 - 12:29 AM

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Colony is alive and thriving! 
IMG_3577.JPG?ex=65af77dc&is=659d02dc&hm=IMG_3565.JPG?ex=65af77dc&is=659d02dc&hm=


Edited by SHmealer, January 9 2024 - 12:30 AM.

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#6 Offline BleepingBleepers - Posted February 4 2024 - 10:48 PM

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Man, look at those big headed majors! Crazy. I mentioned this somewhere else before but can you imagine getting born with a physical head that's so much larger than everyone around you? The neck muscles you'd need to hold it up too! :lol:

 

Really like that recent post, very interesting pictures!


Edited by BleepingBleepers, February 4 2024 - 10:49 PM.

JOURNAL: Camponotus CA02 - First Time At Ant Keeping CLICK HERE

JOURNAL: Ectomomyrmex cf. astutus - Ant Species #2 CLICK HERE






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