45 replies to this topic

[AsdinAnts]

I’m looking forward to the time it comes. I also know what you mean by them loving crickets. I gave them baby earwigs, dead mealworms, worms, but no. They did eat the baby earwigs and mealworms but not like the cricket, they ABSOLUTELY destroyed that thing. Regarding the cleanliness of the colony, mine isn’t as neat as I would have liked them to be.

[AsdinAnts]

𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐎𝐌𝐁!
Here are a bunch of photos of my ants brood pile and the queen.

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[Artisan_Ants]

Nice! That’s a lot of brood. Man, really wish I had an aphenogaster colony.

[AsdinAnts]

I had to buy this colony, since where I live there are literally 0 aphaenogaster. I think the reason why there brood pile is pretty big rn is because I feed them protein regularly.

[JesseTheAntKid]

I wouldn't feed them too much. I don't know if this will happen, but they might take the protein in too much and have alates before they can be managed. I don't know if this is possible or not, so if not, let me know.

[Artisan_Ants]

I had to buy this colony, since where I live there are literally 0 aphaenogaster. I think the reason why there brood pile is pretty big rn is because I feed them protein regularly.

Yeah, I have a small S. molesta colony, and they have an absolutely HUGE brood pile. It’s only their first year, and by spring they’re gonna explode. Only because I fed them protein though. In my area I have A. picea and A. rudis; A. picea starting flights from July, and ending in November. A. rudis is a August to November flyer. I found an A. picea queen under a rock a year ago. Really should have caught her.

Edited by Artisan_Ants, February 7 2024 - 6:11 PM.

[Artisan_Ants]

I wouldn't feed them too much. I don't know if this will happen, but they might take the protein in too much and have alates before they can be managed. I don't know if this is possible or not, so if not, let me know.

I mean, from what I heard, if you feed them a lot, then they might get Majors (at least for the genus of camponotus; usually occurs in founding) but haven’t heard of alates, especially form such a young colony. They usually get alates when the colony is mature (like a year or two old).

[AsdinAnts]

I wouldn't feed them too much. I don't know if this will happen, but they might take the protein in too much and have alates before they can be managed. I don't know if this is possible or not, so if not, let me know.

I mean, from what I heard, if you feed them a lot, then they might get Majors (at least for the genus of camponotus; usually occurs in founding) but haven’t heard of alates, especially form such a young colony. They usually get alates when the colony is mature (like a year or two old).

Aphaenogaster Occidentalis can inbreed in their nest, they start producing alates at around 20-30 workers, IF the colony is over fed, in which is my plan 😁

[AsdinAnts]

I wouldn't feed them too much. I don't know if this will happen, but they might take the protein in too much and have alates before they can be managed. I don't know if this is possible or not, so if not, let me know.

This is actually my exact plan, I’m trying to get them alates as early as possible so they have backup queens if the main one dies. In Aphaenogaster Occidentalis, inbreeding can occur at 20-30 workers if the colony is fed plenty and there is enough space.

[Artisan_Ants]

I wouldn't feed them too much. I don't know if this will happen, but they might take the protein in too much and have alates before they can be managed. I don't know if this is possible or not, so if not, let me know.

I mean, from what I heard, if you feed them a lot, then they might get Majors (at least for the genus of camponotus; usually occurs in founding) but haven’t heard of alates, especially form such a young colony. They usually get alates when the colony is mature (like a year or two old).

Aphaenogaster Occidentalis can inbreed in their nest, they start producing alates at around 20-30 workers, IF the colony is over fed, in which is my plan

Wow, that's really cool; I Never new that. You have a very good point. S. molesta can also do the same, or in breed, but only with about 50 workers or more, or when they get alates (probably until maturity though). But they are very widespread in my area, and are the only species in the genus Solonopsis in my area (at least for now) but that could probably mean that they get alates earlier.

[AsdinAnts]

𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄!
THEY GOT THEIR FURST PUPA!! 🥳🥳 I’m pretty sure that all the other larvae are gonna pupate soon since they stopped eating.

[TacticalHandleGaming]

!
THEY GOT THEIR FURST PUPA!! I’m pretty sure that all the other larvae are gonna pupate soon since they stopped eating.

 

They grow pretty quick after they get about 50ish workers. You are going to have fun!

[Artisan_Ants]

!
THEY GOT THEIR FURST PUPA!! I’m pretty sure that all the other larvae are gonna pupate soon since they stopped eating.

Congrats! Hope they do well in the following weeks!

Edited by Artisan_Ants, February 15 2024 - 5:58 PM.

[AsdinAnts]

!
THEY GOT THEIR FURST PUPA!! I’m pretty sure that all the other larvae are gonna pupate soon since they stopped eating.

They grow pretty quick after they get about 50ish workers. You are going to have fun!

I’m pretty scared for that to come 😨

!
THEY GOT THEIR FURST PUPA!! I’m pretty sure that all the other larvae are gonna pupate soon since they stopped eating.

Congrats! Hope they do well in the following weeks!

thanks!

Edited by AsdinAnts, February 16 2024 - 9:43 AM.

[JesseTheAntKid]

 

 

I wouldn't feed them too much. I don't know if this will happen, but they might take the protein in too much and have alates before they can be managed. I don't know if this is possible or not, so if not, let me know.

I mean, from what I heard, if you feed them a lot, then they might get Majors (at least for the genus of camponotus; usually occurs in founding) but haven’t heard of alates, especially form such a young colony. They usually get alates when the colony is mature (like a year or two old).

Aphaenogaster Occidentalis can inbreed in their nest, they start producing alates at around 20-30 workers, IF the colony is over fed, in which is my plan

 

Le immortal ant colony buddies!

[AsdinAnts]

I wouldn't feed them too much. I don't know if this will happen, but they might take the protein in too much and have alates before they can be managed. I don't know if this is possible or not, so if not, let me know.

I mean, from what I heard, if you feed them a lot, then they might get Majors (at least for the genus of camponotus; usually occurs in founding) but haven’t heard of alates, especially form such a young colony. They usually get alates when the colony is mature (like a year or two old).

Aphaenogaster Occidentalis can inbreed in their nest, they start producing alates at around 20-30 workers, IF the colony is over fed, in which is my plan

Le immortal ant colony buddies!

I’m pretty sure I’ll need to buy another queen or two because I’m not sure if A. occidentalis are able to completely like make their genes different like black crazy ants are.

[AsdinAnts]

Three more larvae have started to pupate, which means we’ll have 4 pupae in total! 🎉 The queen (maybe some of the workers aswell) have laid a lot more eggs, what I find strange though is that little to none of them have hatched and it’s been like 2-3 weeks. The eggs may just be food for the queen/next gen of workers? not sure.

[JesseTheAntKid]

The eggs make no sense, considering they've been fed protein extensively, and that eggs aren't exactly a cure for a sweet tooth. Maybe check the conditions of the nest, something might be wrong. But about the pupae.

Yay!! Four pupae now! Let us know when they start coloring.

[AsdinAnts]

I’ll let you guys know when they start coloring, by the way, the temperatures are usually around 62-63 degrees, but sometimes my room goes to 77-78 degrees. When the temperature in my room is high, it’s because of my heater. My heater is usually on when i’m home but when I’m not home it gets to the 60’s in my room. Just gotta let you know about the temperature that they go through most of the time.

[AsdinAnts]

Here are some pictures of the brood pile, you can even see one of the pupae’s eyes!

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