9 replies to this topic

[futurebird]

After cleaning the outworld of my most messy ants Camponotus nicobarensis* I washed their nasty sand and gave it back to them in a big pile not expecting much.  But look at the lovely sandcastles they have made! I’m so proud of them. I wonder if I should give them some clay so they could design their own nest? They have FOUR nests and they are packed. The two outworlds are packed. I've stopped giving them as much food but they won't quit growing. 

 

I think their sandcastle is really lovely... who knew they could do this?

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Since I haven't been around I will re-explain that I don't really want to keep these ants as they are non-native. They were one of the first colonies I bought online (on etsy! I don't recommend buying live ants there) They were sold as "Camponotus novaeboracensis" a NY state native big lovely carpenter ant that I still wish I had. Instead of one Camponotus novaeboracensis queen with brood the seller sends me TWO Camponotus nicobarensis queens with a few workers. Then assures me that they have multi-queen colonies (uh, not often or easily) I watch in horror as one queen murders the other (her sister, I think) then they start growing... and growing ... and growing. The colony is booming to this day and they make HUGE messes that are hard to keep up with. I feel obligated to care for them until they die since I can't bear to freeze them. And I've come to like them a bit, but I still think that Camponotus discolor/decepiens provided a similar rate of growth and experience. Don't buy ants on ebay or etsy.   

[BleepingBleepers]

Ha, that's super neat! Like part of a coral reef design. Super cool.

[futurebird]

Oh my god... look at the size of this wooden nest this guy got for his Camponotus nicobarensis colony... The thing is... I don't find it absurd at all having seen the way that they are. Since I don't want them to ever have alates I don't think I want to ever go that big. But... yeah. I don't know if people understand what they are getting into with this species. They are growth beasts and hearty. I was kind of neglecting them a little and it didn't matter. If they have water they'll have brood. 

 

I'm trying to find out if they build structures in the wild since that could be quite fun. I need a recipe for a nice "clay for ants" so they can make something more permanent. I'm NOT buying them a nest like this. Do I look like I'm made of money?

 

[Locness]

That is pretty awesome, I wonder if other carpenter species will display that same behavior with sand. Do they store anything in it or have another purpose for it?

[BleepingBleepers]

That is pretty awesome, I wonder if other carpenter species will display that same behavior with sand. Do they store anything in it or have another purpose for it?

I think my CA02 will utilize wet sand to build stuff, but then they find out when it dries, it doesn't hold LOL

 

Disappointment in their faces

 

Otherwise, they just fill their travel tube with loose sand to decrease airflow and make the tube easier to travel (smooth tube vs sand that has more texture)

 

 

My Ecto ants, not carpenter, will actually use substrate and line it up against wet, smooth surfaces so when it dries, they can climb up. Like if we have a brick wall and you have some bricks sticking out to grab hold onto. They're quite the cunning terrors. Like they even take a cocoon shell and place it up as high as they can (the idea of using the least amount of material but achieve the greatest high point). It works too, gotta watch out in getting stung.

Edited by BleepingBleepers, February 14 2024 - 10:15 PM.

[futurebird]

This huge colony is still enjoying their sand castle... and thank god they need the space. They have so much brood. (this photo is just one of their FIVE stashes)

 

Ants are very sensitive to gradients of temperature and humidity. Even a few degrees difference caused by the brown heat cable next to their nest was enough to make them move their pupae closer to the warmth— they are most interested in moving pupating ants near heat while the eggs and larvae need moisture.

 

[Mushu]

This huge colony is still enjoying their sand castle... and thank god they need the space. They have so much brood. (this photo is just one of their FIVE stashes)

 

Ants are very sensitive to gradients of temperature and humidity. Even a few degrees difference caused by the brown heat cable next to their nest was enough to make them move their pupae closer to the warmth— they are most interested in moving pupating ants near heat while the eggs and larvae need moisture.

 

LOL jeez, what if the worker all the way in the front needs to use the restroom. Time to pee on the spot.

Edited by Mushu, February 22 2024 - 11:07 PM.

[futurebird]

Checked in with this colony today and fed them some fruit flies. 

 

A major and a minor teamed up to take down the foe:

 

Big Sister:

 

Little Sister:

 

Working Together:

 

 

There are two things I'd like to call your attention to. 

 

 

Ants can be so cute, or scary, or enigmatic, or alien. The have boat loads of personality for such tiny simple creatures. 

[futurebird]

 

New outworld is cleaned and landscaped for my Camponotus nicobarensis. I may also add some “leaf litter” I would try isopods or springtails… but the girls are so excited to murder— let’s see if they destroy the moss tufts first.

They are also going to put the black dirt all over the place— but that’s the ant way.

 

TWO HOURS LATER

 

 

They are such little twerps look how they have ruined it. LMAO.

They are moulding the mud into little huts to hang out in. They have more than enough nest space, so this is just pure spite for my landscaping efforts.

At least they are busy which I assume is the same thing as having fun for ants.

[futurebird]

 

They are so happy with this new space. 

 

 

They just like to dig in the dirt.