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MyrmecologyMaven's Formica montana journal

Started By MyrmecologyMaven , Feb 26 2025 5:50 PM

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7 replies to this topic

#1 Offline MyrmecologyMaven - Posted February 26 2025 - 5:50 PM

MyrmecologyMaven

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I received this colony of Formica Montana from Ants_Dakota today! I really can't recommend Ants_Dakota enough times! He's an amazing seller that you should buy from if you can! They arrived in a small formicarium made by UtahAnts. I really like this formicarium but the holes on it didn't quite fit any of my tubing to give them an outworld. I had a mini hearth laying around so I moved them into it. They are currently hiding in the entrance hole and on the ceiling so I couldn't get any good photos. It may be hard to see in the photos but they have over 10 workers. They are so pretty and interesting to view in person. I will try to get some more photos once they settle in.

 

The nest they arrived in with the new mini hearth in the background.

IMG_2328.jpeg

 

 

The ants shortly after the move into the new mini hearth.

IMG_2329.jpeg

 

 

The only photo I was able to get because of them hiding in the entrance hole and the ceiling.

IMG_2332.jpeg


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#2 Offline OwlThatLikesAnts - Posted February 27 2025 - 5:24 AM

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The only photo I was able to get because of them hiding in the entrance hole and the ceiling.

I have also noticed that they really like to hide in corners and stuff like that, one time they even brought back a bunch of substrate in their nest to carve out a whole cave for the colony to hide in  :facepalm:. I have also noticed that Formica tend to get very jittery whenever they even feel the slightest vibrations, so what I like to do is put a towel under their formicarium to reduce vibrations.


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Currently keeping:

 

1x Formica subsericea, 35-40 workers +  BIG brood pile + 10 pupa

1x Crematogaster cerasi, 2 workers + eggs / larva? (pls don't die workers) *1 is trying to die* (I SAID DON’T DIE)

1x Myrmica ruba sp around 10 workers

 

*As you watch your ants march, remember that every thing begins with a small step and continued by diligence and shared dreams*

-A.T (Me)

 

#3 Offline MyrmecologyMaven - Posted March 29 2025 - 8:40 AM

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The colony is doing well! They have a nice pile of cocoons and more eggs! The queen is now physogastric and I expect this colony to fill the hearth in the next 6 months.


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#4 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted March 29 2025 - 2:45 PM

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The colony is doing well! They have a nice pile of cocoons and more eggs! The queen is now physogastric and I expect this colony to fill the hearth in the next 6 months.

Awesome! Any pictures?


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Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship ants nationwide

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

My Formica sp. Journal

My Lasius sp. Journal

My Micro Ants Journal

#5 Offline MyrmecologyMaven - Posted March 29 2025 - 4:02 PM

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The colony is doing well! They have a nice pile of cocoons and more eggs! The queen is now physogastric and I expect this colony to fill the hearth in the next 6 months.

Awesome! Any pictures?

 

Sadly not at the moment! I have had vertigo for the past couple days and haven't taken the time to photograph my ants! I'll take photos in the next few days and update all my journals!


Edited by MyrmecologyMaven, March 29 2025 - 4:03 PM.

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#6 Offline MyrmecologyMaven - Posted April 17 2025 - 3:57 PM

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Finally got around the taking some photos They have a higher worker count then when I got them and some nice eggs and pupae. It's hard to see in the photos because they scatter when they feel any vibrations.

 

4335CA01-BD1D-41A8-A836-0A2876BD6945.jpeg

 

C4BEF4F2-1B7E-4278-ADFE-DC610D60E52F.jpeg


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#7 Offline OwlThatLikesAnts - Posted April 18 2025 - 8:38 AM

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Finally got around the taking some photos They have a higher worker count then when I got them and some nice eggs and pupae. It's hard to see in the photos because they scatter when they feel 

I wanted to ask.. do you cover the nest with a light protection? Because if you do, it will explain why they scatter, another reason is yeah, there is in fact too much vibrations and they are sensitive to that and if you cover them it amplifies the effect


Edited by OwlThatLikesAnts, April 18 2025 - 8:38 AM.

  • MyrmecologyMaven likes this

Currently keeping:

 

1x Formica subsericea, 35-40 workers +  BIG brood pile + 10 pupa

1x Crematogaster cerasi, 2 workers + eggs / larva? (pls don't die workers) *1 is trying to die* (I SAID DON’T DIE)

1x Myrmica ruba sp around 10 workers

 

*As you watch your ants march, remember that every thing begins with a small step and continued by diligence and shared dreams*

-A.T (Me)

 

#8 Offline MyrmecologyMaven - Posted April 18 2025 - 10:39 AM

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Finally got around the taking some photos They have a higher worker count then when I got them and some nice eggs and pupae. It's hard to see in the photos because they scatter when they feel 

I wanted to ask.. do you cover the nest with a light protection? Because if you do, it will explain why they scatter, another reason is yeah, there is in fact too much vibrations and they are sensitive to that and if you cover them it amplifies the effect

 

I don't cover them because my room is very low light. Most of the nest is shaded anyways by things on the desk. They always scatter when I open the lid from the vibrations.


Edited by MyrmecologyMaven, April 18 2025 - 10:39 AM.

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