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Izzy's Lasius ponderosae journal

Started By Izzy , Apr 3 2025 3:04 PM

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#1 Offline Izzy - Posted April 3 2025 - 3:04 PM

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I figured its time to start another journal since I found myself in possession of a species that doesn't seem to be very well documented on here or AntWiki. Before he moved, UtahAnts was clearing out some inventory and I purchased up a lot of what he had, and by doing so I came to find myself the owner of a Lasius ponderosae queen. It felt a bit irresponsible to not make a journal of this species considering how little I can find on them. Hopefully I can do it justice.

 

She went into diapause about mid-November and came out around the beginning of March. She has a small clutch of eggs she has laid (I want to say about 2 weeks ago) you can see just below the front of her body.

 

lasius-ponderosae.jpg

 

Not much to report now, but wanted to get this started. Hopefully nothing weird happens and she survives.

 


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#2 Offline OwlThatLikesAnts - Posted April 3 2025 - 5:23 PM

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Is there anything about this species that differs from other Laius?

 

Anyways I am looking forward to seeing this colony grow! It’s always nice when you find out about a new species, like this one just right now.


  • rptraut likes this

Currently keeping:

 

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

1x Crematogaster cerasi, 1 workers + finally some bigger brood (The worker that was dying died  :facepalm:)

1x Myrmica ruba sp around 10 workers

*New* 1x  founding Camponotus pennsylvanicus + eggs that die (probably infertile)

*New* 2x Camponotus nova, one is infertile

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

-A.T (which is Me)

 

#3 Offline Izzy - Posted April 3 2025 - 8:06 PM

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Is there anything about this species that differs from other Laius?

 

Anyways I am looking forward to seeing this colony grow! It’s always nice when you find out about a new species, like this one just right now.

 

I'll be honest, I have no idea haha! I guess we're going to find out.


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#4 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted April 4 2025 - 5:11 AM

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Is there anything about this species that differs from other Laius?

 

Anyways I am looking forward to seeing this colony grow! It’s always nice when you find out about a new species, like this one just right now.

Considering there is only one study of this ant on antwiki, that study is from 2022, and there is no text documenting any of Lasius ponderosae's behavior, I would say the anting community has no idea what differs, which is what makes this journal so cool!


Edited by Ants_Dakota, April 4 2025 - 5:12 AM.

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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 Izzy - Posted Yesterday, 6:57 PM

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I just wanted to give a quick update on this queen. Her test tube got into very bad shape and was basically out of water and the cotton ball was incredibly moldy and not in good shape. I debated for a while if I should just let her move herself or move her manually. Ultimately I decided to move her manually, as I know sometimes queens can be quite stubborn. I was concerned about leaving her in there any longer. Hopefully I made the right choice. I think it was a bit stressful for her, but it turned out ok and she handled it like a champ.

 

We lost a few eggs during the process (they're so tiny), but it looks like she has a nice healthy pile that is bigger than before the move. I'm a bit surprised none of them appear to be larvae yet as it was about two months ago since my last update and they are still eggs! Maybe she consumed them after the move due to the stress or something. Hopefully we'll see some larvae here soon.

 

ponderosae.jpg

 

 


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#6 Offline ANTdrew - Posted Today, 2:14 AM

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Lasius eggs can take an insane amount of time to hatch.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#7 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted Today, 5:50 AM

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Lasius eggs can take an insane amount of time to hatch.

Agreed, make sure you have them on some sort of heat or the egg and pupa stages will take forever.


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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

#8 Offline Izzy - Posted Today, 8:00 AM

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Lasius eggs can take an insane amount of time to hatch.

Agreed, make sure you have them on some sort of heat or the egg and pupa stages will take forever.

 

 

This is great to know. I haven't kept anything but a Lasius brevicornis before so a bit newer to this genus.

How do you recommend heating a test tube setup? I always struggle to know how to do it properly and worry I'm going to cook them.


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#9 Online RushmoreAnts - Posted Today, 9:34 AM

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Have half or less of the test tube on the heat source to provide a heat gradient so the queen can decide for herself which temperature is best.


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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica pallidefulva, argentea

Formica cf. aserva

Pheidole bicarinata

Lasius claviger

Camponotus vicinus, modoc

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis

#10 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted Today, 10:02 AM

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Lasius eggs can take an insane amount of time to hatch.

Agreed, make sure you have them on some sort of heat or the egg and pupa stages will take forever.

 

 

This is great to know. I haven't kept anything but a Lasius brevicornis before so a bit newer to this genus.

How do you recommend heating a test tube setup? I always struggle to know how to do it properly and worry I'm going to cook them.

 

Yup, like RushmoreAnts said. I keep my colonies in a partly open drawer with a heating pad but you can do the same with a heating cable. I will note, having a heating cable touching glass can overheat the colony as Lasius in general tolerate lower heat than most species, so I recommend having it near the tube instead.


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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

#11 Offline ANTdrew - Posted Today, 1:12 PM

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It’s best to heat up a box that the tube is in like an incubator.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.
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