Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Dspdrew's Lasius cf. alienus Journal [67] (Discontinued)


  • Please log in to reply
5 replies to this topic

#1 Offline dspdrew - Posted July 25 2016 - 12:15 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA
7-13-2016
 
1. Location of collection:  Crystal Lake, Azusa, California
2. Date of collection: 6-18-2016
3. Habitat of collection:  Pine/Oak Forest.
4. Length (from head to gaster):  Queen: 7 mm; Worker: 3.5 mm.
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture:  Queen: All brown; Worker: Brown thorax, dark brown head and gaster.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Very flattened thorax.
 
Old ID thread: https://www.formicul...rnia-6-22-2013/
 
med_gallery_2_76_292121.jpg
 
med_gallery_2_76_76892.jpg
 
med_gallery_2_76_475274.jpg
 
 
 
I found these Lasius cf. alienus queens all over the rocks near Crystal Lake in Azusa, California on 6-18-2016. They were in the middle of a nuptial flight when we got there. These look like the exact same queens I found back in 2013 on almost the exact same day, not too far from there. The main reason I believe they're the same queens, aside from them flying on almost the exact same day, which is very early for Lasius, they also have a very unique, flattened thorax. At first everyone thought that it was some sort of defect, but after catching about 15 of these this year, and seeing that every single one has a thorax like that, I'm pretty sure it's not a defect.
 
I had a journal for these three years ago, but some how lost it. One of the original queens I found actually ended up with some brood, but for some reason it never developed. The larvae stayed the same for seven months and never grew. Eventually the queen and all the larvae died.
 
As for these new queens, almost all of them had pupae in a just a little over three weeks.

#2 Offline dspdrew - Posted July 25 2016 - 12:24 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA
Update 7-25-2016
 
Today a bunch of the queens got their first workers, and they're really small.
 
med_gallery_2_76_375653.jpg
 
med_gallery_2_76_335924.jpg
 
med_gallery_2_76_109389.jpg

#3 Offline dspdrew - Posted September 24 2016 - 9:11 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 9-24-2016
 
These have done nothing but die. Definitely some of the most boring ants I've ever kept. I think I have two queens left that just sit there with no brood.



#4 Offline dspdrew - Posted January 15 2017 - 3:59 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 1-15-2017
 
The last of these died months ago.



#5 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted January 15 2017 - 12:09 PM

Batspiderfish

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,614 posts

That is strange. I wonder what it is that they need. Perhaps the failure has something to do with that strange indentation, even though the queen seems perfectly capable of raising her first workers -- did those go first, or was it the queens?


If you've enjoyed using my expertise and identifications, please do not create undue ecological risk by releasing your ants. The environment which we keep our pet insects is alien and oftentimes unsanitary, so ensure that wild populations stay safe by giving your ants the best care you can manage for the rest of their lives, as we must do with any other pet.

 

Exotic ants are for those who think that vibrant diversity is something you need to pay money to see. It is illegal to transport live ants across state lines.

 

----

Black lives still matter.


#6 Offline dspdrew - Posted January 15 2017 - 5:32 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

I honestly don't remember. I know nurbs had a few of them that did much better than all of mine. He might even still have some of them.






1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users