5 replies to this topic

[Vendayn]

http://www.formicult...dated-7-9-2016/

 

Same species as that.

 

I have 7 queens. However, one queen is by herself (I found her on August 25th) and I put the other 6 together (found August 30th, today as of the start of the journal).

 

No idea if they are multiple queened species or not, guess I'll be the first to find out for this particular mostly unknown species of Crematogaster. But, the queens are so huge! Easily could mistake them for Camponotus or even Messor queens.

 

The queen from the 25th (Queen A) laid eggs really quick, yesterday I saw about 10 of them. 

 

The queens I put together, hopefully they end up getting along. Most likely they'll get along until they get workers, and then fight for dominance. But, some Crematogaster do have multiple queens. So, guess we'll see.

Edited by Vendayn, September 20 2016 - 8:23 PM.

[Vendayn]

I got 4 more queens tonight. Since they'd be far too crowded in a test tube, I put them all into Drew's two chamber setup. I blocked off the foraging tube though. So, I have ten queens together and one by herself. I won't be getting anymore, since 10 queens is more than plenty. 

 

Now to forget about them and look again in 2-3 weeks, and see how they are all doing.

[Vendayn]

I got one more queen tonight, to make 11 in one test tube (Drew's two chamber setup was too big for a founding colony, even with one container blocked off). I just pushed the cotton back quite a bit to give them more room in the test tube. I wasn't going to add anymore, but oh well. Now to REALLY forget about them for 2-3 weeks. I want them to lay eggs and make workers, so no more queens and no more opening the closet for a while. If I see anymore queens, I'll just take them to my ant area outside and put them there.

 

They seem to all get along though. That is a good thing.

 

Will update again a couple weeks (or more) from now.

Edited by Vendayn, September 1 2016 - 9:40 PM.

[EstuaryAnts]

I know its hard

[Vendayn]

They are definitely not a multi-queen species. Which I'm sure is good to know for anyone else who finds this species. So, I put most of them into various plant pots and kept one. When I added a couple queens that day I updated, they showed signs of aggression and starting lunging at each other with their mandibles. So, I let all but one go. Then I got another queen today.

 

The original queen I have still has eggs, and they've turned into larger eggs. I moved her into the garage since its a lot warmer and there is a heat lamp I have for ants specifically, so it should boost egg growing speed.

Edited by Vendayn, September 17 2016 - 8:56 PM.

[Vendayn]

The new queen I got died pretty quick, never laid eggs or took off her wings. Probably not fertile.

 

Sadly, like usual, my original queen that had larvae died. This happens every single time with Camponotus and Crematogaster genus for me. They either get larvae/pupae and die, or manage to get a worker or two and then die. They always grow super slow too, even if I give them enough heat. I just do bad with those two ant genus.

 

With one exception, Camponotus modoc I've done REALLY well with. That is the only single Camponotus species I've had success with, but sadly they are only in Northern California. But, Camponotus modoc (I've had one colony), grew really quick and the brood developed quick unlike other Camponotus I had. They also got a big colony in only a year. Kind of wish I didn't give that colony to my friend, but that was years ago.

 

No idea why I do so bad with both Crematogaster and Camponotus in general. I do pretty good with other ant genus, just never Crematogaster and only rarely with Camponotus.

Edited by Vendayn, September 20 2016 - 8:28 PM.