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Dspdrew's Pheidole vistana Journal [85] (Updated 2-4-2024)

Pheidole vistana Dspdrew journal

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#121 Offline MegaMyrmex - Posted February 29 2020 - 7:31 PM

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The queens look almost exactly like acromyrmex queens, minus a more granulated exoskeleton. Also crazy how leggy the workers are, they almost look lke an aphaenogaster


Proverbs 6:6-8 New International Version (NIV)

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.

 


#122 Offline dspdrew - Posted February 29 2020 - 8:28 PM

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The queens look almost exactly like acromyrmex queens, minus a more granulated exoskeleton. Also crazy how leggy the workers are, they almost look lke an aphaenogaster

 

Yeah, I've always thought the same.



#123 Offline dspdrew - Posted May 10 2020 - 7:53 PM

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  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 5-10-2020
 

I sold the smaller colony to my friend. The larger one had a little die off, but has since started growing fast again, and is now up to about 600 workers.

 

gallery_2_93_248423.jpg


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#124 Offline Antkid12 - Posted May 11 2020 - 6:19 AM

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Awesome! really want to find a Pheidole morrisii queen.


Edited by Antkid12, May 11 2020 - 9:05 AM.

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Ants I have: Tapinoma sessile(2 queen colony). RED MORPH Camponotus neacticus(now has pupae!), Tetramorium immigrans (x3), Aphaenogaster sp, Temnothorax sp, Brachymyrmex sp.   possibly infertile   :(,  Ponera pennsylvanica, and Pheidole morrisi!  :yahoo: 

 

Other insects: Polistes sp. Queen

                    

Ants I need: Pheidole sp., Trachymyrmex sp., Crematogaster cerasi , Dorymyrmex sp. Most wanted: Pheidole morrisii

 

                    

                   

 

 


#125 Offline AntsDakota - Posted May 11 2020 - 6:37 AM

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I want any Pheidole:lol:


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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


#126 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 11 2020 - 7:36 AM

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Awesome! (y)really want to find a Pheidole morrisii queen.

If you find any Pheidole in VA, let me know!
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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.

#127 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted May 11 2020 - 7:46 AM

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Awesome! (y)really want to find a Pheidole morrisii queen.

If you find any Pheidole in VA, let me know!

 

I've found some smedium Pheidole ants local to my area since moving across town. I'll catch some workers and set up an ID thread for them.


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I accidentally froze all my ants 


#128 Offline Antkid12 - Posted May 11 2020 - 9:10 AM

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Awesome! (y)really want to find a Pheidole morrisii queen.

If you find any Pheidole in VA, let me know!

 

I have no Pheidole in my area except Pheidole tysoni, but Pheidole seem to be abundant in the more southern part of Virginia. I found lots of Pheidole colonies near Virginia beach.


Edited by Antkid12, May 11 2020 - 9:16 AM.

Ants I have: Tapinoma sessile(2 queen colony). RED MORPH Camponotus neacticus(now has pupae!), Tetramorium immigrans (x3), Aphaenogaster sp, Temnothorax sp, Brachymyrmex sp.   possibly infertile   :(,  Ponera pennsylvanica, and Pheidole morrisi!  :yahoo: 

 

Other insects: Polistes sp. Queen

                    

Ants I need: Pheidole sp., Trachymyrmex sp., Crematogaster cerasi , Dorymyrmex sp. Most wanted: Pheidole morrisii

 

                    

                   

 

 


#129 Offline dspdrew - Posted January 17 2021 - 6:01 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 1-17-2021
 

Well due to some problem with the water tank in this colony's formicarium that causes the water to leak out all the time, this nest dried out and the entire colony almost died off. Luckily the queen is still alive, along with about 15 majors. We'll see if they can make a come-back.


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#130 Offline Spazmops - Posted January 17 2021 - 7:57 PM

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It's cool to see success with these after so many dead queens! I love their coloration. 


Co-owner and founder of Mountain Myrmeculture and The Menagerie Discord Server

Ants I have:

1 Formica fusca group- 0 workers

1 Tetramorium immigrans colony-20 workers

1 Dorymyrmex insanus- 1 queen, used to have workers

 

1 large P. occidentalis colony- around 50 workers, plenty of brood

 

 


#131 Offline dspdrew - Posted January 31 2021 - 1:43 PM

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Update 1-31-2021
 

Well this formicarium problem has finally resulted in the death of all the workers. Luckily the queen is still alive, and she seems to be a really healthy queen, so hopefully she'll recover. I moved her into a test tube for now.



#132 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted January 31 2021 - 2:19 PM

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oh noooo get her some brood


1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube....kUjx-dPFMyVqOLw

 

 Join Our Fledgling Discord Server https://discord.com/...089056687423489


#133 Offline dspdrew - Posted May 4 2021 - 6:09 PM

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  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 5-4-2021
 

This queen died months ago.



#134 Offline dspdrew - Posted September 29 2023 - 7:34 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 9-29-2023
 
I found another one of these queens wandering around in the morning of 8-3-2023 near Baker, CA.

 

She got her first workers a little over 3 weeks later.

 

They now have over 200 workers, including five majors. It's amazing how fast this colony is growing. I might need to get an actual formicarium for them soon.

 

gallery_2_216_1224859.jpg

 

gallery_2_216_369548.jpg

 

gallery_2_216_490762.jpg

 

 

Dragging some live fruit flies into their nest.

 

gallery_2_216_968364.jpg


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#135 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 30 2023 - 2:04 AM

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Awesome!
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#136 Offline 100lols - Posted September 30 2023 - 10:21 AM

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Awesome! Glad you’re getting a go at this beautiful non-shining queen species. Does that still matter to you? :)

I’m working on using your findings to identify the Pheidole queen I found in Anza Borrego after Hilary. She’s either vistana* or desertorum. Haven’t been able to get good shots of the colony yet as I don’t like disturbing them much.

Thanks for the update!

Edited by 100lols, September 30 2023 - 8:26 PM.


#137 Offline bmb1bee - Posted September 30 2023 - 6:45 PM

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For some reason, I like to binge-read journals of large Pheidole colonies. This is no exception...


"Float like a butterfly sting like a bee, his eyes can't hit what the eyes can't see." - Muhammad Ali

 

Check out my shop and Camponotus journal! Discord user is bmb1bee if you'd like to chat.


#138 Offline ReignofRage - Posted September 30 2023 - 6:51 PM

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Interestingly, it looks like P. vistana moreso than P. desertorum due to the scapes of the gyne appearing to be close to surpassing the occipital corners, minors with very long scapes, and the posterior margin of the head of minors being tapered. Could just be the pictures though.


Edited by ReignofRage, September 30 2023 - 6:59 PM.

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#139 Offline dspdrew - Posted September 30 2023 - 7:20 PM

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  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Interestingly, it looks like P. vistana moreso than P. desertorum due to the scapes of the gyne appearing to be close to surpassing the occipital corners, minors with very long scapes, and the posterior margin of the head of minors being tapered. Could just be the pictures though.

 

I initially thought it was P. vistana, but then I thought the appendages weren't quite long enough. I love P. vistana, and have had them before, but I just felt like their appendages were a little longer. Other than the length of the appendages, I don't remember ever being able to easily tell them apart.


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#140 Offline ReignofRage - Posted September 30 2023 - 7:53 PM

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I used to base distinguishing them on appaendages too, but found the two species to be a bit variable (shocker). So, I started relying on stuff like the "neck" as Roy called it and rugae/striae. They are quite similar and thankfully very similar ecology-wise. Great journal on them (y).


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