13 replies to this topic

[ctantkeeper]

I just got my less than one year old Teramorium sp. e colony over the 200 worker mark!!! I just did a head count and they have 135+ larvae, 50-60 eggs and 2-3 pupae (most eclosed recently). They are currently living in a Atom C formicarium (which is now fairly dirty and hard to take photos of) and is currently being stored in a wine cooler, where they will remain for the next 4 months. The started as a pleometrophic colony with 12 queens living in a Mini Hearth. Over time (as expected) the number of queens slowly dwindled until two remained. One night while observing them, I watched as one of the queens walked over to the other while she was grooming herself and immediately went for her throat!!! both of the queens curled around one another, trying to sting and bite one another. Eventually however, after 30 seconds of fighting, the aggressor stopped and calmly walked away. Upon leaving her startled victim (who was still in perfect condition), she was immediately engulfed in a ball of workers (which appeared to be watching the fight from a safe distance). I believe these "spectators" were in place to "record" the amount of time the aggressor was able to stand her ground against her rival and perhaps if she can do so for a certain amount of time without getting injured, she will be seen by the workers as the more dominant queen, causing the workers to rush to her aid in dismantling the less dominant / healthy "beta queen". Pheromones may even be used to "tag" the less dominant queen. This might be a completely new, undescribed behavior that takes place in Tetramorium colonies during the selection period. This had happened several times throughout this colonies brief history and I was positive that the dominant queen would leave unscaved, but in the confusion, both were attacked by droves of workers. In order to assure the survival of the dominant queen, I opened the formicarium and removed her / picked the individual workers off of her. during the onslaught, the "beta" queen died from her wounds and was quickly dismantled and fed to the workers. As for the surviving queen, she lost 2 of her legs. I wasn't sure if she would make it, but despite all odds, her colony blossomed forth. I will definitely use pleometrophic founding for this species again (but will remove all but one of the queens once the number reaches approximately 2-4.), which I have seen can work wonders. I am so excited to see what unfolds in 2017!!!! 

[Connectimyrmex]

This is quite interesting! You should submit this information to Myrmecologists!

[Canadian anter]

-_- Hawaiiant this has already been recorded several times with different species. but ctantkeeper congrats! at about this stage the colony will have population explosions if you give extra food. especially protein

[Alabama Anter]

xD

[ctantkeeper]

This is quite interesting! You should submit this information to Myrmecologists!

Thank you very much , I am actually planning on going into the sciences myself. I plan on going into biochemistry, evolutionary biology, Entomology and sociology when I finish college. I cannot share too many details, but I have been working on a behavioral study of the ant Monomorium emarginatum for the last 6 months and have already written over 23 pages. I hope to someday create a condensed version of this and have it published. M. emarginatum was only discovered 31 years ago and because of this, no scientific papers have been written about it's biology and behavior (In fact, the only times I have ever seen this species mentioned was In the "Ants of New England" field guide and a brief few paragraphs noting it's discovery, locale and general appearance.). Most of the information covered in my research is completely new to the field, making me a "pioneer" of sorts in the research and study of this particular species. Btw, love the glasses lol

xD

What are you laughing at???

Edited by ctantkeeper, January 7 2017 - 7:22 PM.

[ctantkeeper]

-_- Hawaiiant this has already been recorded several times with different species. but ctantkeeper congrats! at about this stage the colony will have population explosions if you give extra food. especially protein

First off, which species has this be recorded happening with? I know the "pleometrophic selection process" has be clearly detailed in several papers, but I don't think I have heard of queens "summoning" workers to attack submissive queens or workers "spectating / watching" these confrontations ensue. Second, Thank you very much . And finally third, I have been practicing this hobby for quite a while now (about 5 years) and know where to go from here. not trying to be rude, just don't want you thinking I am a beginner who has only done this once before (I have raised over 30 different species).

[Alabama Anter]

This is quite interesting! You should submit this information to Myrmecologists!

Thank you very much , I am actually planning on going into the sciences myself. I plan on going into biochemistry, evolutionary biology, Entomology and sociology when I finish college. I cannot share too many details, but I have been working on a behavioral study of the ant Monomorium emarginatum for the last 6 months and have already written over 23 pages. I hope to someday create a condensed version of this and have it published. M. emarginatum was only discovered 31 years ago and because of this, no scientific papers have been written about it's biology and behavior (In fact, the only times I have ever seen this species mentioned was In the "Ants of New England" field guide and a brief few paragraphs noting it's discovery, locale and general appearance.). Most of the information covered in my research is completely new to the field, making me a "pioneer" of sorts in the research and study of this particular species. Btw, love the glasses lol

xD

What are you laughing at???

Wow that's quite amazing! Also I was laughing at CA so np

Edited by Alabama Anter, January 7 2017 - 7:28 PM.

[ctantkeeper]

 

 

This is quite interesting! You should submit this information to Myrmecologists!

Thank you very much , I am actually planning on going into the sciences myself. I plan on going into biochemistry, evolutionary biology, Entomology and sociology when I finish college. I cannot share too many details, but I have been working on a behavioral study of the ant Monomorium emarginatum for the last 6 months and have already written over 23 pages. I hope to someday create a condensed version of this and have it published. M. emarginatum was only discovered 31 years ago and because of this, no scientific papers have been written about it's biology and behavior (In fact, the only times I have ever seen this species mentioned was In the "Ants of New England" field guide and a brief few paragraphs noting it's discovery, locale and general appearance.). Most of the information covered in my research is completely new to the field, making me a "pioneer" of sorts in the research and study of this particular species. Btw, love the glasses lol

xD

What are you laughing at???

Wow that's quite amazing! Also I was laughing at CA so np

 

It's cool, I was just wondering. Anyways, thank so you much!!! I'm hoping that this eventually turns into something worthwhile. I think it has a lot to teach people about not only M. emarginatum (which in my opinion, is an amazing ant in both it's behavior and array of interesting adaptations.), but will hopefully prompt more research of more obscure, yet ecologically important ant species here up north, which we have many of, especially in Connecticut.  

[Alabama Anter]

I feel like you could submit your work of writing and the ants to a bigger audience and people would gain more knowledge on Monomorium. Wish u luck future to be myrmecologist

[ctantkeeper]

I feel like you could submit your work of writing and the ants to a bigger audience and people would gain more knowledge on Monomorium. Wish u luck future to be myrmecologist

Of course, that is what I plan to do, but it is not ready yet. I need to finish my paper in it's entirety and publish it before I reveal it to the public. I don't wan't my work to be stolen by my peers. Again, thank you so much  

[Connectimyrmex]

-_- Hawaiiant this has already been recorded several times with different species. but ctantkeeper congrats! at about this stage the colony will have population explosions if you give extra food. especially protein

All around me are familiar faces

I guess I misread what it said in the post

[ctantkeeper]

 

-_- Hawaiiant this has already been recorded several times with different species. but ctantkeeper congrats! at about this stage the colony will have population explosions if you give extra food. especially protein

All around me are familiar faces

I guess I misread what it said in the post

lol, but still, I would like to see a single paper that highlights these kinds of interactions in Tetramorium sp.e. If not, then I will not disregard my findings.

Edited by ctantkeeper, January 7 2017 - 9:21 PM.

[antgenius123]

Wow congrats, very interesting.

[ctantkeeper]

Wow congrats, very interesting.

Thank you