306 replies to this topic

[Leo]

cute

 

>w<

[CrazyLegs]

The failed pupae was brought to the surface this morning.

At least they seem to be dumping the nasty garbage in the outworld for me to collect.

I had to open it up and see what could have been.

 

 

Edited by CrazyLegs, February 4 2017 - 10:04 PM.

[antgenius123]

Wow that's pretty cool and weird at the same time. I wonder why they abandoned that one?

[T.C.]

I doubt they abandoned it. I am sure the workers know when the ants are dead or alive in the cocoons. If I had to guess when crazylegs was taking it from the wild nest he damaged it.

 

It happens, No Worries.

[CrazyLegs]

That's true, it was a bit of a smash and grab. 

I would always see the ants turning the pupae in the nest tapping on the sides as if to be listening for signs of life from within.

They obviously concluded that "this pupae, was a pooper"

Edited by CrazyLegs, February 8 2017 - 12:02 AM.

[CrazyLegs]

I have to hand it to this drone, he has gonads of pure titanium.

After taking a brutal beating in the outworld by two callous thugs, he mustered up the courage to dive headlong into the nest! Several attempts were made to extricate him and the loss off half an antennae later he settled in beside Big Yella.

I have witnessed him being groomed now as well. Gives me SOME confidence in adding the other two drones and an extra queen.

 

 

Edited by CrazyLegs, February 4 2017 - 11:22 PM.

[CrazyLegs]

Here is a better pic of the new queen (who surprised me at only 30mm) and her two brothers.

I'm going to put them in tonight and observe what happens.

[Leo]

BRAVO to the drone, he's got guts 

[antgenius123]

Looking forward to it

[CrazyLegs]

I placed the entire jar inside the Crocodilian and sat back to watch the show. It didn't take long at all for the two regular guards on duty to come and inspect the sight of this ufo landing.

This was the point of no return and I'm sure the queen knew those drones were not going to be able to protect her.

Luckily for her the guards backed off momentarily. She left the drones to their own devices and escaped out the back.

Unfortunately in this new world, all roads lead to Rome and she was soon confronted by two opponents.

The smaller worker backed away and the big original test ant was too busy grooming. Just one more guard to get past.

Using her imposing size, she intimidated this worker into standing down.

As if she knew where she was going she disappeared down the hatch without hesitation.

Uh-oh..........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by CrazyLegs, February 5 2017 - 10:29 PM.

[Bcam43]

 

I wasn't happy with the stark contrast of the terracotta and the Hebel so I made two cups of tea.

One white with two sugars and the other a half cup, black with three tea bags.

 

I happily drank one while I let the other sit to cool.

I used a pipette to squirt the tea around the formicarium.

It won't look like its doing much but when it dries the result is quite good.

 

I will just need to pierce the terracotta seal and squirt some down the front and side as well.

 

 

 

 

 

This is very impressive. Well done.

[CrazyLegs]

Thanks Bcam43. 

 

Well It seems that the queens are fine with each other for the meantime so that's good, however the new queen still hasn't met everyone and this particular meeting looks a little heated.

The new arrival seemed to like the new nest and wasn't keen on leaving. She took up a defensive posture ready to stand her ground.

This feisty worker wasn't going to have it and made a terrifying looking posture of her own. As scary as it would've looked to be staring down the mandibles of this menacing display, Big Yella, unperturbed, just swung from the ceiling with the best view in the nest.

It proved to be all bluff and all was forgiven in the end and the grooming commenced.

I'm very pleased with how this has all unfolded.

 

 

 

 

Edited by CrazyLegs, February 5 2017 - 10:31 PM.

[Martialis]

How are the males?

[CrazyLegs]

All males are doing fine. It's as if the first male took the beating for the whole team. What a champion.

Here is the last male that was reluctant to move into the nest.

The workers were assuring him there was no harm intended.

 

[CrazyLegs]

I don't know which males are from where but I know they love the new queen.

Nothing came of this encounter.

Just a whole heap of grooming.

It's something I've never witnessed before.

 

 

 

 

Edited by CrazyLegs, February 6 2017 - 12:05 PM.

[CrazyLegs]

I've uploaded a couple of videos of the nest as it is today. You may hear some cicadas in the background, and even a gecko. It's a thing in Australia.

You will also notice my eclectus parrot screeching too. It really is a zoo around here.

 

This is the original test ant attacking the maple syrup stick. I think she may be an old girl. Not quite all there, you know......

 

This is the night the new males and queen went in. Once again old original entertaining herself with a dirty lump of wood she found in the jar. You can see they were taking the dirt from the jar and spreading it out over the moss. Could it be too wet in there? I'll back off the watering a little and see what happens.

Edited by CrazyLegs, February 14 2017 - 12:29 PM.

[CrazyLegs]

The males simply love hanging upside down from the ceiling. The beaten up male seems to have acquired a leg twitch, he'll never be same again.

Everybody is getting along just fine. I'm keeping a close eye on the queens coloring. I figure once they become a healthy red they will almost be mature enough to mate. That is when I will increase my bush walking schedule.

Edited by CrazyLegs, February 9 2017 - 12:09 PM.

[T.C.]

Do you have the formicarium outside? I suppose then there would be a possibility they would mate. However you would want a screen on top so they don't get out?

Edited by T.C., February 9 2017 - 12:38 PM.

[CrazyLegs]

Our non air conditioned house is situated right in the heart of a sclerophyll forest. When it's humid outside, it's humid inside. I'm thinking that I will attempt an artificial insemination if I catch the queens and males outside at the same time. I've read somewhere that the gamergates of this species will sit at the entrance to the nest in the hope of snagging a male on it's way past to mate with new queens. I really have no idea what's going to happen but you'll be the first to know if I catch them in the act or if eggs start being laid.

[Martialis]

This is my favorite thread on the forum. Please keep up updated.