55 replies to this topic

[VoidElecent]

First one was 10 wide x 12 tall, 3/8 thick, kept them there until they hit about 700 population wise.

Second was 36 inches tall, 12 inches wide, 3/8 inches thick. They stayed in this one until they hit about 3k

Third one was just a modification of the second, I increased the space between the glass panes to 1 inch, doubled the amount of space they had to dig in. They've done well so far, will probably need another expansion next year that will involve a taller nest

 

How do you handle hydration?

[Scrixx]

This is awesome! Thank you so much for this journal. How were you able to separate the colony from the nest? In your pictures there's an empty nest and a bucket full of ants.

[Runner12]

Thanks guys.
For hydration there are two hydrostone pillars on either side of the nest, they stick out the bottom into two water reservoirs. By filling the reservoirs I can hydrate the bottom half of the nest.

To hydrate the top half I use a regular squirt bottle, put in about 2oz every third day.

As far as separating the ants from the nest, I had to do it the hard way, by hand lol. Took about two hours and got stung four or five times

[MegaMyrmex]

Wow i didn't know they were polymorphic I thought they only had majors and medias...cool ants nonethrless!

[Runner12]

Yeah their worker castes fall along a pretty broad spectrum between huge major and small worker. Some of the majors being produced now are larger than the queen

[T.C.]

First one was 10 wide x 12 tall, 3/8 thick, kept them there until they hit about 700 population wise.

Second was 36 inches tall, 12 inches wide, 3/8 inches thick. They stayed in this one until they hit about 3k

Third one was just a modification of the second, I increased the space between the glass panes to 1 inch, doubled the amount of space they had to dig in. They've done well so far, will probably need another expansion next year that will involve a taller nest

Yeah, I seen it's size compared with the door. That's a large nest.

[dominatus]

Hey, necro time. You still around Runner12? I have some Pogonomyrmex badius queens and am determined to replicate your past success. Wanted to say hi and see if your colony continued to do well after you stopped posting!

[Runner12]

Thread resurrection here, but yeah, this colony is still doing well. They produce queens every year that the workers kill every fall which is kind of depressing, but still going fairly strong, pushing 5 or 6 years old now.

The best way I've found to hydrate this type of nest is actually with an IV bag filled with distilled water and administered with a hypodermic needle at a slow drip directly into the sand.

[123LordOfAnts123]

Thread resurrection here, but yeah, this colony is still doing well. They produce queens every year that the workers kill every fall which is kind of depressing, but still going fairly strong, pushing 5 or 6 years old now.
The best way I've found to hydrate this type of nest is actually with an IV bag filled with distilled water and administered with a hypodermic needle at a slow drip directly into the sand.

Nice to hear they’re still going! That’s a great idea with the IV bag, I was wondering how viable the hydrostone towers would be especially long-term. How many workers would you say they’ve averaged out at? More pictures would be greatly appreciated!

[Ferox_Formicae]

I may try my hand at this species when flights start. I know of a few populations about an hour and a half away, I've just got to find a location where I don't need a permit to collect, as the two localities I've seen them are Audubon's Silver Bluff Sanctuary and the Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve, which both require permits to collect. That or I just need to get a permit already, which I will have to do at some point anyways if I want to get anywhere with my ants of South Carolina study.

[UtahAnts]

Update?

[benxixi]

where do you have the fly ? catch wild?

[Runner12]

Weird that I suddenly decide to come by and this thread has replies lol

So this colony is still around, but I got distracted and let them get too dry during the process of buying a house and moving, and the population took a big hit. Still probably at least 750 to 1000 ants though. I broke down and rebuilt this nest and at that time, approximately 3 months ago, the queen was still alive, but they've gone into "hibernation" so not much activity right now.

Will just have to see if there are new eggs showing up around early April as that's when they usually start laying again.

To the above poster, this colony was started from a queen caught after her flight.

[Runner12]

Here's a few pictures just as proof of life lol. The queen showed up yesterday and there's a good number of new eggs and larvae so looks like they're on their way to bouncing back. This colony will be seven years old this coming June.

Edited by Runner12, January 31 2023 - 5:21 PM.

[ANTdrew]

That’s incredible. Keep them going!

[Lamarr]

Amazing setup! Please do update us on their recovery!