1806 replies to this topic

[ConcordAntman]

Follow up to my overcrowded Phalanx formicarium. I’m adding an annex. Ordering another Phalanx with a right-side connection and no outworld. Can’t wait for it to arrive!

[ANTdrew]

Follow up to my overcrowded Phalanx formicarium. I’m adding an annex. Ordering another Phalanx with a right-side connection and no outworld. Can’t wait for it to arrive!

Cool! Keep us posted. You guys with big Camponotus colonies make me kind of jealous.

[Scherme]

Send your ants to Harvard! https://harvardfores...fgane/specimens

Not for an education unfortunately, but for identification. Not sure if this has been shared before, thought it was interesting.

[ConcordAntman]

Send your ants to Harvard! https://harvardfores...fgane/specimens

Not for an education unfortunately, but for identification. Not sure if this has been shared before, thought it was interesting.

Interesting, I’ve occasionally visited Harvard’s Museum of Natural History, E. O. Wilson’s office is there. He’s Professor Emeritus of the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and a former curator of their Museum of Comparative Zoology. I can’t even find a display related to ants there! It’d be nice to be able to go into town and see an academic presentation of some sort on something I’ve been interested in most of my life    I’ve actually spent the past 30-45 minutes trying to find a virtual lecture or display on our field at Harvard and... nothing! Anyone near Beantown know if any of the other universities around town have anything pubically accessible (virtually for now I’d guess) on myrmecology?

Edited by ConcordAntman, February 28 2021 - 7:08 AM.

[ConcordAntman]

 

Follow up to my overcrowded Phalanx formicarium. I’m adding an annex. Ordering another Phalanx with a right-side connection and no outworld. Can’t wait for it to arrive!

Cool! Keep us posted. You guys with big Camponotus colonies make me kind of jealous.

 

These are the specs I came up with:

 

Phalanx Annex Dimensions 

• 6”X 2”X 3”
• No outworld 
• One-sided Museum glass front
• One nestmate port on left, one on the back
• Water tower ports on the back
• Right-sided 3/8” diameter access tube centered 1-1/4” high and 1-1/4” from back
• 3/16” thick base, offset 1/8” to the left to mesh with existing Phalanx nest

This is the first of my 3 Phalanx formicaria that I’ve outgrown and it’s taken 3 years! I’ll have to find more shelf space in my book closet and I’m a bit concerned about how heavy it’ll be but hey, I’ve got some free weights hanging around the house. I’ll manage 

Edited by ConcordAntman, February 28 2021 - 7:21 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Very nice. Did you customize the Phalanx? I’ll probably be needing an annex on my Nucleus III for my Crematogaster megacolony this season.

[ConcordAntman]

Just a little customization. Deleting the outworld, the nestmate positions, the water tower ports, the size and position of the access port. The big thing is the baseplate. I don’t think Mack is making the Phalanx with a baseplate anymore. Back in 2018 when I bought mine he was. To make a flush fit and for ease of movement, I want the baseplate on the annex but it’ll need to be offset. I communicated with Mack at weeks end and I’m waiting to confirm pricing. It’s customized enough that I can’t order it through the site. Leaving the outworld selection blank blocks being able to move your order to cart. I mentioned that to Mack too. I can’t wait for it to get made and delivered though. I’m having more of the workers camping out in the outworld while the queen has brood on both levels of the nest. Last year, I could fill a nestmate and have it drain down to 1/2 full in 5-6 days. Now it’s 3/4 empty in 72 hours even while the water towers are adequately filled. I’m thinking a growth spurt is happening!

Edited by ConcordAntman, February 28 2021 - 8:53 AM.