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Greg's Nylanderia sp. Journal (Discontinued)

nylanderia journal

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#1 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted September 10 2014 - 9:01 PM

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So a few days ago, the first out of two Nylanderia cf. vividula queens I have had workers eclose. Out of all my colonies, this was by far the single species that had the largest amount of brood in her first clutch a total of about 12 workers eclosed all together, with more pupae following soon. I see why this species drove even the famously invasive Linepithema humile out of Simi Valley. Another thing, they run FAST. The queen alone runs faster than any of my other ant species' workers. The workers almost fly through the test tube, which makes feeding a little difficult, but once the fruit fly is in, it is quite interesting to watch.

 

It is funny, when they are callow workers and start getting darker, their head and thorax become almost completely black, but their gaster still looks completely unpigmented, making them look like Tapinoma melanocephalum, but later, their gaster becomes dark too.  :)

 

gallery_114_224_426288.jpggallery_114_224_162842.jpg


Edited by Gregory2455, February 20 2019 - 10:24 PM.

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#2 Offline Alza - Posted September 11 2014 - 8:51 PM

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update



#3 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted September 11 2014 - 9:14 PM

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This was yesterday. :D



#4 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted September 16 2014 - 7:40 PM

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Ok, so in the recent flights here in Simi Valley, I caught about 5 more. I am going to try a polygynic founding. Also, I put in a few males I found into the test tube of the planned polygynic group (3 Queens), and they seem to mate with no problem in captivity. 


Edited by Gregory2455, September 16 2014 - 7:42 PM.


#5 Offline Myrmicinae - Posted September 16 2014 - 8:36 PM

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Ok, so in the recent flights here in Simi Valley, I caught about 5 more. I am going to try a polygynic founding. Also, I put in a few males I found into the test tube of the planned polygynic group (3 Queens), and they seem to mate with no problem in captivity. 

 

That's very interesting.  Were the males collected directly from nests or were they found in flight?


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#6 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted September 16 2014 - 8:43 PM

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Obviously they were caught in flight, so therefore wanting to mate.



#7 Offline Myrmicinae - Posted September 16 2014 - 8:49 PM

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Obviously they were caught in flight, so therefore wanting to mate.

 

I see.  The reason I ask is that, in most ant species, the males in particular require special environmental cues to begin searching for females.  This is one of the reasons that matings in captivity are so rare (potential inbreeding being the other major issue).  If these had been taken from a nest, it would be an interesting phenomenon to note about the species. 


Edited by Myrmicinae, September 16 2014 - 8:52 PM.

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#8 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted September 16 2014 - 8:55 PM

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No, this is the largest Nylanderia flight this year. Alates have been being released for the last three days in a row.



#9 Offline Anhzor - Posted September 16 2014 - 9:20 PM

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humn i think i caught like 30 of these the other day.



#10 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted September 17 2014 - 5:23 PM

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These workers are like little rockets on a sugar rush! :D


Edited by Gregory2455, September 17 2014 - 5:23 PM.


#11 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted September 22 2014 - 4:23 PM

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Update: 9/22/2014

This colony has not really changed in size, but some of the ones I caught in the recent flights have some pretty decent brood piles and one I caught about a month ago is due to get workers any time now! 



#12 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 3 2014 - 9:05 PM

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Update: 10/3/2014

This colony is booming in population! Two smaller batches of brood have eclosed, giving this colony a population of over 25 workers! :D

They are very fast, making it a challenge to test tube feed them...

 

gallery_114_224_909702.jpg

gallery_114_224_1515075.jpg

 

Also, another one of these queens got workers.  :D


Edited by Gregory2455, October 3 2014 - 9:43 PM.


#13 Offline Tpro4 - Posted October 3 2014 - 10:30 PM

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Okay how do you catch so many queens. I caught a drone today like seriously wtf!
Remember Dragon Warrior, anything is possible when you have inner peace. - Master Shifu

Current Queens:
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#14 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 3 2014 - 11:31 PM

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I caught all these Nylanderia, along with my Crematogaster and Dorymyrmex insanus out of my pool.



#15 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 4 2014 - 4:02 PM

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gallery_114_224_139119.jpggallery_114_224_617554.jpg



#16 Offline DesertAntz - Posted October 4 2014 - 5:35 PM

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Those are neat looking ants. Can I find those in Arizona?


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#17 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 4 2014 - 5:40 PM

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Yes. According to Antweb, there have been samples collected around Chiricahua National Monument. These are usually ants that live in Suburbs however, like I found them. :)



#18 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 5 2014 - 12:47 AM

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#19 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 10 2014 - 12:16 AM

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Here is my newest colony. :)



#20 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 11 2014 - 12:16 PM

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The larger colony had a bit of a die off a few days ago, but now seem ok. 







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