65 replies to this topic

[dean_k]

It's Bull ants. I thought they are supposed to be angry.

[Mathiacus]

I just did a rough head count. I came up with 121. ill say 120 for a round number. ill try to keep a cansus as much as is practical.

[Gregory2455]

Nice!

[Mathiacus]

My mate, Lance and I went out again yesterday. He wanted a smaller colony to better observe the colony growth of this species. I would not believe it if I was not there myself! I found a solitary queen just walking around on the forest floor, out hunting!

This species is semi claustral so it happens a bunch during the founding stages, but to actually be in the right place at the right time like that, so happy! She is a beauty too! About an inch long and with such vibrant colours.

We also picked me up another colony and learned from past collections just how much brood we must have left behind. Thinking about returning to previous digs and investigating a little further.

From the colony we collected for me we boosted the new queen with 6 pupae, I hope that she accepts them as her own when they eclose.i will let you guys know when that time comes.

Edited by Mathiacus, November 2 2014 - 10:03 AM.

[Mathiacus]

I can upload agian!

this is the worker soliciting an egg from another.

another picture of the fishtank thing I threw together in an hour yesterday for the new colony.

[Mathiacus]

queen and some eggs.

closer view of the eggs.

the ant mansion. I had a larger colony in mind when I created this but I guess they will fill it eventually. They do not get lost in there so I'm not worried. They also do not store trash inside (yet).

[Gregory2455]

Show us the solitary queen!

[dean_k]

Bull ants seem like a very entertaining species to keep. All my ants do is sit around. forage, sit around, forage.

Edited by dean_k, November 2 2014 - 12:35 PM.

[Mathiacus]

I did not take photos of her. But she is a carbon copy of the one in my pic up there. They are all majestic. Dean, they are indeed entertaining to keep. But they are evil and sneaky. It is a bit shocking to open the outworld, sure that they can't cross the oil.. only to find that oil is no barrier to rage coupled with momentum. They actively hate me. It is interesting to see them all looking at you though.. ill try take a video of their tracking behavior. Ill be teasing one by moving my hand side to side in front of it, then notice that it is not only the one I'm looking at but about 20 or 30 spread all through the nest... alert, antennae twitching, cold dead eyes watching me as their heads track my motion.. all from a few feet away. So awesomely creepy!

Edited by Mathiacus, November 2 2014 - 12:49 PM.

[dspdrew]

That is awesome indeed. You guys are very lucky.

[Mathiacus]

I am up to 3 colonies now. Finally got stung a few days ago. World ending pain! It comes in waves with each successive wave larger and more horrific than the last. It only lasts between 5 and 10 minutes but it is hell. Enough to make me scream a little. Got done again yesterday but it was not as bad as the first time. My mate has been done so many times now that he barely even reacts.

[Mathiacus]

a brand new naked ant! No modesty!

I let my wife jazz it up a little

it is a little crowded.

we have eggs!

here is the larger colony in the block I made a while ago. don't mind the dead... the previous owners didn't want to move out in time.

all these eggs were laid in captivity.

[dspdrew]

I let my wife jazz it up a little

So is that how you keep the wife from exterminating them?

[Mathiacus]

She is actually becoming more involved. I gave up on getting her interested but then I noticed things being done. The water was being topped up, glass cleaned, rubbish removed and random insect carcasses started showing up. She even came with me to collect my latest colony. And has carved 3 hebel blocks, 2 of which are inhabited currently.
She may just be into this almost as much as I am 😀

[dean_k]

You gotta get us a video of them tracking your movements.

 

That I'd love to see.

[Mathiacus]

the invaders have come. They are taking all the plunder.

[dean_k]

Make a booze dish for them and see how it goes.

[Oz Ant]

Awesome mate

[Mathiacus]

This colony is going exceptionally well. So much captive born brood!

[Mathiacus]

I was having trouble getting them to take mealworms but once I started snipping them in half with a pair of scissors before offering them they pounced on them and chew through them at an alarming rate.
I may have to sell a few colonies so I can afford to feed all of them.