26 replies to this topic

[benjiwuf]

I caught three myrmica queens a few days ago (10/16/14 I believe). They are currently in a "found" formicarium from byformica together. This will become their journal when they all are settled and comfortable with each other. I will update with pictures later today as well.

Edited by benjiwuf, January 28 2015 - 2:05 AM.

[Gregory2455]

Nice! I don't know what caused it, but two identical threads seem to be created by accident.

[benjiwuf]

yea, that was me. it didn't do anything the first time I hit post so I hit it again. it seems to have registered both though lol. I'll ask drew to delete one of them.

Edited by benjiwuf, October 21 2014 - 6:47 AM.

[Gregory2455]

Seems fixed now. Back to the Myrmica sp.

[AntsAreUs]

I like to see Myrmica but honestly I don't like keeping them. 

[benjiwuf]

I had to remove one of the queens because she was less than friendly. She also spent most of her time avoiding the other two queens. Just took a bad picture of the two remaining queens huddling together at the "found" nest entrance where they like to be. i am linking my myrmica photo album, and will include more Pictures in future updates. 
 
http://s1290.photobu...ideshow/myrmica

Edited by dspdrew, October 24 2014 - 5:32 AM.

[AntsAreUs]

It could possibly be a different species that is not getting along, or maybe she just didn't get to know the other queens so to speak.

[benjiwuf]

so i have since removed the problematic queen, and she has since died. the other two are taking care of each other quite nicely. the images have been added to the album above (i'm terrible at figuring out which link to use from photobucket lol).

Edited by benjiwuf, November 25 2014 - 5:33 PM.

[Crystals]

They should do well together.  Just don't forget to feed them, as the queens will readily eat the brood if they are hungry.

[benjiwuf]

no brood yet, just a lot of wandering at the moment. they were caught at the end of october this year so they haven't really started laying eggs yet.

[dean_k]

Shouldn't they hibernate before laying eggs? You are in New York, yeah? Although Myrmica seems to give a middle finger about going into hibernation.

[James C. Trager]

I wonder if the one that didn't get along was actually a different species. Hard to tell apart Myrmica!

[benjiwuf]

that's what I'm thinking, her size dwarfed the other two just enough to be noticed (slightly taller and "stockier" is the only way I know how to phrase that lol). however since she has died I no longer felt the need to keep her in a test tube so I can no longer compare her. the myrmica (and my lasius alienus) seem to both be rather active in hibernation as well. both seem to enjoy pacing across the same areas repeatedly (almost as if they are searching for something).

 

edit:  yes I am in Rochester NY so any queens I caught after September I'm not really expecting to do much until I take them out of hibernation.

Edited by benjiwuf, November 25 2014 - 5:14 PM.

[Foogoo]

I like to see Myrmica but honestly I don't like keeping them.

 

Why? That's one species I'm completely unfamiliar with.

 

How did you find the queens? I'm surprised they'd be out and about this time of the year, especially since I imagine it's much colder in NY.

Edited by Foogoo, November 25 2014 - 9:01 PM.

[benjiwuf]

October this year was rather warm, mid-upper 50's at night...? (hard to remember now), but ultimately I found them crawling around the walls outside at work during two night shifts. I haven't found any ants since then though.

[benjiwuf]

i've had to seperate both of these queens now since they decided to start picking each other up and drag them around the foraging area. now they are in seperate test tubes with a small brood pile. i feed them every 2-4 days and they seem to be much more comfortable in the tubes. their only food source is formula blue as they absolutely go crazy for it. they are also both out of hibernation (obviously).

[drtrmiller]

Indeed, test tubes do seem better for lone queens.  

 

When they get at around 5-10 nanitics, they may can benefit from a more spacious habitat, such as the GroTube, where they will also be more easy to observe.

 

From what I gather, Myrmica are rather slow to develop.

[dean_k]

From what I gather, Myrmica are rather slow to develop.

 

Rather slow? Excruciatingly slow. But the queens appear to be a fun bunch to watch. Dominant queen controls most workers while minor queen has a small faction of her own.

 

Mine spent only few weeks in my fridge and that seems to be enough.

[benjiwuf]

it's not that they didn't like the grotube, i mean they nested in the correct area and everything. however they just never laid eggs until i took them out. they did appreciate the foraging area though, so i may just make up a small container for them to forage in. they get a touch defensive when i stuff the formula blue in their tube.

[dean_k]

it's not that they didn't like the grotube, i mean they nested in the correct area and everything. however they just never laid eggs until i took them out. they did appreciate the foraging area though, so i may just make up a small container for them to forage in. they get a touch defensive when i stuff the formula blue in their tube.

 

The same thing happened with my Lasius queen. She was in grotube for about a week and half before I relocated her to Tar Heel ants' growth chamber. She laid eggs like 2 days later.