63 replies to this topic

[FeedTheAnts]

What happened to these?

[Aaron567]

What happened to these?

 

Their fungus pellets never started to grow and I don't really know why. The only difference in their setup and the infertile one I had a while back that grew her fungus was that the new ones were in a plaster setup while the old one had grout. This year I will certainly make more grout setups to see if I can get the fertile queens to grow their fungus and lay eggs.

[Aaron567]

June 12, 2020

 

Since my past attempts at getting these queens to found, I have learned from other people that if you do not collect the queens of Trachymyrmex septentrionalis on the same day that they fly, you risk collecting her without her buccal pellet and she would therefore not be able to start her a fungus garden. Queens excavate their founding chambers for weeks after they've flown, making it pretty likely to find foraging or excavating queens once they already have fungus in their nest underground. 

 

Yesterday I collected four queens while they were excavating their nests. I am not sure when they flew, but I am nearly certain that it was on a previous day, because the mature colonies in my backyard were particularly inactive. Luckily, I already have a mature (but queenless) colony of this species that I could steal some fungus from to boost my queens with. So, I put all four queens in one setup and gave them a small amount of fungus. I did not want to spoil them too much because I want to have the satisfaction of witnessing the growth of the garden. As of day two, I have noticed that there are 2 queens constantly sitting next to and tending to the fungus, while the other two are isolated, away from the others. I may remove them if they continue this behavior.

 

[TennesseeAnts]

Just waiting for my local colonies to fly...

[TechAnt]

This makes me want Acromyrmex/Trachymyrmex as a colony I keep even more. I hope they do well!

[AntsExodus]

At what time did you catch these queens digging their founding chamber? It doesnt have to be specific

[AntsDakota]

Someday I might try to get a permit for these...........

[ponerinecat]

I like our local cyphomyrmex. just need to catch a flight or find a colony.

[TechAnt]

I like our local cyphomyrmex. just need to catch a flight or find a colony.

Sometimes I forget cyphomyrmex E X I S T S. They are overshadowed by Acromyrmex and Trachymyrmex, which are overshadowed by Atta. At least in my opinion.

[Aaron567]

June 14, 2020

 

For a few days, it seemed like two queens were not getting along with the other two. They took a small piece of fungus for themselves and brought it to the other side of the container, away from the other pair of queens. Yesterday, however, they joined forces and now it looks like they're all tolerating each other.

 

I dropped a few tiny dried pieces of rose leaf next to them 2 days ago and they immediately started incorporating it into the fungus. The fungus has grown noticeably, but I do not see any eggs yet.

 

[Aaron567]

June 17, 2020

 

There has been a lot of fungus growth over the last few days. It's now leaning up against the side of the container. They really enjoy rose petals; it's what I've been giving them every day. I give them a large piece and within about an hour they cut it up and completely process it. 

 

[Aaron567]

Some additional pictures I took just now, as they're processing a new rose petal.

 

[Aaron567]

July 4, 2020

 

I am able to see now that these queens have their first larvae. I never saw any eggs, probably due to the fact that they're very tiny and are hidden in the fungus in a way that makes them practically invisible. I don't know how many larvae there are, but I can see at least 2 medium-sized ones right now. 

 

Since the previous update, the queens kept building the fungus up vertically, making a tall tower, but yesterday they finally collapsed it into a more normal shape. I gave them rose petals for their fungus until they got bored of taking them, and I have not been able to find anything that they enjoy as much since then. 

 

In these pictures you can see that the larva is somewhat covered with fungus. I'm not sure if the queens do this or if the fungus automatically grows onto the larvae, but I know it is normal.

[ponerinecat]

Lovely photos of a lovely species displaying a lovely behavior.

[CatsnAnts]

They look like a part of the fungus haha, good luck with these! I wish we had some where I lived.

[AntsDakota]

June 12, 2020

 

Since my past attempts at getting these queens to found, I have learned from other people that if you do not collect the queens of Trachymyrmex septentrionalis on the same day that they fly, you risk collecting her without her buccal pellet and she would therefore not be able to start her a fungus garden. Queens excavate their founding chambers for weeks after they've flown, making it pretty likely to find foraging or excavating queens once they already have fungus in their nest underground. 

 

Yesterday I collected four queens while they were excavating their nests. I am not sure when they flew, but I am nearly certain that it was on a previous day, because the mature colonies in my backyard were particularly inactive. Luckily, I already have a mature (but queenless) colony of this species that I could steal some fungus from to boost my queens with. So, I put all four queens in one setup and gave them a small amount of fungus. I did not want to spoil them too much because I want to have the satisfaction of witnessing the growth of the garden. As of day two, I have noticed that there are 2 queens constantly sitting next to and tending to the fungus, while the other two are isolated, away from the others. I may remove them if they continue this behavior.

 

So these are polygynous? Didn't know that.

[Aaron567]

So these are polygynous? Didn't know that.

 

Once workers arrive only one dominant queen will continue laying.

[AntsDakota]

Well, I suppose that’s better than them all killing each other.

[Aaron567]

July 23, 2020

 

First pupa appeared a while back, and it is already pretty far along, with the eyes already darkening. There are several larvae that I can see, but the brood blends right in with the fungus so it's always hard to tell exactly what they have. The fungus surprisingly hasn't grown all that much since the last update... I've been really struggling to get these queens to accept anything after they started refusing the rose petals. I've gotten them to take some dandelion petals and some oats recently.

 

[Antkid12]

Nice!