167 replies to this topic

[BugFinder]

I really want this colony to survive partially because I really like harvester ants, but mostly because this is my very first colony....  And I'm a silly sentimental guy, lol.

[dean_k]

I know I asked you this question before, but what is the temp around the colony now?

[BugFinder]

It's really warm during the day 75+ F, a little cooler over night, maybe 65+.  I'm in the process of acquiring a heat lamp, hoping to pick that up tomorrow.

Edited by BugFinder, March 13 2015 - 3:01 PM.

[BugFinder]

I can't imagine what could be killing workers one at a time, but not the queen....   It's so strange.

[BugFinder]

The queen has died, this colony is finished.

[Foogoo]

The queen has died, this colony is finished.

Sorry to hear. My californicus met a similar fate last year with no indication of what's wrong.

[BugFinder]

Yeah I'm bummed.  It was my favorite, not to mention my first colony.

[Gregory2455]

So sorry... Well at least the flights are coming up for this species, so we can all get some more, huh?

[BugFinder]

I sure hope to get some.  At this point I don't know where to find them up here.

[dspdrew]

That sucks. I'm sure we will find some this season. If we don't manage to find any, I do have a medium-sized colony that seems to be doing well I'm going to be selling. I would give it to you for a lot less than someone I don't know. I have three successful colonies now, and I just can't keep taking care of all three.

[Gregory2455]

I sure hope to get some.  At this point I don't know where to find them up here.

Oh yeah, you are going to need to come here.

[BugFinder]

That sucks. I'm sure we will find some this season. If we don't manage to find any, I do have a medium-sized colony that seems to be doing well I'm going to be selling. I would give it to you for a lot less than someone I don't know. I have three successful colonies now, and I just can't keep taking care of all three.

I'll take it off your hands whenever you're ready bud.

 

I sure hope to get some.  At this point I don't know where to find them up here.

Oh yeah, you are going to need to come here.

 

Really looking forward to it bud.

[BugFinder]

On 4/20/15 I met with Drew and purchased another Californicus colony.  This one was much larger than the last one I purchased.  He estimates it has about 200 workers, I would bet it's closer to 100 but who knows.  He's better at that than I am.  They are in a test tube placed in a plastic box as an outworld.  I'm going to use this journal for their colony instead of creating a new one.

Edited by BugFinder, April 30 2015 - 3:27 PM.

[dspdrew]

Yeah trust me, it always looks like there are a lot less than there actually are. Once you start counting, you quickly realize that. I've counted a lot of colonies.

[BugFinder]

So my package came from THA today (2 nucleus and 2 mini hearths) so I put my californicus colony in the smaller nucleus.  I had planned for them to go into the biger nucleus, and my Camponotus to go into the smaller one, but my camponotus only have 1 worker and 2 larvae left, so I'm leaving them where they are until they are little bigger/stronger.

[nurbs]

You and me both! I just stopped using tap water and switched to bottled water today, so I'm hoping that solves the problem that they've been suffering from.

Yeah, I have always used bottled water for my Pogonomyrmex.

[BugFinder]

It appears the move from the test tube in a plastic box they came in to the THA nucleus was successful, because there is quite a few larvae and pupae, and a pretty good size clutch of eggs.

 

 

[BugFinder]

There is a trash pile growing in one of the chambers.  Time for the vacuum I just bought from Amazon.com.

[BugFinder]

All life stages are present in this photo, the only thing that could have been present is the queen.  too bad she wasn't also in the photo.

 

[Broncos]

UPDATE!!!