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Rbarreto's Ant Journal

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#61 Offline rbarreto - Posted May 7 2019 - 4:25 PM

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Crematogaster cerasi
I love watching the progress of the naked pupae. You can already see eyes on some of them.

ARUE9FAl.jpg

0LzCCfcl.jpg

Formica pallidefulva
These guys are finally starting to be more active now that their numbers have increased.

0JxSFajl.jpg

Camponotus novaeboracensis
This is just a cool picture that shows some of the size discrepancies. Still no majors but judging by the size of some of the larvae I think some small ones are on their way.

NB02s4tl.jpg


Edited by rbarreto, May 14 2019 - 8:48 PM.

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My journal featuring most of my ants.

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#62 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted May 7 2019 - 4:27 PM

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That middle ant is a submajor.

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, May 7 2019 - 4:27 PM.


#63 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 7 2019 - 5:33 PM

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Everything about Crematogaster is fun to watch!
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#64 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 9 2019 - 11:12 AM

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How did you come across your Crematogaster queen? I couldn't find the story going through your journal.


"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#65 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted May 9 2019 - 11:23 AM

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It hatched from his Camponotus noveaboracensis colony.
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#66 Offline rbarreto - Posted May 9 2019 - 11:36 AM

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How did you come across your Crematogaster queen? I couldn't find the story going through your journal.

Found her along the side of the road, it was super random.


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My journal featuring most of my ants.

My other journal featuring Formica Bradleyi.

Check our my store here!


#67 Offline Acutus - Posted May 9 2019 - 3:37 PM

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Nice!!!!

I'm really starting to like my little Crematogaster colony. They are cool little ants!

 

I'm also very jealous of the C. novaboracensis colony. I need to find one of these queens but I think they are fairly uncommon here in Maryland.


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Billy

 

Currently keeping:

Camponotus chromaiodes

Camponotus castaneus

Formica subsericea


#68 Offline rbarreto - Posted May 14 2019 - 8:46 PM

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So my initial hype towards ant keeping has died down a little bit. I have reduced the colonies I want to keep down to a more reasonable 3-4. As they continue to get bigger I assume that I'll keep selling them off until I have 1 or 2 large colonies. For now I will mostly focus on Crematogaster cerasi, Camponotus novaeboracensis, and Formica pallidefulva. I will only be adding rarer more interesting colonies to this journal from now on. Species I am looking forward to keep are:

 

Camponotus americanus

Camponotus castaneus

Camponotus subbarbatus

Parasitic Formica

Aphaenogaster tenneseensis

 

Crematogaster cerasi
Two pupae have eclosed (not sure what the correct terminology is for naked pupae). This queen is very responsive to heat, she immediately moved all brood towards it.

 

tV3gJsHl.jpg

 

33CBA8Fl.jpg

 

Here is a picture of one of the nanitics "waking up'". She Looked really weird when I took that picture. I was quite worried at the time but she's completely fine now.

 

rOqEkcGl.jpg

 

Camponotus novaeboracensis
This colony continues to be super productive and maintains a mountain of brood.

 

U1SEEeZl.jpg

 

This larvae is already bigger than all the other workers. Safe to say this is going to be the colony's first major worker.

 

QXFOHmol.jpg


Edited by rbarreto, May 14 2019 - 8:47 PM.

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My journal featuring most of my ants.

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Check our my store here!


#69 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 15 2019 - 9:30 AM

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I too only want to have a few well cared for and interesting species. A mature colony is a big responsibility, especially considering I have two toddlers.

A tip I had for your Crematogaster is to get them an out world and a liquid feeder ASAP. Feeding in their tube is problematic because they easily drown and the nectar can dry up too fast.


"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#70 Offline rbarreto - Posted May 15 2019 - 10:13 AM

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I too only want to have a few well cared for and interesting species. A mature colony is a big responsibility, especially considering I have two toddlers.
A tip I had for your Crematogaster is to get them an out world and a liquid feeder ASAP. Feeding in their tube is problematic because they easily drown and the nectar can dry up too fast.

Hopefully that won't be a problem. I've always fed my ants honey and only ever had one casualty. It's also possible that they just dumped a dead body in it.

My journal featuring most of my ants.

My other journal featuring Formica Bradleyi.

Check our my store here!


#71 Offline Lazarus - Posted May 15 2019 - 6:46 PM

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Camponotus novaeboracensis
This is just a cool picture that shows some of the size discrepancies. Still no majors but judging by the size of some of the larvae I think some small ones are on their way.

NB02s4tl.jpg

 

 

 

That's a really nice, clear photo. (Wish I could take clear pics like that). As for polymorphism in C. Novae, some of the majors in my older colonies are huge compared to some of the smaller workers, easily twice the size. I'm curious to see if I get even bigger one in this, their 3rd year.


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My online ant spreadsheet


#72 Offline Acutus - Posted May 15 2019 - 7:02 PM

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Camponotus novaeboracensis
This is just a cool picture that shows some of the size discrepancies. Still no majors but judging by the size of some of the larvae I think some small ones are on their way.

NB02s4tl.jpg

 

 

 

That's a really nice, clear photo. (Wish I could take clear pics like that). As for polymorphism in C. Novae, some of the majors in my older colonies are huge compared to some of the smaller workers, easily twice the size. I'm curious to see if I get even bigger one in this, their 3rd year.

 

 

This is definitely a species I'd love to have. They're supposed to be native here in MD but I don't know where. :(  Still liking my C. chromaiodes and C. castaneus though. :)


Billy

 

Currently keeping:

Camponotus chromaiodes

Camponotus castaneus

Formica subsericea


#73 Offline CatsnAnts - Posted May 16 2019 - 3:07 PM

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I will only be adding rarer more interesting colonies to this journal from now on. Species I am looking forward to keep are:

Camponotus americanus
Camponotus castaneus
Camponotus subbarbatus
Parasitic Formica
Aphaenogaster tenneseensis

Wait, did you say Camponotus subbarbatus? I currently have three in test tube setups, and have found ALL three in twigs and sticks (literally go outside and pick up any rotting stick with holes and I can almost garuntee you’ll find one!) I also live in Indiana, so they may be flying at different times. :)

Edited by CatsnAnts, May 16 2019 - 3:08 PM.

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#74 Offline rbarreto - Posted May 22 2019 - 7:00 AM

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I will only be adding rarer more interesting colonies to this journal from now on. Species I am looking forward to keep are:

Camponotus americanus
Camponotus castaneus
Camponotus subbarbatus
Parasitic Formica
Aphaenogaster tenneseensis

Wait, did you say Camponotus subbarbatus? I currently have three in test tube setups, and have found ALL three in twigs and sticks (literally go outside and pick up any rotting stick with holes and I can almost garuntee you’ll find one!) I also live in Indiana, so they may be flying at different times. :)

 

I've never seen any here in Ottawa and I can't find any reports of them this far north. Almost every species I mentioned are only confirmed present in southern Ontario.


Edited by rbarreto, May 22 2019 - 7:36 AM.

My journal featuring most of my ants.

My other journal featuring Formica Bradleyi.

Check our my store here!


#75 Offline rbarreto - Posted May 22 2019 - 8:04 AM

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Lasius claviger

Big new batch of eggs some large larvae! 

 

JHZmkAMl.jpg

 

Crematogaster cerasi
They have 13-14 workers so far but a few more are on the way. I think they might actually finish with 16-18 on the first batch. Here they are consuming their first protein, a cut up superworm.

 

vyaCJbxl.jpg

 

Camponotus novaeboracensis

I just like posting pictures of these guys  :D

ysOXfDll.jpg


Edited by rbarreto, May 22 2019 - 8:05 AM.

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Check our my store here!


#76 Offline rbarreto - Posted May 30 2019 - 9:08 PM

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Camponotus novaeboracensis
These guys are so clean! Most of my colonies don't care about mold so they just leave stuff wherever, even close to their brood, but this colony takes everything into the outworld where I can pick it up! There is a new batch eggs and some of the larvae are becoming major sized. Also one of the major pupae is going to eclose soon!

 

CjDyiOnl.jpg

 

GeHggXEl.jpg

 

1EfSXzFl.jpg


Edited by rbarreto, May 30 2019 - 9:10 PM.

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My journal featuring most of my ants.

My other journal featuring Formica Bradleyi.

Check our my store here!


#77 Offline Acutus - Posted May 31 2019 - 10:10 AM

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I so want this species! Too cool!! :D


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Billy

 

Currently keeping:

Camponotus chromaiodes

Camponotus castaneus

Formica subsericea


#78 Offline rbarreto - Posted May 31 2019 - 10:21 AM

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I so want this species! Too cool!! :D


Says the guy with 5 Camponotus castaneus queens.
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My journal featuring most of my ants.

My other journal featuring Formica Bradleyi.

Check our my store here!


#79 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 31 2019 - 10:46 AM

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:lol: 


"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#80 Offline Acutus - Posted May 31 2019 - 11:20 AM

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I so want this species! Too cool!! :D


Says the guy with 5 Camponotus castaneus queens.

 

 

Well I would definitely trade 1 for a Novaeboracensis! LOL and I actually have 6 if you count my colony! :D :D

I'm guessing that they are as common here as maybe C. novaeboracensis are there?


Billy

 

Currently keeping:

Camponotus chromaiodes

Camponotus castaneus

Formica subsericea






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