625 replies to this topic

[Antkid12]

Looks great!

[Kaelwizard]

Very nice! Do you think if you add more coats of paint the cracks will be filled in more? (Obviously this is the prototype and that doesn't matter that much, but i am curious if those would be able to be filled in)

[CatsnAnts]

Very nice! Do you think if you add more coats of paint the cracks will be filled in more? (Obviously this is the prototype and that doesn't matter that much, but i am curious if those would be able to be filled in)

Yes, two coats of paint would definitely fill in the air bubbles/ cracks a little more, However, I’m still hoping that this new mixture will be a lot smoother with no air bubbles or cracks in the first place. I will likely put on two coats of paint just for aesthetics either way.

[ANTdrew]

C&A, sign me up! I’m definitely interested!

[CatsnAnts]

Just curious, is there anyone in Indiana that wants some Pheidole bicarinata queens? I will sell them pretty cheap as I have quite a few (I would need to raise them to workers first to ensure that they are mated). Indiana is such a lonely state on this forum

(I might also be willing to sell some of my other species as well, I’ll probably open an ant store when I open my formicaria store.)

Edited by CatsnAnts, July 9 2020 - 4:13 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Just curious, is there anyone in Indiana that wants some Pheidole bicarinata queens? I will sell them pretty cheap as
I have quite a few (I would need to raise them to workers first to ensure that they are mated). Indiana is such a lonely state on this forum

(I might also be willing to sell some of my other species as well, I’ll probably open an ant store when I open my formicaria store.)

Same as TN. 

[ANTdrew]

I have Pheidole bicarinata up to the ears as well. I could’ve collected ten more on Tuesday.

[madbiologist]

I have Pheidole bicarinata up to the ears as well. I could’ve collected ten more on Tuesday.

You'll need as many as you can get, trust me. They have a penchant for dying in captivity. The best advice I have is to skip hibernation with them, and I'm not even sure how that will play out for their long term health.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[ANTdrew]

That’s what I figured. I currently have seven founding. Hopefully I can crack the code.

[CatsnAnts]

That’s what I figured. I currently have seven founding. Hopefully I can crack the code.

Let’s hope, you already know how my ones last year turned out.

[ANTdrew]

I made it to larvae, so that’s good. One step at a time, lol.

[CatsnAnts]

Ant Colonies Update (lots of pictures!):
7/4/2020

All of my pictures were taken using an $8 macro lens, I have been putting some money aside for a better camera next year.

Established Colonies:

Temnothorax curvispinosus (1 queen)
I have a plan to put this colony in a sort of “homemade” hickory nut and place them somewhere outside where they can be free to move wherever they want, or I can observe them and feed them from my yard if they stay.

Temnothorax curvispinosus (no queen)
Updated in other journal.

Founding Colonies:

4X Pheidole bicarinata (1 queen)
Colony 1- Lots of eggs! All in a very neat pile, no larvae yet though:



Colony 2- Eggs as well:



*NEW* Colony 3- I actually ended up releasing a majority (about 15) of the Pheidole bicarinata queens that I caught recently. However, I’m taking Mad’s advice and decided to keep two just to be on the safe side. Neither have eggs yet.
*NEW* Colony 4- ^^^

Pheidole bicarinata (3 queen)
This colony has now surpassed their original egg pile by a lot. I’m still worried about when workers come because I know it is likely inevitable that they will fight:




5X Pheidole cf. tysoni (1 queen)
Colony 1- This queen has lots of eggs, still no larvae. I’m super excited for these, probably my favorite species by far, their coloration is gorgeous:



Colony 2- This queen is pretty much the same as queen 1, but a few of her eggs are scattered. I’m not too worried, as I just caught three more of these:


*NEW* Colony 3- All three of these queens are sitting in their collection container. I have test tubes arriving tomorrow (they sent me the wrong ones, so I had to get a replacement )
*NEW* Colony 4- ^^^
*NEW* Colony 5- ^^^

Colobopsis impressa (1 queen)
This queen was moved into a piece of vinyl tubing to save space, and lo and behold, she laid a noodle egg. I’m going to need to move her back into a test tube once they arrive because the water reservoir on these “makeshift” test tubes is really crappy.

Temnothorax curvispinosus (15 queen)
I think they might be eating their eggs as they lay them, there’s not very many:



Temnothorax ambiguus (8 queen)
These queens are doing really well! I’m surprised at the size of the eggs compared to the queens:



2X Pheidole pilifera (1 queen)
Colony 1- Still no eggs:

*NEW* Colony 2- Just caught recently.

Crematogaster sp. (1 queen)
Slowed down on her egg-laying, still doing good:





*NEW* Solenopsis cf. molesta (6 queen)
I just caught six queens of these, waiting for test tubes so I can put them in one.

Temnothorax pergandei (1 queen)
EGGGSS, she laid two eggs:

Edited by CatsnAnts, July 10 2020 - 5:45 AM.

[ANTdrew]

I wonder if Pheidole need higher than normal tenperatures to found? Mine were in the 90s for a week when my AC crapped out before their eggs hatched. There between 82-87 now in my hot kitchen.
I hope your eggs hatch this year in any case.

[Kaelwizard]

You could put the vinyl in the tubing for the Colobopsis and attach it to the water cotton in the tube so she can drink.

[CatsnAnts]

I wonder if Pheidole need higher than normal tenperatures to found? Mine were in the 90s for a week when my AC crapped out before their eggs hatched. There between 82-87 now in my hot kitchen.
I hope your eggs hatch this year in any case.

That could be the case. It would make sense to as of why the eggs haven’t been developing.

 

You could put the vinyl in the tubing for the Colobopsis and attach it to the water cotton in the tube so she can drink.

That’s a smart idea, I will do that once they arrive! Now I won’t have to disturb her with a move.

[AntsDakota]

In my experience with Tetramorium and Aphaenogaster, the queens are completely docile around one another. It’s the workers who pick out the best one and slaughter the rest.

[CatsnAnts]

In my experience with Tetramorium and Aphaenogaster, the queens are completely docile around one another. It’s the workers who pick out the best one and slaughter the rest.

I have had Pheidole queens shred each other to pieces earlier this year, however, I believe you’re right. I’m hoping I can fool them by having three queens instead of just two

Edited by CatsnAnts, July 10 2020 - 6:39 AM.

[CatsnAnts]

I’m also now just starting to realize I’m going to end up with way too many colonies if all of these queens are sucessful, so here are my plans:

 

What I want to keep:

2 Pheidole tysoni

2 Pheidole bicarinata (or just one if it’s a triple queen)

1 Pheidole pilifera

Unlimited Colobopsis sp.

1 large Temnothorax ambiguus colony

1 large Temnothorax curvispinosus colony

Unlimited Temnothorax pergandei sp.

A single, VERY food-limited Crematogaster colony (if it’s a special species besides cerasi or lineolata)
1 large Solenopsis (molesta, texana, carolinensis)

Now of course, if I have exactly everything I say on this list, it will still be way too much to take care of, especially with school approaching, so I will have to limit it down further later (although I’m assuming that a lot of the colonies won’t survive past hibernation, so I will decide then out of these)

 

EDIT:

ALSO, that means that I will be getting rid of my excess colonies and queens when they make it to workers (release them/ sell them dirt cheap), so if ANYONE from Indiana wants some queens, let me know! It’s not official yet, but I don’t want to release these colonies if someone else wants them.

Edited by CatsnAnts, July 10 2020 - 6:35 AM.

[AntsDakota]

In my experience with Tetramorium and Aphaenogaster, the queens are completely docile around one another. It’s the workers who pick out the best one and slaughter the rest.

I have had Pheidole queens shred each other to pieces earlier this year, however, I believe your right. I’m hoping I can fool them by having three queens instead of just two

The only pleometrophic ants I’ve kept that literally shred each other to pieces is Lasius. I had a founding pair together (I thought it was polygynous brevicornis, But was really neoniger), but just days after workers arrived both queens were in several pieces each.

[ANTdrew]

If you limit a Crematogaster colony’s food, they will implode fast. I’ve seen it happen to several of my customers.