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Major’s Ant Journal


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180 replies to this topic

#161 Offline CoolColJ - Posted September 19 2019 - 6:44 PM

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As far as general Pheidole tips go - they tend to like high humidity.
Like seeds and raw nuts, so I like to give them bit of that and insects

They grow pretty fast when heated, like 1 month average for minor workers.
majors take twice as long

Generally fairly easy to get going, at least with the species I have had.
They don't mind light exposure, so all my colonies are uncovered all the time

Current ant colonies -
1) Opisthopsis Rufithorax (strobe ant), Melophorus sp2. black and orange, Pheidole species, Pheidole antipodum
Journal = http://www.formicult...ra-iridomyrmex/

Heterotermes cf brevicatena termite pet/feeder journal = http://www.formicult...feeder-journal/


#162 Offline Antennal_Scrobe - Posted November 8 2019 - 9:08 AM

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Are the Pheidole still OK?


Currently keeping:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica punctiventris, Formica subsericea

Formica pallidefulva, Aphaeogaster cf. rudis

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Camponotus nearcticus

Crematogaster cerasi

Temnothorax ambiguus

Prenolepis imparis


#163 Offline Major - Posted May 3 2021 - 12:03 PM

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deleted


Edited by Major, July 17 2023 - 3:04 PM.


#164 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 3 2021 - 1:08 PM

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Well to each his own. Good luck to you.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#165 Offline That_one_ant_guy - Posted May 3 2021 - 2:53 PM

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Ngl, pretty nice journal 👌
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#166 Offline Major - Posted July 22 2023 - 4:20 PM

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Hey all. Been a few years since I’ve posted. Haven’t kept ants in a while and am likely going to get back into it. Wondering if much had changed that anyone can update me on; mainly referring to shipping laws etc.. As far as I understand, certain species may now be shipped over state lines, wondering which ones they are or where I could find more info?

Going to have some fun researching ants again starting from scratch. Don’t remember much other than how to spot queens and the basic tube setup haha. If anyone has some advice on where to start that would be awesome. Maybe a list on what to buy again to get prepared. Happy to be back, will update as soon as I get some critters.

Edited by Major, July 22 2023 - 4:46 PM.


#167 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 22 2023 - 4:48 PM

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

#168 Offline Major - Posted July 22 2023 - 5:20 PM

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Hey! Welcome back!


Thanks AntDrew, great to be back!

#169 Offline Major - Posted August 23 2023 - 4:26 AM

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Little update. I finally have a few colonies again!

A dual queen Tetramorium Immigrans (curtesy of Skwiggledork) with about 20-30 workers. They are situated in a formisquarium

About 20 solenopsis molesta queens

A couple Brachyamyrmex Dephilis queens (doubt they will make it).

4 Lasius Sp. Queens

A Lasius Brevicornis queen

A monomorium Minimum colony with about 50-60 workers. Was initially a 6 queen colony but some died in shipping. Might try and get some more. They are currently living in a Mini Hearth XL.

Happy to be back! If anyone has questions let me know. I’ll try and get some pics posted and buy a macro lens

#170 Offline Leo - Posted August 23 2023 - 4:41 AM

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what's wrong with the Brachyamyrmex dephilis queens?



#171 Offline Major - Posted August 23 2023 - 5:03 AM

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what's wrong with the Brachyamyrmex dephilis queens?


Well my ID skills were a bit rusty getting back in so I mis-identified them as Solonopsis Molesta and tossed them with the other solo queens. Surprisingly they are still alive but haven’t laid yet unlike the Solo. Difficult to intervene and extract them since they are all huddled together. I have the S. molesta grouped across several test tubes since in my experience they are highly polygamous

#172 Offline Major - Posted August 26 2023 - 2:36 AM

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Caught a bunch more brachyamyrmex depilis, a few solenopsis molesta, as well as a singular lasius sp. queen.

Also ordered a clip on phone macro lens so hopefully pics later today or tommorow. Pheidole Bicarinata and Pheidole Morrissi should be arriving sometime next week.
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#173 Offline ANTdrew - Posted August 26 2023 - 2:50 AM

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Pheidole are the best, when they’re not escaping!
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#174 Offline Major - Posted August 31 2023 - 2:56 PM

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8/31/23

All my current queens and colonies (each pic is a SEPARATE tube/colony)

#1 Tetramorium Immigrans, in a formisquarium. 2 Queens with a mountain of brood and about 30-40 workers (not all pictured)


#2 3 Queen Monomorium Minimum Colony, in a Mini Hearth XL. These guys don’t touch anything I feed them, has a large die off when I recieved. Hopefully the bounce back.


#3 Pheidole Morrissi Colony, Test Tube. About 15 workers and some brood. Test tube is moldy but I ordered some more to move them into. Love these fellas. Voracious appetites and so cute!


#4 4 Queen Solenopsis Molesta w/ eggs


#5 8 Queen Solenopsis Molesta w/larvae


#6 10 Queen Solenopsis Molesta w/ larvae


#7 3 Queen Lasius sp. (Neoniger?) with 3 eggs


#8 2 Queen Solenopsis Molesta with 2-3 Brachyamyrmex Depilis


#9 Too Many To Count Queen Solenopsis Molesta w Larvae


#10 Single Queen Solenopsis Molesta with Pupae


#11 Over a Dozen Brachyamyrmex Depilis with 1 Solenopsis Molesta (lol)


#12 12(?) Queen Brachyamyrmex Depilis with a few eggs


Bonus pic! Pheidole Morrissi devouring Super worm.


Got a bunch of testtubes, the blue sponges (cotton replacement that doesn’t mold) and a bunch of other accessories arriving tommorow and Saturday. As well as Pheidole Bicarinata.

Happy to answer questions!
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#175 Offline AntsCali098 - Posted August 31 2023 - 3:38 PM

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Welcome back to the hobby!

Interested buying in ants? Feel free to check out my shop

Feel free to read my journals, like this one.

 

Wishlist:

Atta sp (wish they were in CA), Crematogaster cerasi, Most Pheidole species

 

 


#176 Offline Virginian_ants - Posted August 31 2023 - 3:38 PM

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That's a lot of Solenopsis!

#177 Offline ANTdrew - Posted August 31 2023 - 4:25 PM

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I think you need more molesta.
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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.

#178 Offline Major - Posted September 10 2023 - 9:01 AM

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Tetramorium Immigrans loving baby roach, population boom is crazy. Egg pile for days and the queens are still going strong.



Monomorium Minimum finally giving me a feeding response, and finally seeing some brood!


Edited by Major, September 10 2023 - 9:01 AM.

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#179 Offline Yourbasicantkeeper - Posted September 10 2023 - 9:27 AM

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Nice!


"I am here on Earth, and I am only a speck of sand in the desert, a blade of grass in a field. I am no greater than any one of these busy ants who build for each other's comfort. " - King Solomon

 

Currently keeping: Myrmecocystus Depilis, Pogonomyrmex Rugosus

 

Wishlist: Camponotus Ocreatus


#180 Offline Major - Posted September 11 2023 - 5:14 PM

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too many ants.. I don’t even catch queens anymore unless it’s a rare sp
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