12 replies to this topic

[nurbs]

5-25-2014

 

I have three other thriving colonies, but this is my first journal. Figured it will be interesting to track the progress of this species since they are parasitic. And besides, we can't let Drew have all the fun with these journals.

 

On 5-25-2014 while hiking Mount Whitney at about 9000ft of elevation, I found this Formica ravida queen on the dirt path. Mount Whitney is near Lone Pine, CA and is the highest mountain in CA (and probably the US).

 

She will need pupae from the same species to start her colony, so I will be heading back up into the mountains this weekend and try to dig up some. I am not sure if she is even fertile, but hopefully things will get interesting. 

 

Just for curiosity, I tried to give her some of my Pogonomyrmex californicus pupae and she did not take to them. She didn't even eat them.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by nurbs, July 6 2015 - 11:33 PM.

[Mercutia]

Your pictures are crazy good. Beautiful coloration.

[dspdrew]

Did you find out it actually is F. ravida??

[Cole]

Yeah, those are some amazing pictures. I look forward to seeing how this goes.

[nurbs]

Pretty sure Andrew... they are the only parastic Formica in the Eastern Sierras. 

[nurbs]

She is very attentive and alert to movement. When I place my hand over the test tube, she notices and actually looks at my finger. Guess they have pretty good eyesight.

[dspdrew]

Oh yeah, you're right, they are parasitic. I didn't know that. That's awesome you got the one Formica I wanted so bad.

[dermy]

Great pictures!

[nurbs]

Yesterday I went up Azusa canyon at Crystal lake to find some formica. No luck. Drew said to try Ice House canyon near Mount Baldy. I'll go there next week.

 

She appears to be in good health, nice and alert. Hoping she stays alive for another week. I've been feeding her honey water and wingless fruit flies.

[Anhzor]

any Formica pupae will work with parasitic queens, i would use those black Formica that roam around baldy.  You can find them by flipping rocks.

[Gregory2455]

What do you use to take the pictures?!

Edited by Gregory2455, September 9 2014 - 9:07 PM.

[Mercutia]

A camera. LOLOLOL sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

Nurbs is a really awesome photographer IRL. You should see some of his photos of regular people (not ants). I'd assume he has some top notch fancy pants high end camera with a crazy macro lens.

[Gregory2455]

Ha...

Edited by Gregory2455, September 9 2014 - 9:07 PM.