189 replies to this topic

[Mettcollsuss]

I thought it'd be easier to move all my journals to one place.

 

Colonies currently featured in this journal:

• Aphaenogaster tennesseensis
• Brachymyrmex depilis
• Camponotus chromaiodes
• Camponotus pennsylvanicus
• Camponotus subbarbatus
• Formica incerta
• Formica obscuriventris
• Formica subaenescens
• Formica subsericea
• Lasius brevicornis
• Lasius neoniger
• Lasius speculiventris
• Myrmica punctiventris
• Myrmica sp.
• Pogonomyrmex occidentalis
• Prenolepis imparis
• Tapinoma sessile
• Temnothorax curvispinosus
• Tetramorium bicarinatum
• Tetramorium immigrans

Edited by Mettcollsuss, October 23 2023 - 4:56 PM.

[Mettcollsuss]

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Doing well, tons of brood and workers. They now have 5 or 6 workers constantly patrolling the outworld rather than the 2 nest guards they used to have. A new major pupae is close to eclosing.

 

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Formica obscuriventris

Doing okay. They have a couple mid-size larvae. I moved them to a Mini Hearth, partially because they try to escape every time I opened their tube to feed them, and also because it flooded a little. They only lost 1 worker in the flood, though. I got some photos of them moving in.

 

Edited by Mettcollsuss, April 13 2019 - 3:59 AM.

[Mettcollsuss]

Crematogaster cerasi

15 workers. They're getting too hard to feed in the tube, so I attached the tube to a TarHeelAnts Atom nest as an outworld.

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Crematogaster lineolata

The lineolata queen, after only having eggs for quite a while now finally has some large larvae.

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Formica neorufibarbis

One of their main brood rooms is very easy to see into. I see about 30 pupae in their. They have lots of eggs and larvae too, but they're harder to see.

[Mettcollsuss]

I just got back from a short trip. Update on what happened with some colonies.

 

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

A few new workers eclosed, including two new majors. Tons of brood. Eating a ton.

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Crematogaster cerasi

They have started exploring the new nest as well as the outworld, and a few workers even hang out there regularly.

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Tetramorium immigrans

For a bit they had a problem with killing brood right before it eclosed, but it looks like that stopped and they have grown a lot. I'm gonna give a really rough estimate and say they're around 500 workers. I'll get a more accurate estimate next update.

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Formica subsericea

FINALLY have new eggs. Its been a few months since the last batch of brood eclosed. It looks like there's about 50 eggs at the moment. I'm hoping more follow soon.

Edited by Mettcollsuss, April 20 2019 - 5:40 PM.

[Kaelwizard]

I had a F. subsericea queen... I accidently left her container outside of my garage because at the time I could not bring it indoors besides the garage. She overheated and died. This year I am going to find another one though.

[TennesseeAnts]

Freya has an absolutely huge super-major now! She is probably as big as her. The head is around 5 millimeters wide!

[TennesseeAnts]

I am really hoping to get some parasitic Formica this year! My friend's house has TONS of Formica obscuriventris. Maybe some flights?

[Mettcollsuss]

Crematogaster cerasi

A little under 20 workers now. Moved them into a THA Atom nest.

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Aphaenogaster picea

Have grown a lot in the past several weeks. Around 10 workers now.

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Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Too many workers to count now, I'm estimating around 35 and another 30 or so pupae, and dozens of eggs and small larvae.

[TennesseeAnts]

I beat ya to it! Just collected a Formica dolosa colony! They are beautiful.

[TennesseeAnts]

Need a new nest for your Tapinoma yet?

[Mettcollsuss]

Need a new nest for your Tapinoma yet?

Nah, the queen died a couple weeks back. I realize now that I forgot to update on that, oops. I just looked in the tube one day, and she was decapitated and her gaster was shrunken. they all seemed healthy. But there's wild Tapinoma EVERYWHERE in my house (they seem to be a fan of my carnivorous plant terrarium  ) so maybe I can catch some wild ones.

I beat ya to it! Just collected a Formica dolosa colony! They are beautiful.

yeah they're amazing.

[TennesseeAnts]

There are tons of ghost ants on my property. They aren't even supposed to be found in Tennessee yet!!!

[TennesseeAnts]

Oooo. Is update being posted?!? Btw should I make a journal for my new Strumigenys colony?

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, May 1 2019 - 4:46 AM.

[Mettcollsuss]

Camponotus pennsylvanicus
I gave them a second small outworld.
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Formicaria subsericea
Getting some medium and large larvae. They've finally started foraging more and accepting insects again.
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Aphaenogaster rudis
Moved them back into a mini Hearth, since they weren't doing well in their acrylic nest and have done very well in mini hearths in the past.

Edited by Mettcollsuss, May 2 2019 - 4:37 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Yay!

[ANTdrew]

I honestly don't think Tapinoma are worth the effort. Just enjoy the free range ants in your house, lol.

[Mettcollsuss]

Formica subsericea

Eggs and larvae of all stages. We've got some particularly plump looking larvae. They should pupate soon.

 

One of the queens I've had in my drawer for almost a year who I assumed to be infertile now has some eggs. Lets hope she's fertile after all!

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Crematogaster cf. lineolata

Has pupae that she hasn't eaten! The heating cable is doing a lot for her.

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Crematogaster cf. cerasi

Doing very well. Settled into the new nest nicely

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Camponotus pennsylvanicus

They've started using the new outworld even more than their old one.

[ANTdrew]

Just curious, how did you get the Crematogaster to move? Mine are stubborn as heck!

[Mettcollsuss]

Just curious, how did you get the Crematogaster to move? Mine are stubborn as heck!

I attached the tube to the nest for a week or so to let them get used to it and let them know there's a suitable nest there. Then I just dumped the tube into the outworld. It's a little harsh, but I've never had any ants injured by doing this.

[Mettcollsuss]

Crematogaster cf. lineolata

First nanitic!

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Myrmica sp.

Worker died. No brood at the moment. Not good signs  : (

Edited by Mettcollsuss, May 5 2019 - 5:42 AM.