14 replies to this topic

[NikolaBale]

I found this nest at about 1400m above sea level
Queen size : 3.5-4 mm
Worker:3 mm (roughly)
Found the nest between 2 big rocks small colony size about 100-150 workers
The queen is a dark color the workers have a black head red thorax and gold/brown abdomen (very shiny)

PS: my queen didn't take the capture too well she is currently on the moisture gradient in a little dent on it and is very static almost 0 movement but when i poked her she started to move she moved like a cm and then after that she returned to the exact same place and is still there tho i didn't poke her anymore I'm worried because she is very close to the moisture so I'm worried she may have drowned.


http://imgur.com/a/KdzyYi got pictures of the nest queen and workers .

Thank you for the help !

[Kevin]

You shouldn't have collected that colony; 100 workers is not small.

[Antony]

Great job dude. Now here come new the critics to judge you.

[AnthonyP163]

You shouldn't have collected that colony; 100 workers is not small.

Stop saying that, Kevin. Anyone can collect a colony if they want. Just because you might not be able to take care of, or don't want one, doesn't mean that others have to do the same.

 

I know that it can be bad if you don't collect the whole colony, but still, I think 100-150 workers is alright. As for stress, I hope they do the right thing and don't disturb the ants too much.

I found this nest at about 1400m above sea level
Queen size : 3.5-4 mm
Worker:3 mm (roughly)
Found the nest between 2 big rocks small colony size about 100-150 workers
The queen is a dark color the workers have a black head red thorax and gold/brown abdomen (very shiny)

PS: my queen didn't take the capture too well she is currently on the moisture gradient in a little dent on it and is very static almost 0 movement but when i poked her she started to move she moved like a cm and then after that she returned to the exact same place and is still there tho i didn't poke her anymore I'm worried because she is very close to the moisture so I'm worried she may have drowned.


http://imgur.com/a/KdzyYi got pictures of the nest queen and workers .

Thank you for the help !

Don't check on them much, or else the stress might kill them.

 

As for identification, it looks like a species of  Monomorrium.

 

Also, it looks like that colony will be getting alates pretty soon.

Edited by AnthonyP163, April 30 2017 - 7:39 AM.

[VoidElecent]

Looks a little bit like Dolichoderus quadripunctatus to me, although I may very well be mistaken. I don't think there are very many problems associated with collecting an entire colony, so long as you're willing to properly care of it, you should be fine. Not sure exactly what it is, but it is definitely a very cool looking species.

 

Note: If it is, in fact, a Monomorium species, it could be M. subopacum. 

Edited by VoidElecent, April 30 2017 - 7:55 AM.

[Martialis]

It's ecologically irresponsible to collect mature, native colonies.

 

Can we PLEASE stop fighting now?

[Martialis]

A better picture of the queen would help; Do you see two or one petiole?

 

[NikolaBale]

A better picture of the queen would help; Do you see two or one petiole?

they don't have a stinger so no its not it and yes there is 2 petiole

[NikolaBale]

Looks a little bit like Dolichoderus quadripunctatus to me, although I may very well be mistaken. I don't think there are very many problems associated with collecting an entire colony, so long as you're willing to properly care of it, you should be fine. Not sure exactly what it is, but it is definitely a very cool looking species.

Note: If it is, in fact, a Monomorium species, it could be M. subopacum.

i agree. I don't know what's whit this queen tho she is lifeless but still alive...?

[Batspiderfish]

Temnothorax nigriceps, if I had to guess. Did you capture any workers with the queen? or is she by herself? Queens from established colonies will perish without their workers.

[Martialis]

Temnothorax nigriceps, if I had to guess. Did you capture any workers with the queen? or is she by herself? Queens from established colonies will perish without their workers.

 

He said he captured the entire colony.

[Kevin]

 

You shouldn't have collected that colony; 100 workers is not small.

Stop saying that, Kevin. Anyone can collect a colony if they want. Just because you might not be able to take care of, or don't want one, doesn't mean that others have to do the same.

 

I know that it can be bad if you don't collect the whole colony, but still, I think 100-150 workers is alright. As for stress, I hope they do the right thing and don't disturb the ants too much. 

 

 

The reason I say this is because colonies don't always take moving into different environments forcefully very well. 100 workers are already settled in and if you dig them up and put them in a plastic formicarium they aren't guaranteed to. I can personally take care of a 100 worker colony, it's just not a good idea to harvest colonies from the wild for their health. I personally think people should just catch queens and raise the colony themselves, but you do what you desire.

[Batspiderfish]

 

Temnothorax nigriceps, if I had to guess. Did you capture any workers with the queen? or is she by herself? Queens from established colonies will perish without their workers.

 

He said he captured the entire colony.

 

 

I heard that there were that many workers in the colony, but that the queen is being prodded (and imaged alone) doesn't make it sound like she is with any workers.

 

Wild colonies tend to have trouble adapting to captivity. You see lots of new hobbyists post pictures of their freshly-caught pets, then the journals silently end one day.

Edited by Batspiderfish, April 30 2017 - 9:08 AM.

[Jonathan21700]

Temnothorax nigriceps, if I had to guess. 

 

Yeah, probably but what about Leptothorax? 

[Trailandstreet]

 

Temnothorax nigriceps, if I had to guess. 

 

Yeah, probably but what about Leptothorax? 

 

not possible