1787 replies to this topic

[CoolColJ]

Damn, I totally forgot about the 11eggs my now dead meat ant queen left behind...

Just had a quick look, they have most likely hatched.

Not sure what to do with them

[CoolColJ]

Colony update - 17th June 2018

Opisthopsis Rufithorax (strobe ant) 10mm queen

6 nanitics, no major changes
 

Melophorus sp.- red black 6-7mm queen

1 minor worker 
The last nanitic has probably passed away this week, as I can find no trace of her, but no body
No eggs despite heating cable.


Melophorus sp.- black orange 7-8mm queen

No eggs. 5 workers
No changes.

 
Phediole sp. red head/black body 9mm
 
8 nanitics. More to eclose soon. One of the 3 setups to get a heating cable.
They have a lot of brood, but I haven't managed to get them to move to a clean test tube.
See how dirty it is...

click to enlarge


 
Pheidole sp, all black  7mm
 
9 nanitics. 5 pupa and 5 larvae, with 1 brown pupa ready to eclose soon
This is the colony I swung into a new test tube
They are doing well, the heating cable helps.

click to enlarge


Both of the above Pheidole setups side by side - one clean, one dirty!

 
 
Polyrhachis rufifemur 9mm
 
No eggs, 2 nanitics
The recently eclosed nanitic is still pale, and if the first one is anything to go by, it will take a month to darken!
I think she may have a disability, that legs looks weird and she keeps falling over




Camponotus suffusus 18+mm
 
7 workers, and 10 larvae
No major change. They keep following where the heat cable is closest to, while staying inside the nest, which I moved under the outworld the nest sits on, but a few inches away from the nest,
as any closer the Atom C nest builds up condensation

[CoolColJ]

17thJune 2018 - Queen update


Banished Phediole sp. red head/black body 9mm

5 eggs, but she hasn;t laid anymore since, even though I am feeding her.
She probably reasons that she needs to look after them, so has to keep numbers down, and it's winter

click to enlarge



Pheidole sp. red 7mm
 
Was a month since last pic, not much has changed.
clump of small larvae, not sure on numbers, used to be 8-9 eggs, but it looks less than that now



 
Iridomyrmex sp. 7-8mm
 
Into week 11, still no pupating



 
2x Phediole sp. red head/black body 8mm
 
3 pupa finally formed, 5 larvae and some eggs/small larvae. Much less than the 13 eggs they used to have
Not long till nanitics now. Took them out of the red test tube rack and put them out in the open on the heating cable alongside my two other Pheidole test tube colonies.


 
 
3x Phediole sp. red head/black body 8-9mm

Some large larvae, but seem like less brood than last week, and way less than the eggs they once had!
 


1 month ago...


 
Camponotus consobrinus 16-17mm
 
No eggs

Pheidole sp, light red head, dark red body, 6-7mm
 
Queen 1 - no eggs
Queen 2 - no eggs
 
 
Pheidole antipodum? 14+mm
 

Queen 1- no eggs
Queen 2- no eggs

I check and soaked queen 2 when I saw she had a mite on her head, when she first got here.
Today I looked at Queen 1, and saw she also has mites!
gave her a 45 min soak under water.
When I took her out, it took her a lot longer to revive, like over 5 mins, I thought I had killed her, but she eventually came to.... phew
The mite is still there, so I dunno..... they do drown, but maybe it's not a mite...

Edited by CoolColJ, June 17 2018 - 2:44 AM.

[CoolColJ]

O man, look at this adorable Melophorus major, I wish I could get my two colonies off the ground, and I wish that large Melophorus queen I had didn't die


https://scontent-syd...981412864_n.mp4


https://www.instagra.../p/BaPnbGqgMvc/

Edited by CoolColJ, June 19 2018 - 12:10 AM.

[CoolColJ]

Colony update - 17th June 2018
 
Polyrhachis rufifemur 9mm
 
No eggs, 2 nanitics
The recently eclosed nanitic is still pale, and if the first one is anything to go by, it will take a month to darken!
I think she may have a disability, that legs looks weird and she keeps falling over

Unfortunately it looks like this nanitic was born with busted legs, it cannot walk, and pretty lies on it's back all the time.
I have seen the queen and the other nanitic worker working on it, either cleaning or maybe even nibbling it.
I will not be surprised she gets eaten eventually....

[CoolColJ]

 

Two different Pheidole species ants munching on raw almonds.

The black ones have larger majors with bigger heads, and are probably the second largest species here.

I think I currently have queens of both types, plus a few other types, with the black ones currently into young colony status, while of the red types, only one has eggs, while the others are most likely waiting till spring to start laying

[CoolColJ]

Winter 20th June 2018

 

Phediole sp. red head/black body 9mm queen, colony

 

Ugh, I saw a motionless worker on the exit cotton, I moved the cotton about and it did not respond.

Took it out and yeap she is dead

 

But upon counting the total workers, it seems another had eclosed, so the total remians at 8.

But man the attrition rate has been high the last week, 4 dead workers, 2 accidently killed by me, and I think 2 because they fell from the top into the honey foil.

To think I could have had 12 total workers by now in this colony...

 

No matter, this colony has a ton of brood and they are the fastest growing one of all mine.

And the ones that died were just nanitic workers, which will die soon anyway.

 

---

 

Got one of my step drill bit kits today, had a lot of fun drilling 20mm holes into my feeder Wood Roach farm lid

 

Just waiting for my smaller 0.5mm-1mm to 6mm step drill bit kit to arrive, and my petri dishes and I can start working on my founding nests for my precious antipodum queens.

Been thinking of sticking in cork shapes to act as chamber walls to shrink the space down a bit in these 55x15mm petri dishes

 

 

---

 

curious factoid -

 

I stuck in my Ebay humidity meter into the small Empire of Ants gypsum nest I have. I last squirted 3 full syringes of water into it at least a month ago

It still read over 90% humidity in the top outworld section!

 

this one, I don't have any ants in it yet

 

Edited by CoolColJ, June 20 2018 - 10:44 PM.

[CoolColJ]

Winter 21st June 2018
 
Phediole sp. red head/black body 9mm queen, colony
 
I counted 9 workers, so another has eclosed.
A lot of pupa got moved up to near the heating cable in the evening and I can see two fairly brown pupa.
Looking like two more to eclose very soon.

Damn it, could have had 15 workers now!

These new workers should be second gen, but they don't look that much larger if any.


Pheidole sp, all black 7mm queen, colony

 

These girl got up to 10 workers, without me noticing, 2 more than before.

And it looks like another brown pupa is getting cleaned up, so I will preemptively count 11 workers - sweet!

 

They don't have much brood left though, unlike the one above

 

 

2x Phediole sp. red head/black body 8mm queen

 

2 of the 3 pupa have turned light brown, so the first nanitics should be out before the end of the week

[CoolColJ]

Opisthopsis Rufithorax (strobe ant) 10mm queen, colony

 

Damn, I think the 7th worker just eclosed!

Also snuck up on me. That should be the last of the nanitic batch.

 

These girls have been fuss free, if slow. .

Edited by CoolColJ, June 21 2018 - 1:57 PM.

[CoolColJ]

Winter 22nd June 2018
 
Pheidole sp, all black 7mm queen, colony
 
Saw a dead worker in the test tube near the queen.
A few workers have gone up to the body and examined it, but then just leave it there.
Surprised it hasn't been eaten or carried away yet

The first nanitic was born on the 27th April, exactly 2 months ago.
And she remained the only worker for quite some time.

The second nanitic eclosed on 15th May, so they have a few weeks till the next death.

Nice to know they live exactly 2 months, but it will be hard to tell how long the regular workers live for

 

Counted 10 workers, so another has eclosed to cover the death.

Edited by CoolColJ, June 21 2018 - 5:57 PM.

[CoolColJ]

My test tube mod
Hole drilled at base of two 16mm plastic test tubes, vinyl tubing inserted connecting both. Used step drill bit to do the drilling
Tighter on water tube side, but hot glue should be better.
Cotton wool plugging the tube, and over hanging into the water tube side to wick water.

Should greatly reduce mold build up, and you can pull it out to refill the water.
Also easier to kick ants out if needed....

click to enlarge

[CoolColJ]

Colony update - Winter 24th June 2018

Opisthopsis Rufithorax (strobe ant) 10mm queen

7 nanitics, no major changes.
The final nanitic eclosed this week. Coudln't get a photo of their brood, because the nest has condensation
 

Melophorus sp.- red black 6-7mm queen

1 minor worker, no brood. 
Ehh no change, hoping for eggs come spring. At least the worker has move more dirt into the queen's area, settling in.

click to enlarge



Melophorus sp.- black orange 7-8mm queen

No eggs. 5 workers
Queen has moved down from the water mesh area of their acrylic founding nest, that is the only change.

 
Phediole sp. red head/black body 9mm
 
11 nanitics? On heating cable.

Wow, they have a ton of eggs, queen's been busy.
A small clump of eggs on the brood pile near the heating cable, but even more near the queen back at the cotton water side!
A few workers have eclosed the last few days, and it looks like at least 3 more in a day or two

click to enlarge


 
Pheidole sp, all black  7mm
 
10 nanitics.
After all the recent nanitics I didn't think they would have much brood left, but I am wrong, the queen has been pumping out a ton of eggs!
Damn heating cable is like magic
Looks like another nanitic ready to eclose soon.


 
 
Polyrhachis rufifemur 9mm
 
No eggs, 2 nanitics
That still white, disabled nanitic is still alive. I thought they would eat her by now.



Camponotus suffusus 18+mm
 
7 workers, and 10 larvae

I can't see much of a change

Edited by CoolColJ, June 24 2018 - 12:56 AM.

[CoolColJ]

It seems to me all the test tubes getting the heating cable have exploded
While the ones that have not are either stagnant or regressing as they eat the brood...




Winter 24th June 2018 - Queen update


Banished Phediole sp. red head/black body 9mm

4 eggs
She ate an egg I think... gave a one one whole small wood roach and a fresh drop of raw honey
If she doesn't pull through I'll just release her.
There is probably a reason why she was banished from the once dual queen colony.... not productive enough is likely one reason...

click to enlarge



Pheidole sp. red 7mm
 
4 eggs
She ate 4-5 of her eggs it seems....



 
Iridomyrmex sp. 7-8mm
 
Into week 12, still no pupating
Maybe I should put her on the heating cable as well!



 
2x Phediole sp. red head/black body 8mm

On heating cable
Damn, the 3 pupa just formed last week and two look ready to eclose in 1-2 days time, heating cable working some magic.
Not only that but the light exposure seems to not have any negative effect on the queens, as they went and laid a lot of eggs this week!
Something you don't expect after weeks of not laying any and even eating a few brood



last week

 
 
3x Phediole sp. red head/black body 8-9mm

Tragic, from 30 + eggs to this
 


 
Camponotus consobrinus 16-17mm
 
No eggs

Pheidole sp, light red head, dark red body, 6-7mm
 
Queen 1 - no eggs
Queen 2 - no eggs
 
 
Pheidole antipodum? 14+mm
 
Queen 1- no eggs
Queen 2- no eggs

[CoolColJ]

Winter 25th June 2018 - Queen update
 
2x Phediole sp. red head/black body 8mm queens



The darkest pupa above has just eclosed, the queen with the striped gaster is currently busy cleaning it.
I find it interesting that a queen this much larger than the worker is able to clean it somehow
Cute, as the queen carries the pupa around in her jaws
The other brown pupa looks ready to eclose tommorrow.

I have a feeling the striped gaster queen is the dominant one.
She seems to tend the brood most of the time, while the other lounges on the wet cotton, or to the side.
And she did all the first nanitic cleaning as well.

Hopefully they can both stay together, especially after both have just laid over 20 eggs in the last week.
But it's not looking good right now...

Edited by CoolColJ, June 24 2018 - 7:20 AM.

[CoolColJ]

Had a look at my two Pheidole sp., light red head, dark red body, 6-7mm queens in my custom cotton wool chamber test tube setups.
And one of the queen's cotton has a lot of mold on it for some reason....

So I moved her to my new test tube mod setup above.
I also added a styrofoam chamber wall with entrance to it like this vid



Let's see how it goes


These girls back in my cotton chamber setup

Edited by CoolColJ, June 25 2018 - 12:46 AM.

[CoolColJ]

Winter 25th June 2018

Iridomyrmex sp. 7-8mm queen

 

Took the test tube out of the red transparent test tube rack and placed it on the heating cable outside, exposed to light, after making some space.

Queen didn't freak out from the light exposure, still busy as ever minding her huge brood pile of over 40.

 

Really need to get these large larvae to start pupating after 12 weeks already!

And the test tube is down to 50% or less water, so getting a decent number of  workers up and running before winter ends would help

 

She noticed the extra warmth straight away, moving some of the brood 1cm closer to the heating cable.

I expect some pupa by Sunday - fingers crossed

 

And if they are like the recent dual Pheidole test tube, it will only take 1 week for the pupa to turn nanitic!

 

---

 

Having this queen side by side with the other Pheidole test tubes, makes me notice how much smaller this Iridomyrmex queen is compared to the Pheidole queens.

A good 1-2mm shorter and thinner.

Edited by CoolColJ, June 25 2018 - 2:46 AM.

[CoolColJ]

Moved the triple Pheidole queen setup and the banished Pheidole queen out into the open onto the heat cable

Really need to get these to nanitics ASAP

 

So I have 6 test tubes Blu tacked side by side, real close to each other on the heat cable.

Had to make some space and rearrange my desk

 

Only queen with brood, the smaller red Pheidole, is remaining in the test tube rack.

I may move her across if I can make some more space, but she seems more uneasy than the rest when exposed to light

I suppose I could keep a red cellophane around her test tube

 

---

 

Well I will only keep 2-3 of these Pheidole setups.

So hard decisions will have to be made, and the rest sold or released...

 

Definitely will have 1 red, and 1 black species, and most likely one of the red headed/black body ones as these have the largest majors.

I have two different red species, I found myself, would like to keep one of each, but I most likely won't

 

 

 

 

Banished Phediole sp. red head/black body 9mm

 

Damn this girl is a big eater, she demolished a whole small wood roach from a few days ago, and left a big mess in the test tube as well!

 

Why isn't she laying more eggs though, if she is eating so much...

Edited by CoolColJ, June 25 2018 - 5:08 PM.

[CoolColJ]

Did put the smaller red Pheidole queen on the heating cbale, but kept her test tube inside red cellophane for now
So all queens with brood are being heated as of now.


Winter 26th June 2018
 
Phediole sp. red head/black body 9mm queen - Pheidole Colony A
 
Getting hard to count them now, but there are 12 workers, another just eclosed, and hasn't started moving much yet.

I also see two more dark brown pupa about to eclose by tomorrow.
And on the big brood pile near the heating cable , which is mostly made up of pupa, I can see 4 more lighter brown ones.

So there is a bit if population explosion to come this week

This queen seems really productive

 

Oh I see one larger larvae at the back near the queen, could this be their first major already?!



2x Phediole sp. red head/black body 8mm queen - Pheidole Colony C

 

The single nanitic that eclosed is quite dark already a day older, but it doesn't do much, nor has it explored the test tube.

It just stays near the two queens.

I put some raw honey and a small raw almond piece, but none of them have approached it.

 

The second nanitic looks to be close to eclosing in a day or two


--


I normally just fold and mold foil into a tray with a handle to put my raw honey into the test tubes.
But this tends to leak onto the test tube eventually, causing the ants to dump rubbish on the leaked honey.

So I made a new test tube feeding setup -
I now put wax/baking paper on top of the foil and then fold/form my dish with folded walls and a handle.
Then I put a drop of honey towards the back which pools into a blob from the wax paper, and never leaks.
And then I drop protein food at the front, either nuts or insects etc.
If the insect bits move around I will dab a bit of raw honey on it so it sticks to the wax paper.
This also stop the Pheidole workers from dragging it off the wax paper/foil combo dish

Come time for change the food and removing rubbish, it's as easy as pulling the foil/wax paper tray/dish out with tweezers

Edited by CoolColJ, June 25 2018 - 10:14 PM.

[CoolColJ]

Now that I have most of my queens out in the open on the heating cable I can observe them a lot better

The Iridomyrmex sp. 7-8mm queen queen is quite hyper compared to lazy Phediole queens that don't move much
This one is always cleaning herself and "scratching" her gaster with her right rear leg

My recently passed away Meat Ant queen was like that as well, I hope it doesn't mean this one will die soon....

[CoolColJ]

Winter 27th June 2018
 
Phediole sp. red head/black body 9mm queen - Pheidole Colony A
 
I think two more workers eclosed today, which should be second gen workers, so up to possibly 14 workers now, but it's hard to count due to all the dirty cotton

Massing a moderately large brood pile near the heat cable. Forming a nice little tower mound now


Pheidole sp, all black 7mm queen - Pheidole Colony B
 
Another worker eclosed so up to 11 nanitics now.
I think from now on should be all second gen workers

They have built up a small brood pile near the heat cable already, since Sunday

There is one worker that rides the queen, and gives her back scratches, ala Carebara queens


2x Phediole sp. red head/black body 8mm queen - Pheidole Colony C

 

As I type this out, one queen is cleaning the newly eclosed nanitic, so up to two nanitics now.

Again it's the striped gaster queen doing the cleaning, the more active, and seemingly dominant queen of the two.

 

They have also build up the brood pile up a bit since Sunday, eggs already hatched into larvae, and a few more pupa.

But they stay away from the heat cable.

 

 

 

--

 

I find it interesting that none of the queens stay near the heating cable, although Colony B's queen did for an hour today

Edited by CoolColJ, June 27 2018 - 12:12 AM.