680 replies to this topic

[Spazmops]

I just read the entire journal for the first time and man, it’s well written. Myrmy’s law is absolute genius

[ANTdrew]

I just read the entire journal for the first time and man, it’s well written. Myrmy’s law is absolute genius

Thak you. That made my day.

[AntsMaryland]

I just read the entire journal for the first time and man, it’s well written. Myrmy’s law is absolute genius

I know right… I have read this journal over and over again so many times.

[ANTdrew]

Update 8-6-2020

The "so 2020" dumpster fire continues in my Divas' outworld with them conquering the Fluon barrier and continued mite problems. The colony is still doing well, though, in any case.


I'm choosing instead to focus on this cute new Crematogaster cf ashmeadi colony:



They currently have eight workers and the queen is very physogastric as you can see in the photo. They are growing way slower than my other C. cerasi colonies for some reason. The workers also walk differently with their gasters angled up much more. All this, along with the queen's small size, makes me pretty confident I'm dealing with a new species.

Edited by ANTdrew, August 6 2020 - 10:06 AM.

[NickAnter]

Just wait till your Nylanderia colony is as large as mine. From what you say about Crematogaster, imagine that, but able to slip through gaps half the size they can. An imagine those ants with little jetpacks on them when they are upset.  Nice work with this colony, still so jealous of Eastern ant diversity!

[ANTdrew]

 

[TechAnt]

Just wait till your Nylanderia colony is as large as mine. From what you say about Crematogaster, imagine that, but able to slip through gaps half the size they can. An imagine those ants with little jetpacks on them when they are upset.  Nice work with this colony, still so jealous of Eastern ant diversity!

What about all the diversity in Cali lol, honeypots, leaf cutters, harvesters, Argentines every where you go- I mean Camponotus spp. all around, and a bunch of other ants.

[NickAnter]

There isn't much diversity in the city.

[Antkid12]

So cute!

[ANTdrew]

Dear Divas,

 Please stop escaping. You are my favorite colony, and I'd like you to stick around a while longer. You have constant warmth, humidity, and a luxurious Nucleus formicarium. Your cup of nectar runneth over. There is really no need for you go anywhere else. Please stay for a while.

 

                Sincerely,

                 ANTdrew

 

 

 

 

[Antkid12]

Dear Divas,

 Please stop escaping. You are my favorite colony, and I'd like you to stick around a while longer. You have constant warmth, humidity, and a luxurious Nucleus formicarium. Your cup of nectar runneth over. There is really no need for you go anywhere else. Please stay for a while.

 

                Sincerely,

                 ANTdrew

[DDD101DDD]

Maybe a lid might help.

[ANTdrew]

Update 8-15-2020

I didn't think they could, but my Divas chewed through the thick band of mounting putty I had blocking a gap in their Nucleus formicarium. I can barely cut that stuff with scissors, but these dang things got through it. Turns out that’s what all the weird white stuff was in their trash pile! I woke up last Sunday to find hundreds free-range vibing in my living room. Thanks to my handy DIY aspirator, I was able to gather them all up quickly. I knew something more permanent had to be done to fix this issue.

I thought a bit about trying to manually remove them from the Nucleus, so I could silicone down the glass. I abandoned that idea pretty quick, though, when I considered how daunting and traumatic it would be for everyone involved. I decided to try a different tack: I removed all the mounting putty and sealed the gap with hot glue. Then I ran a thick bead of silicone over the hot glue. I knew that fumes were a risk, but I took the gamble, and I'm happy to say that it paid off! Ants can't get out of the gap anymore, and no harm came to them in the process.


I also took time to make a new, sterile outworld in the hopes of mitigating my grain mite issue. I also needed to reapply the fluon for easier access. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. I vow to keep this one cleaner by using feeding dishes.



This colony is sure giving me a run for my money!

Edited by ANTdrew, August 15 2020 - 12:19 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Maybe a lid might help.

Absolutely! They have a tight lid on the outworld that is fully escape proof, even for them! The issue is the gap in the Nucleus’ glass. I think I fixed it permanently, but we’ll see what they come up with next.. ((shark music intensifies))

[Kaelwizard]

I wouldn’t get my hopes up because Crematogaster.

[FeedTheAnts]

I hope this doesn't make you hate me... but I haven't had any escapes from the actual nesting unit of my Nucleus. I told Mack beforehand that it would be for Crematogaster, so maybe he gave it the ultimate lookover. 

[ANTdrew]

I hope this doesn't make you hate me... but I haven't had any escapes from the actual nesting unit of my Nucleus. I told Mack beforehand that it would be for Crematogaster, so maybe he gave it the ultimate lookover.

No hate, bro. My error was buying a ready to ship one that specifically said “large species.” Honestly, the gap is big enough for Camponotus to slip out. Next time I buy something for them, I’m calling Mack in person and ordering it custom made security. Because Crematogaster.

[TechAnt]

Any update with these chaotic ants?

[ANTdrew]

I’ll whip up one this week.

[ANTdrew]

Update 8-27-2020

 

 I feel like I'm winning at ants again. I've effectively controlled the grain mite outburst in Sigyn's set up using predatory mites, and there have been no more escapes in weeks. They did conquer the new fluon pretty quickly, though, so I've basically given up on it. Their lid will be the escape prevention, and I'll just have to hone my ninja ant-care skills while it is removed for access.

 

 One big change I did recently was taping a heat cable to two contact points near where they stash brood in the back of the Nucleus. They were in the low 80s, but I'd noticed massive egg piles just lingering for weeks and lack-luster feeding responses, so I figured I'd try giving them a bit more heat. It's been about 12 days, and I can say that it has had a big impact. They have lots of hatched larvae now and they are swarming protein again:

 

 

The only downside has been a bit of condensation (which I think is what compromised their Fluon). A group of workers comes to rest in this front of the Nucleus every night now. They disperse by the time I'm done with breakfast:

 

 

New Queens!

 On Tuesday, I noticed my handy patio colony beginning to swarm for nuptial flight. I knew I had to get out searching, so I went Ferris Bueller from my online teacher trainings/ meetings and visited the same spot I had found Sigyn two years ago. I was happy to find three dealate queens as I slowly ambled around the picnic area staring at the ground and likely creeping out the other park users.

 

 

I collected two more later in the day with my kids at a prime spot further down the Potomac River. I'll probably be selling all of these, but it's always good to have a back up.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by ANTdrew, August 27 2020 - 8:48 AM.