680 replies to this topic

[NickAnter]

You lucky, lucky people. Having Crematogaster in your yard.

[TennesseeAnts]

You lucky, lucky people. Having Crematogaster in your yard.

Another Crematogaster cf. ashmeadi colony fell from a different oak tree into the grass in front of me. Mine now.

[NickAnter]

Harumph.

[ANTdrew]

I know, I released the two in vials in my yard.

[TennesseeAnts]

Oh ok.

[Canadant]

That's amazing! Same day. Wow. I'm wondering if I should take one as backup. Antdrew are you in Canada?

[ANTdrew]

That's amazing! Same day. Wow. I'm wondering if I should take one as backup. Antdrew are you in Canada?

No, down in Virginia outside Washington DC.

[Canadant]

Got a new crematogastor wingless queen today. Got her at work outside my building. Have her in a smaller test tube with less water. I'll be patient with this one.

[ANTdrew]

Got a new crematogastor wingless queen today. Got her at work outside my building. Have her in a smaller test tube with less water. I'll be patient with this one.

Excellent!

[ANTdrew]

Update 9-11-2019

 Wow! This colony is getting bigger even than I thought. They are living in two test tubes now full of workers, eggs, and pupae. A lot of workers have taken to hanging out under the half toilet paper rolls I have covering each tube as well, and a few have started hanging out in the bead container.

I'm happy that they can't escape the AC outworld (for now!), but I hate how unclear the plastic really is for viewing/ taking photos.

 

I sold two of my 2019 divas to a new member from FC yesterday afternoon, so I currently have four now. All are looking fat and happy at the moment. I will put them in the mini-fridge later in October.

Edited by ANTdrew, September 12 2019 - 9:29 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Update 9-20-2019

 This colony continues to do great. There is a small contingent of workers that are hanging out in the bead container nest, but most of the colony are still living in two test tubes placed in their AC outworld. New workers are eclosing daily; I can see blonde colored new workers in their test tube. I'm noticing that they are feeding with somewhat less vigor, so I'm wondering if they are starting to slow down for hibernation? They're also drinking a crap ton of water from the byFormica feeder.

Hey, CrematoMasters, do Crematogaster start really slowing down for hibernation and what other signs should I look out for?

[ANTdrew]

FTA, where you at?

[Canadian anter]

They practically stop for hibernation

[Canadant]

Brood Boosted - Crematogaster Colony Update!!

 

I caught two crematogastor queens this season. I lost one unfortunately, but I brood-boosted the second. I found a wild colony with a ton of brood just under a log. It was all just pupae and callow ants. I took a pill bottle a scooped up a large amount. The numbers had to be in the hundreds. I piled them all in her test tube - that's right....ALL of them. What didn't get in was placed outside the tube in an outworld. The ants hatched and took care of everything. They just moved right in. I covered the tube and let them be. 

 

So a month later all brood has hatched and I've decided to move them into my AC Omni nest, since there numbers are in the hundreds. I was saving it for my tetramorium immigrans but crematogastor is just so cool....

 

So when I linked the formicarium (I cottoned off all but three compartments), ran a heat cable underneath, and added some moisture they started to move in. The question was one:  Was the queen producing her own brood, and two: Was she even alive? I hadn't seen her since I covered the tube. I mean she seemed okay last I saw but who knows? Perhaps she wasn't producing brood and all these workers will die off and I'll be back at zero.

 

Well, we're several hours in. To my surprise during the first hours I saw workers carrying what I thought was some brood. My desk is a bit crowded with plants and other ant outworlds etc. so I couldn't get it there with the magnifying glass. I wouldn't suppose this could be from the initial colony? They were on the 'larger' side of eggs. 

 

Well, I found the queen going in mid tube. Nice to see, and low and behold on the bottom of the test tube was some brood. 

 

Update: The tube is now completely empty. Move looks successful.

 

That's crazy how I went from 1- 300 or more overnight. 

 

However, I will be watching very closely.

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Canadant.

 

 

[ANTdrew]

That’s awesome! You’ll really have a handful once the queen starts producing!

[Canadant]

Ugh... queen moving back up tube. Sigh.

[Canadian anter]

Brood Boosted - Crematogaster Colony Update!!
 
I caught two crematogastor queens this season. I lost one unfortunately, but I brood-boosted the second. I found a wild colony with a ton of brood just under a log. It was all just pupae and callow ants. I took a pill bottle a scooped up a large amount. The numbers had to be in the hundreds. I piled them all in her test tube - that's right....ALL of them. What didn't get in was placed outside the tube in an outworld. The ants hatched and took care of everything. They just moved right in. I covered the tube and let them be. 
 
So a month later all brood has hatched and I've decided to move them into my AC Omni nest, since there numbers are in the hundreds. I was saving it for my tetramorium immigrans but crematogastor is just so cool....
 
So when I linked the formicarium (I cottoned off all but three compartments), ran a heat cable underneath, and added some moisture they started to move in. The question was one:  Was the queen producing her own brood, and two: Was she even alive? I hadn't seen her since I covered the tube. I mean she seemed okay last I saw but who knows? Perhaps she wasn't producing brood and all these workers will die off and I'll be back at zero.
 
Well, we're several hours in. To my surprise during the first hours I saw workers carrying what I thought was some brood. My desk is a bit crowded with plants and other ant outworlds etc. so I couldn't get it there with the magnifying glass. I wouldn't suppose this could be from the initial colony? They were on the 'larger' side of eggs. 
 
Well, I found the queen going in mid tube. Nice to see, and low and behold on the bottom of the test tube was some brood. 
 
Update: The tube is now completely empty. Move looks successful.
 
That's crazy how I went from 1- 300 or more overnight. 
 
However, I will be watching very closely.
 
Thanks for reading.
 
Canadant.

Please refrain from hijacking threads

[ANTdrew]

They practically stop for hibernation

Thanks! So should I just wait till they basically stop?

[ANTdrew]

Ugh... queen moving back up tube. Sigh.

Cremas hate moving. And feel free to post what you want; I’m always glad if anybody reads my rants. You should make a journal for your colony. I’d read it.

[camponotuskeeper]

I wish I had crematogaster were I live!☹️