20 replies to this topic

[Rstheant]

These are my current colonies.

—————
1x Camponotus semitestaceus
2x Camponotus vicinus
1x Camponotus quercicola
1x Camponotus modoc
1x Camponotus laevigatus
1x Camponotus sansabeanus
1x Camponotus fragilis
1x Liometopum occidentale
1x Mrymecocystus mexicanus
1x Myrmecocystus navajo
2x Mrymecocystus tenuinodis
1x Novomesser cockerelli
1x Solenopsis xyloni
1x Veromessor andrei
1x Veromessor pergandei


PAST ANTS
———

Solenopsis molesta queen A- drowned in nectar
Solenopsis molesta queen B- mold outbreak
Solenopsis molesta colony C- flooding
Pheidole spp. - died in test tube
Camponotus quercicola queen A- overheated
Aphaenogaster occidentalis- overheated
Camponotus Hyatti colony A- workers escaped, Queen was unhealthy, was released
Camponotus hyatti colony B - in my desk; escaped
Veromessor andrei colony A - dehydrated
Camponotus clarithorax queen A - gifted to YsTheAnt



Hope you enjoy this journal, many asked for this journal, and here it is. Pictures will come later.

I have been into ants for about a year, and YsTheAnt told me into ant keeping. My favorite species in MRYMECIA!!!!!!!!! They are my favorite ants species, and I’m want to move to Australia for this reason. I might also post some of my ant formicarium projects on this thread. I am currently working on a all-in-one firebrick setup called The Abode of Lakshmi, the Indian goddess of wealth and good fortune. As you can see, I want good fortune to befall on whatever colony I put in here.

Edited by Rstheant, March 28 2019 - 4:43 PM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Yay! I might do this too. Probably when I get my Camponotus snellingi colony. Found a wild colony today, they look pretty cool!

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, March 27 2019 - 5:24 PM.

[Somethinghmm]

I'm not sure why I'm pointing this out, but you spelled Myrmecocystus wrong.

[Rstheant]

I'm not sure why I'm pointing this out, but you spelled Myrmecocystus wrong.

Edited. I appreciate that you pointed it out.

Update 3/28

Camponotus quercicola
Queen, six workers 2 larvae, eggs!!
The eggs are odd, almost like a pill capsule but thin in the middle! These layed in hibernation, I’m not surprised because these were caught in Sacramento and it gets COLD down there. My garage is around 45-56 degrees Fahrenheit, so it’s pretty warm for this species. The queen is more bloated than ever, and she is and extra 2mm because of her gaster. Gave them a cricket and some Sunburst ant nectar, and within 6 hours, the entire cricket was gone!

Camponotus fragilis
Queen, 50 workers, 20+ pupa, 13+larvae, eggs?
Not much has changed with this colony except they need to eat a LOT more. 4 crickets and a byformica feeder. The majors have established their dominance, and everyday I see them opening cocoons. There’s always two callow workers located near the cotton, last time I checked

Liometopum occidentale
Queen, 50 workers, 14+ pupa, tons of eggs.
I moved these in my custom formicarium; they have outgrown the other formicarium. These need to eat, I have to give them a whole superworm! Other than that, not much has changed.

Prenolepis imparis
10 queens, no brood.

I caught these last, last, last? Sunday. Most of them have torn off their wings, and I might put a couple up for sale.

Queen A- no brood, no wings
Queen B- no brood, no wings
Queen C- no brood 1 wing
Queen D- no brood, no wings
Queen E- no brood, wings
Queen F- no brood, no wings
Queen G- no brood, no wings
Queen H- no brood, no wings
Queen I- no brood, no wings
Queen J- no brood, wings

Novomesser cockerelli
Queen without front legs, 150+ workers, 50 pupae, 30 larvae, eggs?
All these do is eat and eat. I need to connect another THA fortress to the one; they need space. Around 50+ workers are in the outworld everyday!

PICTURES
——————
Camponotus quercicola


Camponotus sansabeanus


Sorry for the bad pictures, they were taken from my iPad without my macro lens, and sunlight for the ambient lighting.




Enjoy!

Edited by Rstheant, March 28 2019 - 4:37 PM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Your fragilis are that big already?!

[Rstheant]

Yeah, they grow like hell. I don’t what I’m gonna do when they outgrow the formicarium. They might not have that many workers, but they have as much brood as a colony of around 70 workers, not counting exceptions, like other NCC.

[TennesseeAnts]

Wow. That sounds familiar!

[Rstheant]

Chromaiodes, really?
You can see my fragilis journal here .

Edited by Rstheant, March 30 2019 - 4:02 PM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Yeah, Freya took off this year! I ordered a THA Mini Hearth XL, and a Fortress for them.

[TennesseeAnts]

Also, if you finish that formicarium, and have successfully raised a colony in it, I may want one!

[Rstheant]

Which one, my fortress kind of design? I might sell it for 60- 65 bucks + shipping. It has an outworld and water tower.

Edited by Rstheant, March 29 2019 - 2:20 PM.

[Rstheant]

Yowzers! Got stung by my Solenopsis xyloni while feeding them. It’s unbelievably itchy.

Edited by Rstheant, March 29 2019 - 4:00 PM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Pics? (Of the nest)

[TennesseeAnts]

Solenopsis are nothing compared to Brachyponera stings! I got stung yesterday and it is still red and itchy. They hurt a lot more too.

[Rstheant]

Water tower


Side view of nest

[Rstheant]

Deleted

Edited by Rstheant, March 30 2019 - 4:29 PM.

[TennesseeAnts]

That looks amazing!

[Rstheant]

Thanks.

[Rstheant]

Update 4/04

Sorry for the late update. Anyhoo, I got two salsabeans queens from nurbs though oldmantrashcan. One of the tubes was cracked, but I switched them out. Queen A has 4 eggs, and Queens B doesn’t have any.

[ANTdrew]

Update?