97 replies to this topic

[Ferox_Formicae]

     Hello all. Sorry it's been so long since I've been on the forum, but there just hasn't been too much going on, but with nuptial flights starting back up, it's time to begin once again. This journal is on a group of 6 queens that I recently collected, queens of Camponotus chromaiodes. I currently have the queens in separate containers. The containers are small and the floor has a layer of plaster which is coated with a layer of sand. I have setups like this for all of my queens. Last time I checked them which was yesterday, 2 of the 6 queens had laid eggs. I found these queens in a variety of places. I found one under a board, two in the screen room on my back porch, one inside of a rotting log with eggs, all of which I collected, and two on my fence. I think at this point their nuptial flights are either over or are slowing down, as I haven't seen any in quite some time, but at least I collected quite a few queens. As of yet this year, none of my queens have died, including my socially parasitic Lasius interjectus queen, so that's a good sign. I have a feeling that this year will be a lot better than last year. I will continue to update you all on the progress of these ants and all others. I will post pictures soon.

Edited by CloudtheDinosaurKing, May 24 2019 - 6:50 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Good to see you back, Cloud. Good luck with your new queens!

[Ferox_Formicae]

Good to see you back, Cloud. Good luck with your new queens!

Thanks!

[Ferox_Formicae]

One of the queens has unfortunately died for unknown reasons, but the other queens are doing well. Out of the 5 queens, only three have laid eggs, but I'm hoping the others lay eggs soon. I'm gonna check on them again next Wednesday, and hopefully the other two have eggs by then. If not, I may have to deem them infertile and release them, but I'll give them a bit longer. Two of the queens are being raise together in the same container, as they are sisters and seem to get along very well, grooming each other and rearing eggs collectively. Only one of those queens has laid eggs, as there is only a very small number of eggs, but they both take very good care of them. They are my calmest queens, not even moving from guarding the eggs whenever they are exposed from light.

[ANTdrew]

Good luck with these! We’ll need to compare notes.

[Ferox_Formicae]

Good luck with these! We’ll need to compare notes.

Yup. Mine laid eggs after only a few days, so expect eggs from yours soon...

[Acutus]

Sounds awesome I just collected a colony of the same ants!

Typically how long does it take for a queen to lay eggs after capture. Only queen so far that I have caught outside of the mentioned colony is Camponotus pennsylvanicus. she's in a Test tube with water but I haven't checked her since capture. I wanted to give her time to settle down and all. Is that necessary? Really new to this hobby.

[Ferox_Formicae]

Sounds awesome I just collected a colony of the same ants!

Typically how long does it take for a queen to lay eggs after capture. Only queen so far that I have caught outside of the mentioned colony is Camponotus pennsylvanicus. she's in a Test tube with water but I haven't checked her since capture. I wanted to give her time to settle down and all. Is that necessary? Really new to this hobby.

Well I've been checking on mine about twice a week, but I'm checking on them less now, more like once a week. The first queen to lay eggs laid them about four days after capture while the other laid their eggs a bit later. One of them laid eggs just a few days ago, and as mentioned, I'm still waiting for eggs from two of them, so it takes a little bit, but just have patience, they lay eggs eventually as long as they're fertile.

[Acutus]

 

Sounds awesome I just collected a colony of the same ants!

Typically how long does it take for a queen to lay eggs after capture. Only queen so far that I have caught outside of the mentioned colony is Camponotus pennsylvanicus. she's in a Test tube with water but I haven't checked her since capture. I wanted to give her time to settle down and all. Is that necessary? Really new to this hobby.

Well I've been checking on mine about twice a week, but I'm checking on them less now, more like once a week. The first queen to lay eggs laid them about four days after capture while the other laid their eggs a bit later. One of them laid eggs just a few days ago, and as mentioned, I'm still waiting for eggs from two of them, so it takes a little bit, but just have patience, they lay eggs eventually as long as they're fertile.

 

 

THANKS!!

[Ferox_Formicae]

 

 

Sounds awesome I just collected a colony of the same ants!

Typically how long does it take for a queen to lay eggs after capture. Only queen so far that I have caught outside of the mentioned colony is Camponotus pennsylvanicus. she's in a Test tube with water but I haven't checked her since capture. I wanted to give her time to settle down and all. Is that necessary? Really new to this hobby.

Well I've been checking on mine about twice a week, but I'm checking on them less now, more like once a week. The first queen to lay eggs laid them about four days after capture while the other laid their eggs a bit later. One of them laid eggs just a few days ago, and as mentioned, I'm still waiting for eggs from two of them, so it takes a little bit, but just have patience, they lay eggs eventually as long as they're fertile.

 

 

THANKS!!

 

No problem!

[Ferox_Formicae]

Okay, so I just did the most ridiculous thing I have ever done while anting. I went into the woods with a trash bag to put a small log in that I had seen a large colony of Camponotus chromaiodes in. I checked the log, and they were gone, moved out. I walked deeper into the forest and found a huge log with a MASSIVE colony of Camponotus chromaiodes inside! That log had to have weighed at least 35 pounds, and I am extremely weak, so it was going to be quite the challenge with a 35 pound log for about 1/4 of a mile. I decided to just set the log on the side of the path for me to come and pick up later, when I've regained my strength. I seriously messed up my arm from that and I'm still sore all over, but it was so worth is as tomorrow I will have a colony of Camponotus chromaiodes, hundreds, if not thousands, of workers strong!!! I can't wait!!!

[TennesseeAnts]

Why you so weak? Nice job though! Now you have a chromaiodes colony bigger than mine!

[Ferox_Formicae]

Why you so weak? Nice job though! Now you have a chromaiodes colony bigger than mine!

I'm weak because I have no muscle strength at all and a fragile bone structure. 

[TennesseeAnts]

Then how do you type?! Or breath?! Jk

[Ferox_Formicae]

Then how do you type?! Or breath?! Jk

Oof. XD

[Ferox_Formicae]

After literally an entire day, I have extracted the entire colony, including the queen! There is a problem though, every time I try and introduce the queen to the colony, they continually bite her and spray formic acid on her, as if she is not the queen. The poor queen has lost half of one antennae, her two front legs on her left side, and the tarsus of her hind leg on the left side. Any ideas why they are doing this and what I can do to stop it? I would hate for this queen to die. The colony has around 300 individuals.

[TennesseeAnts]

She is probably not their queen then.

[Ferox_Formicae]

She is probably not their queen then.

She came out of the exact same log though and when I got her out, a bunch of eggs fell out with her. I searched the entire log looking for another queen, but there wasn't one.

[TennesseeAnts]

Of you look through the log more, you might find the real queen.

[Ferox_Formicae]

Of you look through the log more, you might find the real queen.

I'll try, but I tore through that entire log for a day.