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ANTdrew's Camponotus Species Journal

Started By ANTdrew , Apr 25 2019 10:29 AM

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145 replies to this topic

#81 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 8 2020 - 7:28 AM

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Update 5-8-2020

 

I'm happy to report that on May 3rd, 2020, I once again became a Camponotus keeper. After many weeks of below average and rainy weather, it finally hit 78 degrees in Alexandria with calm winds and high humidity. I knew I needed to be on the lookout, so I decided grilling our dinner outside was a great way to do this. Sure enough, Camponotus queens started landing near me around 6:00pm. Over the course of an hour, I managed to find one C. chromaiodes, one C. subbarbatus, and one C. nearcticus. Several alates flew off before I could snag them.

 

After dinner, I went out walking near a railroad, but found nothing. Once I got home, though, I found a dealate C. chromaiodes and a dealate C. subbarbatus. My brother also managed to find me C. chromaiodes queen at the Washington Sailing Marina! I put up all the queens in test tubes with a drop of Sunburst and am hoping for the best. I'm most excited about raising some micro-Camponotus, and I promise not to sell all my queens this year!

 


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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#82 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted May 8 2020 - 7:35 AM

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Welcome back! Also, love to see the hand shots again :P


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There is a important time for everything, important place for everyone, an important person for everybody, and an important ant for each and every ant keeper and myrmecologist alike

#83 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 8 2020 - 8:16 AM

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I’ve actually done a bit of hand modeling to supplement my modest teacher salary.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#84 Offline Canadant - Posted May 8 2020 - 8:30 AM

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Beautiful ants.
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"You don't get what you want. You get what you deserve".

#85 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 8 2020 - 11:43 AM

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I’ve actually done a bit of hand modeling to supplement my modest teacher salary.

This is b.s. by the way.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#86 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted May 8 2020 - 1:46 PM

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I’ve actually done a bit of hand modeling to supplement my modest teacher salary.

This is b.s. by the way.

 

I do piano videos on YouTube, and people have complimented my hands.... I thought it was weird, but now I kinda get it... I do have nice hands :blush:


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I accidentally froze all my ants 

#87 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 11 2020 - 6:54 AM

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Mini-Update 5-11-2020

 

I did my weekly check on the new queens I found on 5/4, and three of the five have eggs already. Both C. chromaiodes have shed their wings and have 5-6 eggs. One of the C. subbarbatus also has two eggs. The C. nearcticus still has her wings and no eggs, and one of the C. subbarbatus still has no eggs. I have all these queens in a shoebox on top of a wineglass holder hanging from my kitchen ceiling.


Edited by ANTdrew, May 11 2020 - 6:54 AM.

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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#88 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted May 11 2020 - 7:02 AM

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I find Camponotus are very quick to lay.


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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis

#89 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 22 2020 - 7:27 AM

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Update 5-22-2020

 

My two C. chromaiodes and the two C. subbarbatus queens found on 5/4 have nice egg piles now, and I think I can spot a few tiny larvae. The C. nearcticus queen still has done nothing and has no removed her wings, so I'm thinking she may be a dud. No pictures yet because I usually don't photograph founding queens to avoid disturbing them. Maybe I'll try to get some quick ones during next check up.

 

I'm hoping for more Camponotus flights once we get through this cold, rainy stretch we've been in.


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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#90 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 26 2020 - 4:37 AM

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Update 5-26-2020

 

The one big change to report is that my C. nearcticus queen shed one of her wings and laid a small batch of eggs, so things are looking up for her. That means all four of the queens have egg piles now and are doing well.

I'm still hoping to find some of the elusive and much coveted C. castaneus queens!


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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#91 Offline Antkid12 - Posted May 26 2020 - 4:50 AM

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Yes castaneus are nice. the great thing is that they are common in my backyard!   :)


Edited by Antkid12, May 26 2020 - 4:50 AM.

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Ants I have: Tapinoma sessile(2 queen colony). RED MORPH Camponotus neacticus(now has pupae!), Tetramorium immigrans (x3), Aphaenogaster sp, Temnothorax sp, Brachymyrmex sp.   possibly infertile   :(,  Ponera pennsylvanica, and Pheidole morrisi!  :yahoo: 

 

Other insects: Polistes sp. Queen

                    

Ants I need: Pheidole sp., Trachymyrmex sp., Crematogaster cerasi , Dorymyrmex sp. Most wanted: Pheidole morrisii

 

                    

                   

 

 

#92 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 26 2020 - 5:48 AM

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Bruh, hook me up! I can trade you Crematogaster when I get some.


"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#93 Offline Antkid12 - Posted May 26 2020 - 7:05 AM

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sure, when I find some.


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Ants I have: Tapinoma sessile(2 queen colony). RED MORPH Camponotus neacticus(now has pupae!), Tetramorium immigrans (x3), Aphaenogaster sp, Temnothorax sp, Brachymyrmex sp.   possibly infertile   :(,  Ponera pennsylvanica, and Pheidole morrisi!  :yahoo: 

 

Other insects: Polistes sp. Queen

                    

Ants I need: Pheidole sp., Trachymyrmex sp., Crematogaster cerasi , Dorymyrmex sp. Most wanted: Pheidole morrisii

 

                    

                   

 

 

#94 Offline ANTdrew - Posted June 3 2020 - 6:26 AM

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Update 6-3-2020

 

My five new Camponotus queens continue to do well in their shoebox incubator. Both of the C. chromaiodes and both of the C. subbarbatus queens now have larvae. I really love the coloration on the C. subbarbatus queens. It's like tiger stripes or something. They're also pretty physogastric.

 

 
Here is one of the new C. chromaiodes queens with larvae:
 
 

 

 

 


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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#95 Offline Antkid12 - Posted June 3 2020 - 6:31 AM

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Wow, nice subbarbatus queen! 


Edited by Antkid12, June 3 2020 - 6:31 AM.

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Ants I have: Tapinoma sessile(2 queen colony). RED MORPH Camponotus neacticus(now has pupae!), Tetramorium immigrans (x3), Aphaenogaster sp, Temnothorax sp, Brachymyrmex sp.   possibly infertile   :(,  Ponera pennsylvanica, and Pheidole morrisi!  :yahoo: 

 

Other insects: Polistes sp. Queen

                    

Ants I need: Pheidole sp., Trachymyrmex sp., Crematogaster cerasi , Dorymyrmex sp. Most wanted: Pheidole morrisii

 

                    

                   

 

 

#96 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted June 3 2020 - 7:19 AM

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If the subbarbatus queen gets workers then you've done well. The subgenus Myrmentoma is such a difficult one to have success with. Do you still have a nearcticus queen? If so, how is she doing?


Edited by FeedTheAnts, June 3 2020 - 7:20 AM.

I accidentally froze all my ants 

#97 Offline ANTdrew - Posted June 3 2020 - 7:23 AM

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Yes, I still have the C. nearcticus in the same shoebox. She still has a few eggs, but they are kind of scattered about. I'm not that confident that she is mated.

I really hope to be successful with at least one of these subbarbatus girls. Any clue if or when C. castaneus are going to fly?


"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#98 Offline Antkid12 - Posted June 3 2020 - 7:25 AM

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Yes, I still have the C. nearcticus in the same shoebox. She still has a few eggs, but they are kind of scattered about. I'm not that confident that she is mated.

I really hope to be successful with at least one of these subbarbatus girls. Any clue if or when C. castaneus are going to fly?

My nearcticus isn't mated either, She still has her wings and she didn't lay anything.  :*(


Ants I have: Tapinoma sessile(2 queen colony). RED MORPH Camponotus neacticus(now has pupae!), Tetramorium immigrans (x3), Aphaenogaster sp, Temnothorax sp, Brachymyrmex sp.   possibly infertile   :(,  Ponera pennsylvanica, and Pheidole morrisi!  :yahoo: 

 

Other insects: Polistes sp. Queen

                    

Ants I need: Pheidole sp., Trachymyrmex sp., Crematogaster cerasi , Dorymyrmex sp. Most wanted: Pheidole morrisii

 

                    

                   

 

 

#99 Offline ponerinecat - Posted June 3 2020 - 7:39 AM

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subbs are some of my fave US Camponotus


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#100 Offline ANTdrew - Posted June 3 2020 - 7:40 AM

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Yes, I still have the C. nearcticus in the same shoebox. She still has a few eggs, but they are kind of scattered about. I'm not that confident that she is mated.
I really hope to be successful with at least one of these subbarbatus girls. Any clue if or when C. castaneus are going to fly?

My nearcticus isn't mated either, She still has her wings and she didn't lay anything. :*(
Sorry, dude. What’s up with the castaneus in your yard?
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.
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