1113 replies to this topic

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

cool! Better than normal raiding formica eh?

[RushmoreAnts]

But MUCH harder to maintain.

[Nare]

Formica integra are rufa-group, so they aren't slave raiders. More akin to simply founding any other parasitic ant. The fact that host workers are already present should make it easier to raise biological workers, though the more host workers present the better, at least that's my hunch.

[TennesseeAnts]

Formica integra are rufa-group, so they aren't slave raiders. More akin to simply founding any other parasitic ant. The fact that host workers are already present should make it easier to raise biological workers, though the more host workers present the better, at least that's my hunch.

You are correct in both aspects. I went back earlier today and grabbed 20 or so more hosts. Tomorrow I will be collecting the other queens, the biological workers that were present, and any brood.

Edit: The colony was founded earlier last year.

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, March 1 2020 - 2:58 PM.

[Nare]

Pics?

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

I'm sure he'll have some soon

[madbiologist]

Hijacking to ask how you do a forgot password, I'm trying to log in on another device and don't remember mine.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[TennesseeAnts]

Pics?

Soon!

[rbarreto]

Good luck with the integra queen. I've tried twice and the queens seem to love randomly dying.

[madbiologist]

Good luck with the integra queen. I've tried twice and the queens seem to love randomly dying.

Same.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[RushmoreAnts]

It seems parasites do this often. They're pretty sensitive. Although Lasius seem to a little more touchy than Formica.

[TennesseeAnts]

Good luck with the integra queen. I've tried twice and the queens seem to love randomly dying.

This colony has 3 queens and a few dozen biological workers, as well as their hundreds of slaves. I should be able to go back for the rest of the colony tomorrow.

[TennesseeAnts]

Formica integra (Colony #1)
3-4-20

Well that was easy. They have a batch of around 20 eggs. The hosts take good care of the queen and her eggs, and still don't suspect a thing.....

[TennesseeAnts]

I will probably collect the other queens and worker today or tomorrow. Weather is supposed to be good, and it's supposed to be in the mid to high 60s.

[Ants_Dakota]

Sorry for butting in and not reading the rest of your journal, but are you digging this colony out of the ground?

[TennesseeAnts]

Sorry for butting in and not reading the rest of your journal, but are you digging this colony out of the ground?

This is a perfectly valid question. They are living under the ground, probably 2 meters deep too. But I have found two ways to bring the majority of a colony up above the ground to collect them. I

Method A: This is the easiest of the two methods. Simply place a large, flat rock above the main entrance of the nest. Wait a week or so for the colony to rebuild their entrance around the perimeter of the rock. Then, remove the rock, and you should see the queen(s), workers and brood under the rock absorbing the heat that it radiates. Repeat this every one to two weeks, or until you don't see any more workers or queens coming up.

Method B: This is the fastest acting of the two, but it takes some experience, and works best with ants that don't spray formic acid, as you'll need an aspirator to collect the colony. Find a Neivamyrmex nest, and take one to two dozen workers. Locate the colony you want to collect, and one by one out the Neivamyrmex workers down the entrance. The workers will initiate an evacuation and move all queens and brood to the surface, away from danger. At this moment you can use your aspirator and suck up any and all workers, brood and queens. The reason this works is because in the wild, Neivamyrmex colonies will seek out ground dwelling colonies like Aphaenogaster or Pheidole, and raid the colony by basically forcing out the old colony so they can use the nest when the queen goes into her egg laying period.

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, March 4 2020 - 9:04 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

I am using Method A for this colony.

[TennesseeAnts]

Camponotus chromaiodes (Colony #2)
3-4-20

They have their first worker of the season! She's just hatched, and there are many more pupae, eggs and larvae left!

[Ants_Dakota]

Ahhh, unfortunately, we have no Neivamyrmex colonies up here, but the rock idea is really good. I have found massive colonies under rocks, especially in our black hills.

Edited by Ants_Dakota, March 4 2020 - 9:17 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Ahhh, unfortunately, we have no Neivamyrmex colonies up here, but the rock idea is really good. I have found massive colonies under rocks, especially in our black hills.

Oh, you're in South Dakota. I thought you were in South Carolina....