1113 replies to this topic

[TennesseeAnts]

Pheidole tysoni (Colony #1)
6-10-19

This queen has a huge amount of eggs now! She has about 50-60 eggs!

[TennesseeAnts]

Monomorium cf. minimum (Colony #1)
6-10-19

They have about 450 workers now, and the three queens are all very productive! They have about 200 larvae and pupae, and over 2,000 eggs! Most of the alates have hatched, and they are all females. Their favorite foods are: fruit flies, super worms, sugar water and raw honey. When a new fruit fly is placed in their test tube, a foraging trail is formed instantly, and within minutes, there is no more fly. They cut it up into little bits, and take those to the brood and queens. When anything sweet is placed in, there is another foraging trail, and the sweets are covered by about 100 ants, and within 5-6 minutes, the trail dissipates and the sweets are gone! They are thriving!

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, June 10 2019 - 8:57 AM.

[ANTdrew]

So cool! I'd like to try these out this year if I find new queens.

[TennesseeAnts]

So cool! I'd like to try these out this year if I find new queens.

Honestly, just collect a colony from under a rock. These have so many queens, you won't stunt the colony's growth. The queens are so small and dark, they are really difficult to spot. If you do decide to collect some young queens, in the early mornings in summer is really good for them.

[TennesseeAnts]

Crematogaster cerasi (Colony #1)
6-10-19

These gals weren't doing too well for a while. The Mini Hearth I moved them into back in April was too big, so they started a slow decline and went from 150 workers and tons of brood, to just about 85 workers and some eggs and larvae. I moved them into a test tube, and they seem happier. Hopefully the queen will lay some new eggs, and they can exceed their former numbers.

[TennesseeAnts]

Formica pallidefullva (Colony #1 & #2)
6-11-19

The Abdolemons split themselves into 2 separate colonies!? The original colony has about 30 workers, 40 brood, and 2 queens, and the new colony has 1 queen, 6 workers and some brood. I was moving them into a new test tube, and 1 queen, some brood and 6 workers stayed behind!

Edit: Also, the original colony had 2 new workers eclose.

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, June 11 2019 - 6:32 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Pheidole tysoni (Colony #1)
6-12-19

Her egg pile is bigger than her.... I'd say about 200 eggs.... That is a huge first batch!!!

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, June 12 2019 - 6:44 AM.

[Kaelwizard]

Is the Myrmica colony still alive? I would like to learn more about Myrmica so I can give my queen the best possible care.

[TennesseeAnts]

Yes, the Myrmica are doing great! Both queens are doing great, pumping out new eggs almost daily. The old workers died off, and there are still 20 pupae and lots of larvae. Each day at least 1 worker hatches. They love fruit flies and sugar water, with the occasional baby mealworm.

[Kaelwizard]

Yes, the Myrmica are doing great! Both queens are doing great, pumping out new eggs almost daily. The old workers died off, and there are still 20 pupae and lots of larvae. Each day at least 1 worker hatches. They love fruit flies and sugar water, with the occasional baby mealworm.

Great! I hope my queen survives.

[TennesseeAnts]

Hypoponera sp. 1 (Colony #1)
6-13-19

Found 6 of these queens under rocks in my yard.


Ponera sp. 1 (Colony #1)
6-13-19

Found another queen under a rock with a Hypoponera queen.


Tapinoma sessile (Colony #2)
6-13-19

They have been growing very rapidly! I'd estimate about 1,000 brood of all stages. A few dozen more workers have hatched today as well.


Lasius interjectus (Colony #1)
6-13-19

Found a new queen under a rock.

[TennesseeAnts]

Monomorium cf. minimum (Colony #1)
6-13-19

They have about 500 workers now, and about triple that in brood.... They have a huge appetite!

(Forgot about them lol)

[TennesseeAnts]

Camponotus subbarbatus (Colony #2)
6-14-19

This queen got her first worker today. She still has lots of brood. About 10 eggs, 5 larvae and and 7 pupae.

[TennesseeAnts]

Oh! By the way, @AntDrew, this queen needs a name!

[Kaelwizard]

What about Sif? They are a Norse goddess.

[Kaelwizard]

DELETED (DUPLICATE POST)

Edited by Kaelwizard, June 15 2019 - 10:09 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Oh! By the way, @AntDrew, this queen needs a name!

Idunn of the golden apples?

[TennesseeAnts]

Camponotus subbarbatus (Colony #2)
6-15-19

This queen got her 3rd worker today! Lots more on the way.


Camponotus nearcticus (Colony #1)
6-15-19

This is the first queen I've had of these that has got larvae! Workers are a few weeks off.



Camponotus pennslyvanicus (Colony #1)
6-15-19

This colony has 15 workers and lots of brood.

[TennesseeAnts]

Brachyponera chinensis (Colony #2)
6-17-19

Found 3 new queens from yesterday's flight under rocks today! Also, lots of huge Pheidole males. Gonna have to find a queen!

[TennesseeAnts]

Camponotus subbarbatus (Colony #2)
6-18-19

They got their first major today! They now have 5 workers and about 20 brood.