10 replies to this topic

[SuperFrank]

I recently captured a Formica archboldi queen, I have read that dealate queens of this species have never been found, though I am somewhat skeptical of this, my having found two last year and one already this year. Either way this is somewhat of an uncommon species so I thought I'd journal my experience.


06/08/2019: A single dealate was collected on the ground at approximately 3:30PM local time, it had been raining moderately hard but sporadically all day and for a few days prior. Approximately 11 months ago, 2 other dealates were collected in the same area around the same time of day.

06/10/2019: first egg is seen in the tube. This species seems to be especially sensitive to noise and vibration, though last year I successfully got them to found with no issues.

[SuperFrank]

 

directly after collection on 06/08/2019

[SuperFrank]

 

06/12/2019: she now has several eggs

[Mettcollsuss]

Aren't these the skull-collecting ants? Very interesting sounding species.

[SuperFrank]

Yeah! They prey on many small arthropods, including Odontomachus sp "trapjaw" ants, who's empty heads are found in their nests.

[rbarreto]

That's the most metal thing I've ever read.

Edited by rbarreto, June 17 2019 - 3:15 PM.

[NickAnter]

Very fascinating, I have never heard of that.  Do they only collect the heads of Odontomachus species or others too?

Edited by NickAnter, June 17 2019 - 6:20 PM.

[ponerinecat]

Very fascinating, I have never heard of that.  Do they only collect the heads of Odontomachus species or others too?

Primarily Odontomachus. Their formic acid seems to be specially made for killing Odontomachus and their scent patterns are very similar to help workers hunt Odontomachus,

[SuperFrank]

I have handed this queen to a fellow north Florida keeper who I know will provide excellent care and documentation. I am unsure how to tag him though lol.

[Acutus]

Sounds like a vey cool ant! Would love to see your friend continue the journal here

[SuperFrank]

Update: on 06/20/19 a single alate was collected at a blacklight at approximately 10:00pm, it was 82F with a reported relative humidity of 88%, it had been raining is short, but intense bursts all day. This species is known to fly in the early morning and to ignore blacklights. So this collection was rather odd, I assumed she was a straggler but I thought it was interesting that she was attracted to the light. I wasnt going to update the journal, but today I noticed she had removed her wings and laid 2 eggs, I know this is potentially meaningless but I hope for the best. My pipe dream is that she mated in the early morning during her flight and the subsequent rain all day didn't allow her to dig a chamber.

Edited by SuperFrank, June 24 2019 - 6:08 PM.