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NickAnter's Solenopsis spp. Journal (Cool Video)

Started By NickAnter , Jun 11 2019 5:58 AM
solenopsis molesta solenopsis monomorium

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#61 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 27 2019 - 6:08 AM

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Two days ago ES molesta got a worker! Just as small as the SoCal one. Socal have 4 workers and a hefty pile of brood. Monomorium queen doung nothing, as usual.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#62 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted September 27 2019 - 12:59 PM

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Two days ago ES molesta got a worker! Just as small as the SoCal one. Socal have 4 workers and a hefty pile of brood. Monomorium queen doung nothing, as usual.

Congrats! Unfortunately, my queens' pupae disappeared, and I ended up introducing wild workers to save them. I actually did put exactly one hundred queens in the same test tube setup (they fit with room to spare) and most of them appeared to be mated; therefore the queens probably do outnumber workers at this point, but oh well....  :whistle:


  • TennesseeAnts likes this

"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

#63 Offline NickAnter - Posted October 14 2019 - 6:29 PM

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ES molest dead, worker was deformed, and queen drowned herself in honey. Socal have 5 workers, the two nanitics died of old age, and the new about twice the size. They have small amount of brood.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#64 Offline NickAnter - Posted October 15 2019 - 2:25 PM

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So that new Monomorium queen finally laid some eggs, about 10 of them! I really hope she is fertile.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#65 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted October 15 2019 - 2:30 PM

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So that new Monomorium queen finally laid some eggs, about 10 of them! I really hope she is fertile.


Good luck!
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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

#66 Offline NickAnter - Posted October 15 2019 - 5:58 PM

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So that new Monomorium queen finally laid some eggs, about 10 of them! I really hope she is fertile.


Good luck!
Thanks! I have caught about 20 of these, and this one is the first to lay.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#67 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted October 16 2019 - 2:32 PM

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So that new Monomorium queen finally laid some eggs, about 10 of them! I really hope she is fertile.


Good luck!
Thanks! I have caught about 20 of these, and this one is the first to lay.

You are very brave in my opinion :)! I am new so I haven't ventured into the more perplexing species of ants, so solenopsis is pretty hardcore in my opinion :lol:

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

#68 Offline DDD101DDD - Posted October 16 2019 - 2:38 PM

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So that new Monomorium queen finally laid some eggs, about 10 of them! I really hope she is fertile.


Good luck!
Thanks! I have caught about 20 of these, and this one is the first to lay.

You are very brave in my opinion :)! I am new so I haven't ventured into the more perplexing species of ants, so solenopsis is pretty hardcore in my opinion :lol:

 

Solonopsis Molesta isn't as aggressive as other species like Solonopsis Invicta, and is native to the United States, so that's a big plus. The only downside in my opinion is their small size, which could be a problem. 


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He travels, he seeks the p a r m e s a n.

#69 Offline NickAnter - Posted October 16 2019 - 2:40 PM

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Yeah, and mine are growing very slowly. Also, they are not much smaller than N. vividula, and are far slower.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#70 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted October 16 2019 - 2:50 PM

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Yeah, and mine are growing very slowly. Also, they are not much smaller than N. vividula, and are far slower.


Well, still pretty brave in my opinion

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

#71 Offline NickAnter - Posted February 15 2020 - 3:36 PM

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These all died ages ago...


Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#72 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted February 15 2020 - 7:41 PM

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Unfortunately my queens also died due to a series of unfortunate events. 


"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

#73 Offline NickAnter - Posted June 2 2020 - 7:51 AM

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I caught about 8 more queens and I have made a highly interesting observation. There are two species here. One is about 3mm, the other about 4mm. The 4mm one is also darker colored, and much faster. Is Isopropyl alcohol good for preserving specimens? I was able to get a queen of each sp. I may be able to get males as well eventually.

 

I also caught 1 Monomorium queen 2 days ago.


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Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#74 Offline NickAnter - Posted June 16 2020 - 9:55 AM

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So I had 4 Monomorium queens, but 1 was beheaded. Probably the unmated one in the bunch. The other 3 are still alive, and have eggs and larvae!!! I think all the molesta are unmated though, most don't even have eggs. Pictures of the Monomorium eggs are really hard, so I will just wait to take pics till when the first worker arrives. These will be great to keep, as the workers are super slow, and so will be easy to feed.


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Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#75 Offline CatsnAnts - Posted June 16 2020 - 12:07 PM

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Where do you tend to find your Monomorium queens, and how? I’ve only ever found one Monomorium minimum queen during noon.

Spoiler

#76 Offline NickAnter - Posted June 16 2020 - 4:12 PM

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In my pool, or once in an inflatable boat, around 6:30 in the afternoon.


Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#77 Offline NickAnter - Posted July 16 2020 - 10:25 AM

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The Monomorium are dead. Their tube dried out and I didn't notice it. Luckily, one of the molesta queens I caught on the fourth of July, just wandering as a dealate has a medium sized larva!!! Hopefully, this time, they will survive, and turn into a huge colony worthy of a paludarium along with a few other natives!!! There is a pair, with which only one seems to be mated, and cares for the truly massive egg pile. Pictures will come when I find the clip for my macro lens.


  • RushmoreAnts likes this

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#78 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 3 2020 - 11:15 AM

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The pair is infertile. But......

 

 

The Single queen has a new addition!!!!!

 

https://imgur.com/PRiyob3

 

I have fed them a fruit fly a a micro bit of mealworm, which they have ignored so far. I suppose they will eat when they are hungry.


Edited by NickAnter, August 3 2020 - 11:16 AM.

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Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#79 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 6 2020 - 1:40 PM

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They completely ignore the fruit fly, but the queen hollowed out the mealworm, and is now very bloated. A funny behavior, as shown in the second picture is that one of the workers will climb all over the queen, either just sitting, or grooming her. Very cool to watch.

 

 





Edited by NickAnter, August 6 2020 - 1:41 PM.

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Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#80 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 1 2020 - 7:10 AM

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They have 9 workers now, a ton of brood, and are overall doing well. I also caught one of the tiny black Solenopsis yesterday morning, and it shed its wings very quickly, which none of the previous ones did. Hopefully this will be the one that will succeed. I'm not sure on the species, as they are too small to be truncorum, with the queens at 3mm. They look identical to the Floridian abdita, but, they are not found in Cali. So I'm stumped.


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Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

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