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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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#81 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 2 2020 - 8:59 AM

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Well the mystery Solenopsis, which I guess has to be truncorum has laid a bunch of eggs. She seems to be doing really well, and I really hope that she produces a huge, thriving colony.


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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). 

#82 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 2 2020 - 9:16 AM

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Solenopsis molesta is a fun species to keep because of their ravenous behavior. Enjoy!


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#83 Offline M_Ants - Posted September 2 2020 - 10:16 AM

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Where'd you find the mystery solenopsis? 


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#84 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted September 2 2020 - 11:54 AM

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Hehe... Mine has over 120 workers now...  :D


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#85 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 2 2020 - 12:18 PM

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Where'd you find the mystery solenopsis? 

My pool. I guess there is a possibility of it being Monomorium, but at only 3mm, and at this time of year, I find it unlikely. I need to get super close magnification of the antennal club to tell.

 

 

 

Hehe... Mine has over 120 workers now...  :D

Well, yeah, what do yours have, 12 queens? It would make sense they have 12 times as many workers lol.


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). 

#86 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 29 2020 - 11:06 AM

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They are down to six workers, due to the fact that when I moved them half of the workers disappeared.

 

The truncorum has several pupae and larvae, and should have workers in a couple days. Pictures will come soon.


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). 

#87 Offline NickAnter - Posted October 3 2020 - 9:31 AM

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They actually have 2 workers, one is just hiding in the brood pile.
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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). 

#88 Offline NickAnter - Posted October 3 2020 - 9:34 AM

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Does anyone have any idea what sp. this is? I was under the impression truncorum had black workers. I will make sure to document this colony in great deatil, as I don't even know if this is a named sp.

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). 

#89 Offline NickAnter - Posted October 4 2020 - 7:53 AM

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They have four workers now, and are caught up to the cf. tennesseensis, who had 2 more workers die. They enjoyed sugar water, and a termite worker. The queen's gaster is so bloated, it is longer than the rest of her body. I've never seen a Myrmecine ant swell to such a degree. These have several more workers on the way, and will hopefully continue their quick growth.


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). 

#90 Offline NickAnter - Posted October 8 2020 - 8:12 PM

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Well, the common sp. isn't tenneseensis, as those are truly subterranean. These I have seen build small mounds, and occasionally out and about on the surface. The cf. truncorum have 7 workers now, and a bunch of brood. The common sp. has 6 workers, and a bit of brood as well. Overall, I would say the cf. truncorum is a lot more productive, and overall a better species to keep. As soon as food is placed in their test tube, they explore everywhere until they find it, and they have very cool coloration, a perfect light amber, whereas the common sp has a brownish abdomen, and is more dull. I hope I can catch I bunch more of these next year, and start more colonies that I can test with. This colony will simply be treated like a very special colony, and not messed with. Pictures will come for both colonies in the next update. I will also try to get pictures of the mounds of the common sp. if I can.


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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). 

#91 Offline NickAnter - Posted November 1 2020 - 6:37 AM

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Mystery Solenopsis: Around 10 workers, lots of brood. Grew slower, as they were off the heating cable for a time, due to flooding in their tube. They queen does seem to be the colony replete.
Commoners: 5 workers, no brood, not doing well. I just can't seem to do well with this species.

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). 

#92 Offline NickAnter - Posted November 1 2020 - 7:01 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). 

#93 Offline NickAnter - Posted November 5 2020 - 7:27 PM

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At over 13 workers now, with a pile of 30 eggs, and some larvae. Over twice as large in population as the commoners, as they shall now be known.
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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). 

#94 Offline NickAnter - Posted November 30 2020 - 1:33 PM

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Commoner queen died over a week ago, it was only a matter of time, they were doing terribly.

Truncorum colony is doing very well, except for the idiotic workers that tangle themselves in the dry cotton. The water in the test tube has almost dried out, so I will hopefully soon be able to move them into a formicarium, so that I can see them, and they aren't in danger of flooding every minute. I fed them a baby mealworm(4mm long, half a millimeter long), and a worker tackled it with surprising speed, and stung it repeatedly. Within minutes, it was pretty much completely paralyzed. Needless to say, this was very cool to watch. They had to employ the queen to be able to process it. They are eating it like a hot dog, head first. They eat maybe a millimeter per two hours so far it seems. Once I get some 50 micron mesh, a formicarium will be ready. This should hopefully make viewing them easier. If I do not move them into a formicarium, I will most certainly move them into a new test tube, one that is clean, unlike their current one which is very moldy, once the cotton is dry, and I can dump them into a new tube.


Edited by NickAnter, November 30 2020 - 2:29 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). 

#95 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted November 30 2020 - 2:23 PM

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If I do not move them into a formicarium, I will most certainly move them into a new test tube, one that is very moldy, once the cotton is dry, and I can dump them into a new tube.

I must be misunderstanding this, but are you going to to move them into a new test tube that is very moldy once the cotton in their current tube is dry?  :thinking:


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#96 Offline NickAnter - Posted November 30 2020 - 2:28 PM

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oops. I wasnt thinking straight when writing that...

 

Fixed. :facepalm:  %) 


Edited by NickAnter, November 30 2020 - 2:30 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). 

#97 Offline NickAnter - Posted November 30 2020 - 7:08 PM

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Oh, and a bit of an ID breakthrough. The Eastern Sierra thief ants seem to most certainly be Solenopsis validiuscula. I hope that next year I am able to rear a successful colony of that species. Hopefully I will be able to crack the code on the commoners soon. Their behavior is one thing that leads me away from tennesseensis, as they not uncommonly forage aboveground on overcast days. S. carolinensis seems to me to be the most likely candidate.


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). 

#98 Offline NickAnter - Posted February 6 2021 - 6:06 PM

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This colony died over a month ago. I hadn't realized the cotton had dried out completely, and as these are apparently very sensitive to dessication, they died out a day later. Next year I will not even bother with test tubes for thief ants, it just does not seem to work for me. I don't see how other people in Cali can get such massive colonies with them in test tubes, when mine grew so incredibly slowly.  I plan to make some very thin "ant farm" setups for these things. That way Ill hopefully be able to see them, and not have to worry about changing test tubes, which I find to be an incredible pain in the rear.


Edited by NickAnter, February 6 2021 - 6:06 PM.

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). 

#99 Offline ANTdrew - Posted February 7 2021 - 3:36 AM

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Sorry, man. Maybe take a look at the formicariums Aaron568 is making for his thief ants. A super thin version of Crystals’ horizontal sand nest could work, though I never fully grasped how hydration worked in those.
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#100 Offline NickAnter - Posted February 7 2021 - 8:00 AM

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It can be as simple as just using a syringe to wet the soil. I don't think over-humidifying is an issue with these ants.


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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