24 replies to this topic

[PacificNorthWestern]

Colonies currently kept: (Not able to provide exact species cause i don't have a microscope and care is similar if not the same for me to care) 

 

-2 Camponotus cf. Herculeanus- 1 has 25 workers and 1 pupae the other has 7 workers and 2 pupae

 

-1 ​Camponotus cf. Modoc- around 75 workers and 10 pupae

 

-3 Formica cf. Argentea- 4-10 workers 

 

-1 Lasius cf. Americanus- around 20 workers with piles of eggs

 

-1 Tetramorium immigrans- around 20 workers with unknown brood

 

-1 unknown temnothorax- uncountable amount with alates.

 

edit: update on current colonies

Edited by PacificNorthWestern, August 6 2019 - 8:07 PM.

[PacificNorthWestern]

https://imgur.com/HehN91DThis is a picture of the Leptothorax Cf. Canadensis With alates. They have an occasional worker come up to get some honey but it seems as though they require little protein even though they just made alates. Does Leptothorax only eat sweets?

[NickAnter]

No ants only collect sweets.  They likely are not eating protein because they do not have larvae, which are the only part of colony, in most species that uses protein(except some very primitive species), therefore, no larvae, no need of protein.

[PacificNorthWestern]

Ok, that makes more sense.

[PacificNorthWestern]

https://imgur.com/RChCSjD-pic of 23 worker colony of  Camponotus Cf. Modoc

https://imgur.com/kZwanGt,

https://imgur.com/bYunonj-pics of  Formica Cf. Pacifica 200 worker colony, most of the colony is on top of the water tower 

https://imgur.com/2k9EcSk-pic of other  Formica Cf. Pacifica colony

https://imgur.com/jU9h4Nj-pic of other  Camponotus Cf. Modoc colony

https://imgur.com/nDNT7kp,

https://imgur.com/AZ5vtpQ, 

https://imgur.com/MgRPCA0- pics of all my founding queens

 

edit: wasn't able to get all the links to work

Edited by PacificNorthWestern, June 19 2019 - 8:26 PM.

[PacificNorthWestern]

 

 

 

 

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[TennesseeAnts]

Your Formica cf. pacifica are most definitely Formica pacifica. Your black Formica are either Formica subsericea or Formica argentea. Your Camponotus cf. modoc are %100 Camponotus modoc. And your Lasius look like Lasius americanus.

When I move back to WA, I might have to buy some of your Camponotus modoc and Formica subsericea!

[PacificNorthWestern]

there's Formica Subsercea in WA? I had no clue. Either way, that's fine with me

[AntsBC]

Your Formica cf. pacifica are most definitely Formica pacifica. Your black Formica are either Formica subsericea or Formica argentea. Your Camponotus cf. modoc are %100 Camponotus modoc. And your Lasius look like Lasius americanus.

When I move back to WA, I might have to buy some of your Camponotus modoc and Formica subsericea!

 

I'm going to have to disagree on Camponotus modoc. C. modoc has a dull, matte black gaster and thorax, which his do not possess. 

 

http://www.antwiki.o...#Identification

 

Personally, I'd more comfortably align his colonies with Camponotus herculeanus. 

 

http://www.antwiki.o...#Identification

Edited by AntsBC, June 20 2019 - 10:52 AM.

[LC3]

When the Leptothorax do get larva they will need a ridiculous amount of protein.

Edited by LC3, June 20 2019 - 10:52 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Your Formica cf. pacifica are most definitely Formica pacifica. Your black Formica are either Formica subsericea or Formica argentea. Your Camponotus cf. modoc are %100 Camponotus modoc. And your Lasius look like Lasius americanus.
When I move back to WA, I might have to buy some of your Camponotus modoc and Formica subsericea!

 
I'm going to have to disagree on Camponotus modoc. C. modoc has a dull, matte black gaster and thorax, which his do not possess. 
 
http://www.antwiki.o...#Identification
 
Personally, I'd more comfortably align his colonies with Camponotus herculeanus. 
 
http://www.antwiki.o...#Identification

Yea I actually agree.

[PacificNorthWestern]

Thank you guys for the identifications as I am not the best at identifying ants. I agree on the Camponotus Herculeanus and would sell Some ants but my parents don't let me and seem pretty strict on that rule.

[PacificNorthWestern]

1 of the 2 Lasius cf. Americans got it's first nanitic   and I brood boosted both queens with lots of pupae.

[PacificNorthWestern]

Also My 2 Camponotus Herculeanus are getting there first workers of the year

[PacificNorthWestern]

When I was checking up on my ants last night I accidentally knocked off the mini hearth with my Leptothorax in it and they went EVERYWHERE!!!!  Luckily I was able to collect most of the colony with some of them dying in the fall or getting smashed by the mini hearth. Last night I saw 2 queens in the nest and was super pumped because I only remembered 1 queen at collection. Then I wake up this morning to find a dead male and 2 sets of wings right next to FOUR QUEENS      ! I would take pictures but I currently can't as my grandma accidentally sent my phone through the washer... I hope this species breeds in the nest and that I didn't really just collect 4 queens without knowing it. I moved them to a small Aeacus nest for better visibility . And they still do have some alates. In other news my 2 queen argentea colony got there first worker and 1 camponotus queen has 2 pupae

 

Edit: Another male bites the dust...

 

double edit: grammar

Edited by PacificNorthWestern, June 28 2019 - 11:13 AM.

[PacificNorthWestern]

it looks like 2 more alates have shed their wings and the last 1 has them all in the air, either like she's trying to fly or take them off...

[PacificNorthWestern]

does anybody know if Leptothorax breeds in the nest?

[TennesseeAnts]

I doubt it.

[CatsnAnts]

I have no idea if they do or not, but that’s pretty cool to say the least. They may just become larger workers, but with the males dead, that makes me wonder. I’m curious to see what happens .

Edit: also, can you take pictures?

Double Edit: JK, just remembered you can’t.

Edited by CatsnAnts, June 28 2019 - 1:12 PM.

[PacificNorthWestern]

I took a small break from ant keeping due to a small injury and mostly laziness. I released quite a few colonies and my Leptothorax colony has sadly died off with just one worker left. In other news I caught a mature colony of temnothorax (I didn't realize just how big it was when collecting them) and at first I thought I missed the queen and was going to release the colony, but looking around I was able to spot her majesty. Caught the colony about 2-3 weeks ago. Many queens have gotten workers.  

Edited by PacificNorthWestern, August 3 2019 - 9:27 PM.