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NickAnter's Nylanderia vividula Journal(Comeback!)

Started By NickAnter , Jul 23 2019 6:02 AM

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221 replies to this topic

#201 Offline NickAnter - Posted March 17 2021 - 9:08 AM

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The nest has been hooked up to the outworld! The move has begun!


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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). 

#202 Offline NickAnter - Posted March 17 2021 - 10:15 AM

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About 50 workers are now in the new formicarium! As soon as the old formicarium dries out they should fully move to the new one.

..


  • M_Ants and Wegmier like 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). 

#203 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 17 2021 - 1:11 PM

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About 50 workers are now in the new formicarium! As soon as the old formicarium dries out they should fully move to the new one.
..

Excellent!
  • NickAnter likes this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#204 Offline NickAnter - Posted March 22 2021 - 4:47 PM

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There are over 150 workers in the new formicarium, as well as some larvae, as seen in the pictures below. The old nest is quite dry, as seen by the ants huddling together to preserve the humidity amongst themselves. This has always been my gauge as to when to hydrate the nest. eventually, they will move fully into the new nest.

 

20210322 174307
20210322 174210
20210322 174249

  • ANTdrew 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). 

#205 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 22 2021 - 5:05 PM

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They look just like mine!
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#206 Offline NickAnter - Posted March 22 2021 - 5:11 PM

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I think your colony is bigger from the extra meals. :D

 

If I hadn't neglected this colony, I imagine they would be quite a bit larger.

 

Also I'm tempted to try to introduce new queens as well once they start flying again. Then my colony might be able to catch up. :boast: 


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). 

#207 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 22 2021 - 6:45 PM

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I’m tempted to try that, too. How would you go about it? Dunking in vinegar?
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#208 Offline NickAnter - Posted March 22 2021 - 7:52 PM

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Well, last year I found a queen in Central Cali, and introduced it to a few workers in a separate environment. They accepted her. However, I worried that the two queens could kill each other, thereby dooming the colony. So I cancelled the experiment. I think I might try the vinegar method this year though, if I find any queens. I have noticed their population seems to have drastically decreased in my neighborhood since B. patagonicus have become more prevalent.


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). 

#209 Offline NickAnter - Posted March 23 2021 - 9:28 AM

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The majority of the colony is now in the new formicarium, along with all of the brood. The queen, along with 150 workers stubbornly refuse to move, even though the conditions in the old nest are far from ideal. If they simply refuse to move, I will have to just disconnect the old nest, take the acrylic pane off of it, and set it in the outworld. I imagine once I do this they will move quickly, and therefore will not have time to get over the fluon barrier(there is a period of 10 minutes after applying where they can't get over it).


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). 

#210 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 23 2021 - 9:39 AM

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byFormica fluon is effective at stopping mine. I say you just dump them all into the outworld if there is no brood to worry about.


"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#211 Offline NickAnter - Posted March 23 2021 - 9:46 AM

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Ill do that. I'm going to have an aspirator on hand for the inevitable escapees.


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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). 

#212 Offline NickAnter - Posted March 23 2021 - 11:40 AM

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Well I'm in a minor panic. I can't find the queen. Hopefully she is just hidden, and not squished or escaped. I was able to round up most of the escapees, and most of the colony is moved in. I also totally underestimated the number of workers that were in the old nest--it was well over 200. I'm hoping beyond hope the queen is in there somewhere.


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). 

#213 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 23 2021 - 2:14 PM

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Damn! Hopefully she is just covered up by workers.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#214 Offline NickAnter - Posted March 23 2021 - 2:49 PM

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Hopefully.  :|


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). 

#215 Offline NickAnter - Posted March 23 2021 - 2:52 PM

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I found her!!!!!!!! So thankful that she is still there.


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). 

#216 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted March 23 2021 - 2:55 PM

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phew!


1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube....kUjx-dPFMyVqOLw

 

 Join Our Fledgling Discord Server https://discord.com/...089056687423489

#217 Offline Lillyrose - Posted March 23 2021 - 3:17 PM

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Oh yay!

I'm having that moment with one of my colonies .. but I think my queen is gone... i am so glad you found her!

#218 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted March 23 2021 - 3:30 PM

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i had a moment like that yeaterday a worker carryed the qqueen into the nest and she was curled up in a ball but when i nudged the nest she got up


1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube....kUjx-dPFMyVqOLw

 

 Join Our Fledgling Discord Server https://discord.com/...089056687423489

#219 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 23 2021 - 3:49 PM

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Thank God! The same thing happened when I dumped my Nylanderia into their Antpartment.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#220 Offline NickAnter - Posted March 23 2021 - 3:57 PM

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Thank God! The same thing happened when I dumped my Nylanderia into their Antpartment.

Must be a trait of the queens to become as obscure as possible in any important situation. They may freak out in a panic with a minor sound, but when moving, I guess they just get paralyzed with fear haha.


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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