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NickAnters Pogonomyrmex californicus Journal New Queens!

Started By NickAnter , Aug 9 2019 6:59 AM

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#1 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 9 2019 - 6:59 AM

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This queen was caught a few weeks ago, attempting to dig a founding chamber in a crack in the gutter. I immediately put a snap cap vial over her, and after many failed attempt of flipping the vial at the tight time, got her in. I then placed her in a plastic test tube with some sand and seeds. As soon as she went in, she was very calm. It took her two day to think "Hmm, maybe I should try to get out" and start pulling at the cotton. She stopped very soon though. Within five days she layed three eggs. The egg pile grew to about fifty eggs. Now the eggs are starting to hatch, so there is a few larvae in the pile now. This means that she is likely fertile, so I am hopeful. As I will be going away for a week tomorrow, today I will feed her mealworm, and some chia seeds. As soon as she gets workers, I will move them into something similar to one of Drew's Dirt Shacks. All in all, doing well!


Edited by NickAnter, June 17 2021 - 6:30 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). 

#2 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 19 2019 - 8:28 AM

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There are about three medium size larvae, and a few eggs. Doing fine.

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). 

#3 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 23 2019 - 11:24 AM

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She has a pupa now!  So, she should get workers in about a week!  :yahoo: As soon as all her workers eclose, I will move them into a dirt formicarium, probably one of Uncle Miltons Ant Farms, with sand and clay of course. 


  • TennesseeAnts and ANTdrew 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). 

#4 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 27 2019 - 7:39 AM

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Two pupae! She still has a small batch of about 5 eggs. So all in all, doing great!

Edited by NickAnter, August 27 2019 - 7:39 AM.

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). 

#5 Offline Amazant - Posted August 27 2019 - 6:06 PM

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Good luck I hope this queen does great and show us some pictures of them I think they would look really cool!
Colonies: Formica pallidefulva, Lasius neoniger, Camponotus decipiens, Camponotus sp, Camponotus Vicinus, Crematogaster Sp

#6 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 28 2019 - 6:15 AM

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I will take some pics when they get workers.  I do not want her to get over stressed.


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). 

#7 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 31 2019 - 3:31 PM

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One of the pupae is orange now!!!!!!  She might get a worker tomorrow! She has 10 eggs as well as a second pupa.


  • TennesseeAnts 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). 

#8 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 2 2019 - 5:52 AM

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She has a nanitic!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The other pupa is starting to darken as well. She still has a pile of about 15 eggs. Very soon I will move them into a dirt setup.
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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). 

#9 Offline Amazant - Posted September 2 2019 - 9:45 AM

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Nice! She seems like a great queen.
Colonies: Formica pallidefulva, Lasius neoniger, Camponotus decipiens, Camponotus sp, Camponotus Vicinus, Crematogaster Sp

#10 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 4 2019 - 6:21 PM

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Thanks. And yes she is a great queen. Her second worker eclosed just a couple hours ago! Their eggs have hatched as well, so they have larvae.
  • Amazant 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). 

#11 Offline NickAnter - Posted October 2 2019 - 5:15 PM

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Well, they are still alive, and with 2 workers, about 15 eggs to small larvae, and 1 medium larvae. I have been feeding them just mealworms, and today I gave them a large pile of seeds. In a few wekks, they should have another worker. Ideally, I would keep them at higher temps, but I will try to get a heat lamp, to really speed up their 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). 

#12 Offline ponerinecat - Posted October 3 2019 - 6:51 PM

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I have 2 quuens, but no brood. Ate three pupae and 2 larve and a ball of eggs.


#13 Offline NickAnter - Posted October 4 2019 - 5:40 AM

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Yeah, I have found mine to be very finnicky. I am planning to put them in a all dirt setup soon. Also, these are not fully concolorous, so they are more of a tricolor, which means there are bicolors nearby. I would like to catch some more next year, in case these decide to die.

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). 

#14 Offline NickAnter - Posted October 16 2019 - 6:15 AM

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Queen was found dead in outworld. I killed the worker, as it had no brood anyway, and of course, was doomed.

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). 

#15 Offline Roy3 - Posted October 19 2019 - 2:20 AM

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:(

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#16 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted October 19 2019 - 5:57 AM

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NOOOOOOOOOO! What do you think killed her?

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#17 Offline NickAnter - Posted October 19 2019 - 6:28 AM

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I have no idea. She always acted a little strange foraging in the outworld. I might get some more next year. Although, I would rather focus on Camponotus or Manica.
  • TennesseeAnts 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). 

#18 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted October 19 2019 - 6:30 AM

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I have no idea. She always acted a little strange foraging in the outworld. I might get some more next year. Although, I would rather focus on Camponotus or Manica.


I love camponotous! The brood are big enough so you can really observe them, unlike some other ant species

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

#19 Offline NickAnter - Posted October 19 2019 - 7:03 AM

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What I really want is Manica bradleyi, or Camponotus ocreatus/Ca 02. And of course a Myrmecocystus or Prenolepis.
  • TennesseeAnts 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). 

#20 Offline NickAnter - Posted June 9 2020 - 7:10 AM

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  I caught another queen yesterday around noon. She is in a tubs and tubes setup, and her tube has a THA insert so that it is just like she was in dirt. I have also put a bunch of dirt from where she was found in the outworld. I really hope she does well. So far, she has been fed grass seeds, and mealworm pieces. I will probably leave her alone for a week or so.


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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