387 replies to this topic

[Antennal_Scrobe]

My Crematogaster and Lasius queens have laid eggs! There is a big pile of eggs in the 5 queen Lasius test tube, and at least three Crematogaster queens have some sort of egg pile.

[TheMicroPlanet]

Any pictures?

[TennesseeAnts]

You can't go anywhere here without finding at least a dozen mature colonies of Reticulitermes flavipes.

[NickAnter]

 

Really nice job on these queens Antennal Scrobe. Your Lasius should have nanitics in about 1.5 months.

Edited by NickAnter, April 12 2020 - 10:46 AM.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

My Formica pallidefulva colony now has one egg. This genus does not overwinter brood.

[Thunder_Birds]

My Crematogaster and Lasius queens have laid eggs! There is a big pile of eggs in the 5 queen Lasius test tube, and at least three Crematogaster queens have some sort of egg pile.

Nice! Congrats!

[ANTdrew]

You can't go anywhere here without finding at least a dozen mature colonies of Reticulitermes flavipes.

Same here. One under every other log, basically.

[RushmoreAnts]

Sounds like Lasius here. Sometimes I’ve taken the time to count how many mounds each colony has, and the frequency of traffic coming in and out.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

They like to make the area between my recycling bin and glass slider a landing strip. I also have a little portable shed on my deck as well so three out of four sides are covered  

[RushmoreAnts]

Around here, there are several Lasius colonies with smaller territories, which are all also ruled by a single Formica colony, who’s scouts maintain order throughout their larger territories.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

All my queens now have eggs, including the Brachymyrmex, Pogonomyrmex, and Camponotus. The Camponotus queen is down to one worker but has several decent sized larvae an a bunch of eggs. The Pogonomyrmex have a big ball of eggs.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I found a Prenolepis queen.

[RushmoreAnts]

Wow. They're still flying?

[ANTdrew]

Do you still have your Tetramorium in a terrarium?

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Do you still have your Tetramorium in a terrarium?

Yes, I still have them in a terrarium. Speaking of them, I fed them some egg yolk a while ago, and they ate it all.

 

Wow. They're still flying?

Yes, in Milwaukee today it was very hot out, the hottest day of 2020 so far I think.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

My ants are doing really well, and as far as I know, they all have at least some new brood. The P. occidentalis have a medium sized larva and some eggs, the F. pallidefulva have a bunch of eggs and small larvae, and the C. pennsylvanicus, who by now is down to one worker, has several large larvae and a cocoon.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

The Prenolepis has eggs, the Formica pallidefulva have multiple cocoons, as do the Camponotus.The P. occidentalis have some eggs and larvae, including one big one. They seem to still be eating the chia seeds, but I'll give them dandelion seeds as soon as possible, just for variety. I got a good look at the Tetramorium brood, and I'm pleased to say that they do seem to have a good amount, despite their apparent reluctance to put it where I can see it. The Tetramorium like egg yolk quite a bit, and I recently discovered that my Myrmica enjoy egg whites, which is helpful. It might be time to make them a plaster formicarium, though I still have to find an outworld and a piece of glass for the nest.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I believe the Pogonomyrmex have a pupa! They also have several smaller larvae and eggs now. I released the hornet queen, as I wasn't sure I could care for her properly.

I also forgot to mention that my Ponera queens have died.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

The Crematogaster now have larvae, though, and while the Lasius aren't that far yet, they have an immense number of eggs. I think the Prenolepis queen might have small larvae, but I'm not completely sure. The Camponotus have a pupa about to hatch, and the Formica are doing truly amazingly with several larvae and cocoons.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

The Pogonomyrmex have a new worker! It's in the process of eclosing right now. The Crematogaster have pupae now, and the Lasius have larvae finally. The Formica pallidefulva colony is about to have a lot more workers as well. A Camponotus worker eclosed a while ago as well. The Myrmica are doing fine, I think I'll move them into the empty mini hearth I have soon. I will also have to start ordering some supplies to make hydrostone nests for my colonies soon.