387 replies to this topic

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Caught another Crematogaster queen. 

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I caught another Myrmecina queen and she has several pupae close to hatching.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Just got a Myrmica colony from two walnuts! Currently they are in an AC test tube portal with a test tube attached, and have yet to move out of their walnut chunk. The colony has one queen and perhaps 15-20 workers I managed to collect. Somehow I was not stung once. Does anyone know which Myrmica species tend to like walnuts? Biology seems the only good way to tell these ants apart. Also Camponotus novaeboracensis nests in the soil. And speaking of Camponotus, my own C. pennsylvanicus colony now has four workers.

Edited by Antennal_Scrobe, September 14 2019 - 5:12 PM.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

So the Myrmica, which I've been calling M. cf. punctiventris, have mostly moved into the test tube, although a few remain inside the walnut piece. I seems there is at least one additional queen, though it is very hard to tell them apart, especially when they are mixed in with a large mass of workers. Interestingly, these ants tend to do an Opisthopsis-like jittery motion when they are freaking out, though more often then not, they will play dead, which they are very good at, rather than freaking out in the first place.

[RushmoreAnts]

Just got a Myrmica colony from two walnuts! Currently they are in an AC test tube portal with a test tube attached, and have yet to move out of their walnut chunk. The colony has one queen and perhaps 15-20 workers I managed to collect. Somehow I was not stung once. Does anyone know which Myrmica species tend to like walnuts? Biology seems the only good way to tell these ants apart. Also Camponotus novaeboracensis nests in the soil. And speaking of Camponotus, my own C. pennsylvanicus colony now has four workers.

I believe Myrmica rubra is the species known for their stings, as native Myrmica appear to not be able to puncture human skin.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Caught a Myrmica queen. She is much bigger than the cf. punctiventris queens, so I did not put them together. 

[Antennal_Scrobe]

After freezing a whole new batch of mealworms, I fed all my colonies and semi-claustral queens, except for the F. pallidefulva, because they have yet to explore the outworld and would not find the food. The Myrmecina queens just ate normally, like all the other ants I fed, despite their reputation as picky eaters. I have determined the Myrmica colony to be at least three queens strong.

Edited by Antennal_Scrobe, September 15 2019 - 1:42 PM.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Caught a Tapinoma sessile queen. Used up all my test tubes.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Just realized that what I've been calling Myrmecina americana is just Tetramorium immigrans. Not sure why I ever thought they were Myrmecina. And that first queen with no brood is probably unmated. Will let her go tomorrow. On the plus side though the one with several pupae will be great to sell.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

The Myrmica cf. punctiventris have fully moved into the test tube! They do that thing where they all pile together and it looks "satisfying". I can't find anything about M. punctiventris queens, but if anyone knows about the species they could tell me if having queens barely larger than the workers is trait of these ants. Then I would know for sure.

[ANTdrew]

Caught a Tapinoma sessile queen. Used up all my test tubes.

Save your test tube. I wouldn’t bother with this species.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I kind of expect her to die, but I want to see just what will happen. Besides, once she dies, more people will see this and not waste their test tubes on Tapinoma queens. I got some good news on those Tetramorium queens; the first one laid some eggs, so maybe she is mated after all, and was just hungry. The second queen has workers, one of which came from a pupa I didn't smush and is still alive. I'm gonna brood boost her. Would sell her but I could use an extra colony should anything happen to the queen I sold my friend. The big Tetramorium colony is booming, with tonnes of brood certainly not from the boosts. They dragged both halves of a cricket into their nest within minutes, and I feel like they would eat a second one. Their Mini Hearth is absolutely soiled, with a big patch of sand covering half the class and a massive trash pile. Not to mention all the ants filling it up. I should get them a Fortress ASAP. By ASAP I mean spring 2020 when I can afford it. The Crematogaster queens have done nothing, since they lay eggs after hibernation usually, all 5 are OK. The Myrmica colony seems to like a cricket leg more than yesterday's mealworm. There are now 5 C. pennsylvanicus workers, I got to see the newest one being unwrapped but could not watch the whole process. The lone Myrmica queen relieved herself, leaving a brown spot on the test tube floor. I heard these queens like darkness, so she's going in the closet. I think that worker has been a bad influence on the Formica pallidefulva queens, since they were chill before but now run around like crazy whenever I walk up. I also don't really understand why that one L. neoniger queen laid like 15 eggs a day or two after I caught her. All the other fall queens seem like they are gonna wait for the spring.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

That Tetramorium queen actually had two alive workers, but one of them somehow drowned in a mealworm. I gave them a pupa from a wild colony though, so they should be fine.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I'm a little worried about my Formica pallidefulva. They don't seem interested in food, but they just ate another pupa today, and must be running low. Does anyone have any tips?

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Good news for F. pallidefulva! I shoved a cricket leg right into their nesting area, and while the worker tried to drag it away, the queens started eating! And then I noticed one of the pupae convulsing, its legs flailing! We have a second worker.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

My Pogonomyrmex should be here by Monday.

[Kaelwizard]

My Pogonomyrmex should be here by Monday.

I recommend crushing the big seeds they come with so that they can eat the interior. You’ll see what I’m talking about once they arrive. Mine don’t seem to care much for the dandelion seeds despite what Mack at THA said. Don’t check on them all too often as mine are two of their larvae but laid a large egg pile.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

They come with big seeds too? Good to know. 

Edited by Antennal_Scrobe, September 19 2019 - 3:30 PM.

[Kaelwizard]

They come with big seeds too? Good to know. Not to offend, but, while I love those pictures in your signature, they do make it a bit hard to read threads where you post alot. Maybe they would be better in one of those "spoiler" tags that you click to see the contents of. I've seen some people do that.

I don’t understand what you are trying to say. Like, why do you want me to do that? I don’t quite follow.

Edited by Kaelwizard, September 19 2019 - 12:54 PM.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

 

They come with big seeds too? Good to know. Not to offend, but, while I love those pictures in your signature, they do make it a bit hard to read threads where you post alot. Maybe they would be better in one of those "spoiler" tags that you click to see the contents of. I've seen some people do that.

I don’t understand what you are trying to say. Like, why do you want me to do that? I don’t quite follow.

 

Nevermind. Just a stupid thing I probably shouldn't have said.

Edited by Antennal_Scrobe, September 19 2019 - 3:47 PM.