29 replies to this topic

[Zeiss]

I keep my colony in the mid-low 70s with occasional low 80s.  They have lasted 14 months.  I'm sure you don't have to worry about the temperature dips, besides, they're fungal chambers are pretty deep, the sun shouldn't be heating them much.

[Maculata]

Zeiss - Thanks for the temp information.  I won't worry so much.  

 

Queen number two - a month or more late developing.  I had to donate  fungus twice.  She had eggs that disappeared.  Once the fungus was established I donated a worker from the first colony; however, she never accepted the worker so I moved it back.  I then saw new eggs and now you can see at least one pupae is looking good to go maybe in a week or so and several larvae.  She was slow to accept cactus fruit but as you can see, she now embraces the fruit.  The fungus was attached to the ceiling but fell off.  I took the lid off and sanded the bottom of it slightly for better adherence.  We will see if that helps.  

 

Queen #2

Queen #2

Edited by Maculata, October 29 2019 - 11:30 PM.

[Maculata]

Queen number 2 colony activity explosion....

In the last 4 days, 3 nanitics have appeared, most activity today was getting the new nanitics out of the fungus, and going.  Lots of attention to each new one until they work moving well on their own.

 

Album: Acromyrmex versicolor - Second queen

5 images

0 comments

Colony #1 nice photo added

 

Album: Acromyrmex versicolor

35 images

0 comments

[ANTdrew]

Superb photos and journal.

[Maculata]

I improved my temp regulation preparing for the cooler winter room temperatures.  Both chambers for Queen #1 are now almost identical in temp (See plots below).  If you recall, the the colony started to grow fungus in the 'yellow' chamber and had moved in pupae.  As soon as the first (Black chamber) temps went up about 4 degrees, the colony promptly abandoned the yellow chamber.   The two temp measurements are calibrated to each other (meaning read the same value when put together for several hours).  

 

 

 

Edited by Maculata, November 5 2019 - 11:10 PM.

[Kalidas]

I improved my temp regulation preparing for the cooler winter room temperatures.  Both chambers for Queen #1 are now almost identical in temp (See plots below).  If you recall, the the colony started to grow fungus in the 'yellow' chamber and had moved in pupae.  As soon as the first (Black chamber) temps went up about 4 degrees, the colony promptly abandoned the yellow chamber.   The two temp measurements are calibrated to each other (meaning read the same value when put together for several hours).

Woah this is pretty awesome! Leaf cutters so difficult you gotta get computers involved to help lol.

[Gracegarden]

This is a fascinating journal, ant the queens are so fierce looking!  Good job!

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

This is a fascinating journal, ant the queens are so fierce looking!  Good job!

If you think that the queens are cool, you should look up a nest layout for pharaoh colony of these gals. Crazy how intricate they are   

[Maculata]

After abandoning the second chamber for about 14 days, the fungus looked poor, it looked like 2/3 had been removed and the floor of the chamber was left messy.  I would see one worker wander in and out occasionally.  Yesterday, there were 6 or 7 workers cleaning up the fungus and floor.  They are now they are expanding the fungus - 4 to 6 workers, see picture below.  The first chamber is now about 2/3 full.  I have switched to drying the cactus fruit and smashing it into flakes.  They are accepting that readily and it's easier to feed.  With the fresh fruit, sometimes they would wait until it dried before using it.   The other observation: the new workers are gradually getting bigger - notice the ones in back are bigger.  Overall still not quite the same size as seen in the wild.  

 

 

The black cactus seeds are about 0.6mm in diameter

Edited by Maculata, November 15 2019 - 9:41 PM.

[RonPopeil]

Are you able to share any pictures of this display and how you have it set up?