28 replies to this topic

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I have heard that Strumigenys can be found in Wisconsin, though I have never seen them myself. Which species occur and how might I find them? I have an idea on how to house cryptic ants, basically a large hydrostone nest with lots of small chambers and no outworld, populated by springtails. Of course I actually have to find the appropriate ants before I can test this.

Edited by Antennal_Scrobe, August 30 2019 - 10:20 AM.

[Ferox_Formicae]

Strumigenys spp. do not occur in Wisconsin.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

They don't show up on AntMaps, but AnthonyP163 has found them in Wisconsin. It's not surprising, S. pergandei and others live in almost all the surrounding states, and Wisconsin has very poor documentation of its ant fauna.

[Ferox_Formicae]

I get what you mean. South Carolina does to. In fact, I just made a new state record. Pheidole carrolli. I will be sending some preserved specimens to the University of Utah.

[Leo]

I tend to find strumigenys in rotting logs, near other ant's waste piles (or just rotting logs in general) they seem to prefer wood in advanced stage of decomposition that is also very humid. I once found a 4q 30w colony of strumigenys nesting in a piece pf piping filled with soil, a brachyponera colony was living underneath it, and on the other end of the pipe, a colony of leptogenys,

[ponerinecat]

I tend to find strumigenys in rotting logs, near other ant's waste piles (or just rotting logs in general) they seem to prefer wood in advanced stage of decomposition that is also very humid. I once found a 4q 30w colony of strumigenys nesting in a piece pf piping filled with soil, a brachyponera colony was living underneath it, and on the other end of the pipe, a colony of leptogenys,

This is why the US is one of the least diverse places for anting, excluding Texas, Florida, and kin.

[NickAnter]

 

I tend to find strumigenys in rotting logs, near other ant's waste piles (or just rotting logs in general) they seem to prefer wood in advanced stage of decomposition that is also very humid. I once found a 4q 30w colony of strumigenys nesting in a piece pf piping filled with soil, a brachyponera colony was living underneath it, and on the other end of the pipe, a colony of leptogenys,

This is why the US is one of the least diverse places for anting, excluding Texas, Florida, and kin.

 

Yeah, well we have Myrmecocystus! 

[Leo]

 

 

I tend to find strumigenys in rotting logs, near other ant's waste piles (or just rotting logs in general) they seem to prefer wood in advanced stage of decomposition that is also very humid. I once found a 4q 30w colony of strumigenys nesting in a piece pf piping filled with soil, a brachyponera colony was living underneath it, and on the other end of the pipe, a colony of leptogenys,

This is why the US is one of the least diverse places for anting, excluding Texas, Florida, and kin.

 

Yeah, well we have Myrmecocystus! 

 

And leafcutters!!!

[ponerinecat]

 

 

 

I tend to find strumigenys in rotting logs, near other ant's waste piles (or just rotting logs in general) they seem to prefer wood in advanced stage of decomposition that is also very humid. I once found a 4q 30w colony of strumigenys nesting in a piece pf piping filled with soil, a brachyponera colony was living underneath it, and on the other end of the pipe, a colony of leptogenys,

This is why the US is one of the least diverse places for anting, excluding Texas, Florida, and kin.

 

Yeah, well we have Myrmecocystus! 

 

And leafcutters!!!

 

Leafcutters are found elsewhere, but myrmecocystus is certainly unique. Still inferior compared to foreign myrmecines, ponerines, amblyopones, etc. My opinion though.

[ForestDragon]

Yeah the US kinda sucks for antkeeping imo but its fun when you can get a queen, I have found a large colony of strumigenys when I was digging up some formica brood for a parasite I had but I didn't know what they were so I PUT THEM BACK and i have found strumigenys twice near the same nest and to me it seems they like nesting near living trees and in other ant nests

[NickAnter]

We also have Pheidole rhea. And abundant Prenolepis.

[ponerinecat]

We also have Pheidole rhea. And abundant Prenolepis.

Penolepsis is kind boring for me, besides being good for winters

[AnthonyP163]

I have heard that Strumigenys can be found in Wisconsin, though I have never seen them myself. Which species occur and how might I find them? I have an idea on how to house cryptic ants, basically a large hydrostone nest with lots of small chambers and no outworld, populated by springtails. Of course I actually have to find the appropriate ants before I can test this.

The Strumigenys I have found have all been underneath rocks or logs, either during light rain or after. They like humidity and moisture. I was told to look for them where springtails are. 

 

Worker specimens that I have sent to Dr. Guenard have been imaged and a match couldn't be found yet. It's a possibility that it's a new species but nothing is for sure yet. 

[ponerinecat]

 

I have heard that Strumigenys can be found in Wisconsin, though I have never seen them myself. Which species occur and how might I find them? I have an idea on how to house cryptic ants, basically a large hydrostone nest with lots of small chambers and no outworld, populated by springtails. Of course I actually have to find the appropriate ants before I can test this.

The Strumigenys I have found have all been underneath rocks or logs, either during light rain or after. They like humidity and moisture. I was told to look for them where springtails are. 

 

Worker specimens that I have sent to Dr. Guenard have been imaged and a match couldn't be found yet. It's a possibility that it's a new species but nothing is for sure yet. 

 

That's cool. Tell us when a conclusion is reached

[Antennal_Scrobe]

 

I have heard that Strumigenys can be found in Wisconsin, though I have never seen them myself. Which species occur and how might I find them? I have an idea on how to house cryptic ants, basically a large hydrostone nest with lots of small chambers and no outworld, populated by springtails. Of course I actually have to find the appropriate ants before I can test this.

The Strumigenys I have found have all been underneath rocks or logs, either during light rain or after. They like humidity and moisture. I was told to look for them where springtails are. 

 

Worker specimens that I have sent to Dr. Guenard have been imaged and a match couldn't be found yet. It's a possibility that it's a new species but nothing is for sure yet. 

 

Oh wow. Did they have long or short mandibles?

[RushmoreAnts]

 

 

 

 

I tend to find strumigenys in rotting logs, near other ant's waste piles (or just rotting logs in general) they seem to prefer wood in advanced stage of decomposition that is also very humid. I once found a 4q 30w colony of strumigenys nesting in a piece pf piping filled with soil, a brachyponera colony was living underneath it, and on the other end of the pipe, a colony of leptogenys,

This is why the US is one of the least diverse places for anting, excluding Texas, Florida, and kin.

 

Yeah, well we have Myrmecocystus! 

 

And leafcutters!!!

 

Leafcutters are found elsewhere, but myrmecocystus is certainly unique. Still inferior compared to foreign myrmecines, ponerines, amblyopones, etc. My opinion though.

 

Myrmecocystus may be unique, yet 'honey pot ants' can be found elsewhere.

[RushmoreAnts]

 

I tend to find strumigenys in rotting logs, near other ant's waste piles (or just rotting logs in general) they seem to prefer wood in advanced stage of decomposition that is also very humid. I once found a 4q 30w colony of strumigenys nesting in a piece pf piping filled with soil, a brachyponera colony was living underneath it, and on the other end of the pipe, a colony of leptogenys,

This is why the US is one of the least diverse places for anting, excluding Texas, Florida, and kin.

 

What about Arizona and California?

[Antennal_Scrobe]

The U.S. isn't bad for anting, I love the ants I can find in my state!

Edited by Antennal_Scrobe, August 31 2019 - 2:05 PM.

[RushmoreAnts]

Yeah. Stigmatomma is SOO boring.

[RushmoreAnts]

Europe is pretty much the same as here, so we're not the only ones who have 'bad anting'.