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[Ferox_Formicae]

Camponotus castaneus Colony B

 

A lot of the brood has been developing, but most of it is still in L2. However, some of the brood is likely going to pupate within the next few days. Last night, I also gave them some sugar water, and they had an absolute feast! They also finally fed the queen, and I suspect she should start to lay within the next few weeks.

 

Camponotus castaneus Colony C

 

Unlike what happened in Colony B, only one worker was accepted into the colony, and that was the major. The opposite was true in Colony B, where the major, who seemed to already be on the way out, ended up dying and being torn apart. All of the unaccepted workers have died in the outworld, and one worker escaped and got captured by the cellar side who lives at the foot of my bed. After such a large meal, she seems to be a lot larger and happier.

 

Solenopsis invicta Queens

 

The oldest of these queens has still yet to produce anything, and I suspect she is infertile. All of the other queens (except for the one I collected Friday night) have laid eggs, and have around 20 or so eggs.

 

Crematogaster cf. ashmeadi/lineolata Queens

 

Over half of these queens have laid eggs, though most of them have only laid a few eggs, like five or so. Some of the queens also have greatly engorged gasters, so more eggs are on the way.

 

Pheidole navigans

 

So though she has laid eggs, she keeps spreading them all over the place as opposed to keeping them all together, which results in the eggs dying. Because of this, it is likely she is infertile.

 

Lasius claviger Queens

 

One of the Lasius queens has ended up dying, but in spite of that, I managed to collect another queen, though she may actually be a different species, as she looks a little different. She may be a hybrid, or perhaps Lasius latipes. I tried to run her through a key, but she would not sit still, so I'll have to wait until workers arrive (or more likely until she dies...).

[ANTdrew]

Good luck with the Cremas! I'll be taking out my new 2019 batch today or tomorrow.

[madbiologist]

Camponotus castaneus Colony B

A lot of the brood has been developing, but most of it is still in L2. However, some of the brood is likely going to pupate within the next few days. Last night, I also gave them some sugar water, and they had an absolute feast! They also finally fed the queen, and I suspect she should start to lay within the next few weeks.

Camponotus castaneus Colony C

Unlike what happened in Colony B, only one worker was accepted into the colony, and that was the major. The opposite was true in Colony B, where the major, who seemed to already be on the way out, ended up dying and being torn apart. All of the unaccepted workers have died in the outworld, and one worker escaped and got captured by the cellar side who lives at the foot of my bed. After such a large meal, she seems to be a lot larger and happier.

Solenopsis invicta Queens

The oldest of these queens has still yet to produce anything, and I suspect she is infertile. All of the other queens (except for the one I collected Friday night) have laid eggs, and have around 20 or so eggs.

Crematogaster cf. ashmeadi/lineolata Queens

Over half of these queens have laid eggs, though most of them have only laid a few eggs, like five or so. Some of the queens also have greatly engorged gasters, so more eggs are on the way.

Pheidole navigans

So though she has laid eggs, she keeps spreading them all over the place as opposed to keeping them all together, which results in the eggs dying. Because of this, it is likely she is infertile.

Lasius claviger Queens

One of the Lasius queens has ended up dying, but in spite of that, I managed to collect another queen, though she may actually be a different species, as she looks a little different. She may be a hybrid, or perhaps Lasius latipes. I tried to run her through a key, but she would not sit still, so I'll have to wait until workers arrive (or more likely until she dies...).

What do you mean until workers arrive for the lasius queen? She's parasitic.

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[Ferox_Formicae]

 

Camponotus castaneus Colony B

A lot of the brood has been developing, but most of it is still in L2. However, some of the brood is likely going to pupate within the next few days. Last night, I also gave them some sugar water, and they had an absolute feast! They also finally fed the queen, and I suspect she should start to lay within the next few weeks.

Camponotus castaneus Colony C

Unlike what happened in Colony B, only one worker was accepted into the colony, and that was the major. The opposite was true in Colony B, where the major, who seemed to already be on the way out, ended up dying and being torn apart. All of the unaccepted workers have died in the outworld, and one worker escaped and got captured by the cellar side who lives at the foot of my bed. After such a large meal, she seems to be a lot larger and happier.

Solenopsis invicta Queens

The oldest of these queens has still yet to produce anything, and I suspect she is infertile. All of the other queens (except for the one I collected Friday night) have laid eggs, and have around 20 or so eggs.

Crematogaster cf. ashmeadi/lineolata Queens

Over half of these queens have laid eggs, though most of them have only laid a few eggs, like five or so. Some of the queens also have greatly engorged gasters, so more eggs are on the way.

Pheidole navigans

So though she has laid eggs, she keeps spreading them all over the place as opposed to keeping them all together, which results in the eggs dying. Because of this, it is likely she is infertile.

Lasius claviger Queens

One of the Lasius queens has ended up dying, but in spite of that, I managed to collect another queen, though she may actually be a different species, as she looks a little different. She may be a hybrid, or perhaps Lasius latipes. I tried to run her through a key, but she would not sit still, so I'll have to wait until workers arrive (or more likely until she dies...).

What do you mean until workers arrive for the lasius queen? She's parasitic.

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If you're implying that because they're parasites they won't have workers, you're wrong. Lasius claviger is what's known as a temporary nest parasite, meaning queens find a previously established Lasius nest (usually americanus or neoniger), kill the existing queen, coat herself in her pheromones, and take over as role of queen, laying her own eggs which turn into workers of her own, around the same size as the neoniger or americanus workers, but hairier, yellow, and with smaller eyes. The queen keeps laying eggs, and eventually the existing Lasius colony fizzles out and all of the workers die, leaving only the claviger workers. I think what you're referring to is an inquiline, a workerless species, such as Pseudomyrmex leptosus, or Strumigenys inopina, in which the first few steps taken by a nest parasite are followed through, but the eggs produced by the parasite turn into queens and males, never into workers.

[madbiologist]

Camponotus castaneus Colony B

A lot of the brood has been developing, but most of it is still in L2. However, some of the brood is likely going to pupate within the next few days. Last night, I also gave them some sugar water, and they had an absolute feast! They also finally fed the queen, and I suspect she should start to lay within the next few weeks.

Camponotus castaneus Colony C

Unlike what happened in Colony B, only one worker was accepted into the colony, and that was the major. The opposite was true in Colony B, where the major, who seemed to already be on the way out, ended up dying and being torn apart. All of the unaccepted workers have died in the outworld, and one worker escaped and got captured by the cellar side who lives at the foot of my bed. After such a large meal, she seems to be a lot larger and happier.

Solenopsis invicta Queens

The oldest of these queens has still yet to produce anything, and I suspect she is infertile. All of the other queens (except for the one I collected Friday night) have laid eggs, and have around 20 or so eggs.

Crematogaster cf. ashmeadi/lineolata Queens

Over half of these queens have laid eggs, though most of them have only laid a few eggs, like five or so. Some of the queens also have greatly engorged gasters, so more eggs are on the way.

Pheidole navigans

So though she has laid eggs, she keeps spreading them all over the place as opposed to keeping them all together, which results in the eggs dying. Because of this, it is likely she is infertile.

Lasius claviger Queens

One of the Lasius queens has ended up dying, but in spite of that, I managed to collect another queen, though she may actually be a different species, as she looks a little different. She may be a hybrid, or perhaps Lasius latipes. I tried to run her through a key, but she would not sit still, so I'll have to wait until workers arrive (or more likely until she dies...).

What do you mean until workers arrive for the lasius queen? She's parasitic.

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If you're implying that because they're parasites they won't have workers, you're wrong. Lasius claviger is what's known as a temporary nest parasite, meaning queens find a previously established Lasius nest (usually americanus or neoniger), kill the existing queen, coat herself in her pheromones, and take over as role of queen, laying her own eggs which turn into workers of her own, around the same size as the neoniger or americanus workers, but hairier, yellow, and with smaller eyes. The queen keeps laying eggs, and eventually the existing Lasius colony fizzles out and all of the workers die, leaving only the claviger workers. I think what you're referring to is an inquiline, a workerless species, such as Pseudomyrmex leptosus, or Strumigenys inopina, in which the first few steps taken by a nest parasite are followed through, but the eggs produced by the parasite turn into queens and males, never into workers.

No I assumed you didn't have them with host workers yet.

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[Ferox_Formicae]

 

 

 

Camponotus castaneus Colony B

A lot of the brood has been developing, but most of it is still in L2. However, some of the brood is likely going to pupate within the next few days. Last night, I also gave them some sugar water, and they had an absolute feast! They also finally fed the queen, and I suspect she should start to lay within the next few weeks.

Camponotus castaneus Colony C

Unlike what happened in Colony B, only one worker was accepted into the colony, and that was the major. The opposite was true in Colony B, where the major, who seemed to already be on the way out, ended up dying and being torn apart. All of the unaccepted workers have died in the outworld, and one worker escaped and got captured by the cellar side who lives at the foot of my bed. After such a large meal, she seems to be a lot larger and happier.

Solenopsis invicta Queens

The oldest of these queens has still yet to produce anything, and I suspect she is infertile. All of the other queens (except for the one I collected Friday night) have laid eggs, and have around 20 or so eggs.

Crematogaster cf. ashmeadi/lineolata Queens

Over half of these queens have laid eggs, though most of them have only laid a few eggs, like five or so. Some of the queens also have greatly engorged gasters, so more eggs are on the way.

Pheidole navigans

So though she has laid eggs, she keeps spreading them all over the place as opposed to keeping them all together, which results in the eggs dying. Because of this, it is likely she is infertile.

Lasius claviger Queens

One of the Lasius queens has ended up dying, but in spite of that, I managed to collect another queen, though she may actually be a different species, as she looks a little different. She may be a hybrid, or perhaps Lasius latipes. I tried to run her through a key, but she would not sit still, so I'll have to wait until workers arrive (or more likely until she dies...).

What do you mean until workers arrive for the lasius queen? She's parasitic.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

If you're implying that because they're parasites they won't have workers, you're wrong. Lasius claviger is what's known as a temporary nest parasite, meaning queens find a previously established Lasius nest (usually americanus or neoniger), kill the existing queen, coat herself in her pheromones, and take over as role of queen, laying her own eggs which turn into workers of her own, around the same size as the neoniger or americanus workers, but hairier, yellow, and with smaller eyes. The queen keeps laying eggs, and eventually the existing Lasius colony fizzles out and all of the workers die, leaving only the claviger workers. I think what you're referring to is an inquiline, a workerless species, such as Pseudomyrmex leptosus, or Strumigenys inopina, in which the first few steps taken by a nest parasite are followed through, but the eggs produced by the parasite turn into queens and males, never into workers.

No I assumed you didn't have them with host workers yet.

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I do not at the moment. Lasius are surprisingly difficult to find here. I did look for Lasius neoniger downtown on Saturday, but to no avail, as the colonies that were there in September had all locked themselves away, along with the native Trachymyrmex septentrionalis population in that area. I have seen americanus and claviger (I could probably boost them with claviger brood) in a park in Chapin, but I haven't been there in a few months. I may be able to boost them with brood from Prenolepis imparis though, as they're both members of the tribe Lasiini. However, as Prenolepis imparis dig such deep nests (usually 40 inches or more), brood is very hard to get to, and also it's hard to find colonies I can actually access, as most of the anting I do is in my backyard, and all of the Prenolepis imparis nests in my immediate vicinity are right behind my fence, which I am unable to access. However, I should be able to get to some colonies this weekend, and possibly get some brood if I dig the right way, or if I'm miraculously able to find a foraging colony of Neivamyrmex spp, which ants are terrified of, and dump a few workers on a Prenolepis mound. That'll scare them out.

[Ferox_Formicae]

Solenopsis invicta Queens

 

I've been collecting more of these queens, as around noon seemingly every day now, my friend and I have been finding recently flown alates and dealate in my school's courtyard. For instance, the other day, we found 3 queens tucked together under a small overhang in the crack of the pavement. Pretty much all of the queens I've caught have laid eggs, except for the one I collected on January 2nd, who never laid, and actually ended up dying yesterday. She was already injured upon capture, and I didn't expect her to do well.

 

Gnamptogenys triangularis

 

I added some soil into her test tube to make her feel a bit more comfortable and gave her a crushed cricket leg. She actually accepted the cricket leg and seems to be more active. Her gaster also seemed a bit larger yesterday, even before I gave her the cricket leg, so it's likely she'll lay eggs within the next few weeks. I've had her for almost 3 months now, so she should hopefully lay soon, especially since now since I've given her a 1 month hibernation period. I would've taken her (and all of my other queens and colonies) out later, but my mom sadly has an exterminator come quarterly, and they spray around the crawlspace where I hibernate my ants, and while they only spray around the outside, I don't want to take any risks. They only came a few weeks ago, so I want to let the fumes die down for a few weeks before putting some of the colonies and queens into diapause again, however, most of them don't need any more time in diapause, as they've already laid eggs. I doubt the Gnamptogenys queen needs any more hibernation, as she's been eating and seems to be a lot more active than she was upon collection. I'm actually really surprised she's made it this far. However, from reading Aaron's Gnamptogenys journal, I know that apparently the brood is hard to keep alive, and his never made it past the first instar. However, I suspect that may have had something to do with diet. He fed his cricket legs and mealworms, as he did not have access to millipedes during the cooler months (his were never hibernated), and while the queen did eat them, I doubt she knew how to feed them to her larva. In the wild, when millipedes are captured, they are cut up by their segments, and the larvae are placed into the millipede 'rings', where they eat the flesh from the inside. Since he fed his queen mealworms and crickets, she didn't know how to feed them to her larva, and as a result, they starved to death. I will definitely have to feed my queen millipedes alone once larva arrive.

[Ferox_Formicae]

Camponotus castaneus Colony B

 

The larva have been growing quite a bit, and two of them in particular are right about to pupate. I should probably add a bit more soil into their outworld so they can use it to help their larva spin their silk. I've made that mistake before in Formica cf. pallidefulva, and the pupa ended up being naked, though it's not too big of a deal. I suspect that within the next two months, they should have a population explosion into the hundreds, just because of the ridiculous amount of brood.

 

Tapinoma sessile

 

I managed to collect a decent sized colony of Tapinoma sessile from within a walnut buried in the leaf litter. I usually don't bother with collecting with typical Dolichoderines like that, but the colony was already collected, so I figured why not try? Well guess what? I collected them on a Thursday night, they were fine on Friday, and on Saturday when I woke up in the morning, they were gone! I had no idea where they went, as I never even saw any workers foraging. I just left the formicarium there, as I needed to find out how they escaped. On Monday morning, I saw a few workers foraging near my computer, and I was worried that's where they were, so I check, and nope, thank god. I got back home in the evening, and they were back! They moved back in! I still haven't found out how they escaped, but I should probably find out how. I haven't seen any other workers foraging though.

 

Pheidole navigans

 

So the Pheidole navigans queen hasn't been doing too well. She's been laying eggs, but she then scatters them everywhere and they end up dying. So, I've ended up introducing some workers to her. After a few days, the queen laid a clutch of eggs, and now they're actually being taken care of. I've also fed them. It's cool because the Pheidole workers weren't actually cleansed of pheromones, they just kind of accepted the queen, and they accepted her.

 

Aphaenogaster texana

 

Back in the woods at the park near my house, I have managed to collect a large colony of Aphaenogaster texana from under an old, shattered pot. However, I did not managed to collect the queen. So, I have two options. I can either introduce a queen (probably of a closely related species) to them and hope they accept her after her pheromones are removed, or, since I'm pretty sure the colony has alate pupa, I can wait until they eclose, and in a few months, I can breed them with males/females of a different species, thus producing hybrids! I could also probably mate them with the same species if I'm able to find them, though this is the first time I've ever seen this species, so likely I won't.

[ForestDragon]

how do you remove pheromones?

[Ferox_Formicae]

how do you remove pheromones?

I just dunk the ants in water a few times. It usually works, but it depends on the species. I've only tried it on a few different species.

[ForestDragon]

 

how do you remove pheromones?

I just dunk the ants in water a few times. It usually works, but it depends on the species. I've only tried it on a few different species.

 

 

 

how do you remove pheromones?

I just dunk the ants in water a few times. It usually works, but it depends on the species. I've only tried it on a few different species.

 

that's new to me, i should try it for lasius, i have a parasite i would like to get workers

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Good luck with the Cremas! I'll be taking out my new 2019 batch today or tomorrow.

I'm taking my founding queen out today [I hope]. Hopefully I'll be able to get her ID'd soon

[Ferox_Formicae]

 

Good luck with the Cremas! I'll be taking out my new 2019 batch today or tomorrow.

I'm taking my founding queen out today [I hope]. Hopefully I'll be able to get her ID'd soon

 

Ha, good luck with that! As you know, I'm great with ant identification, and I can still barely tell the differences between queens of most species. I just have to wait until workers appear. Although, I could try and ID all of mine eventually. For now though, I'm fine leaving them at Crematogaster cf. ashmeadi/lineolata.

[madbiologist]

Good luck with the Cremas! I'll be taking out my new 2019 batch today or tomorrow.

I'm taking my founding queen out today [I hope]. Hopefully I'll be able to get her ID'd soon

Ha, good luck with that! As you know, I'm great with ant identification, and I can still barely tell the differences between queens of most species. I just have to wait until workers appear. Although, I could try and ID all of mine eventually. For now though, I'm fine leaving them at Crematogaster cf. ashmeadi/lineolata.

Really? Queens have always been much easier for me. It can get much more difficult with workers.

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[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Well, I'll just have to take a pic and make a topic 

and somehow embed it in the forum lol

[Ferox_Formicae]

 

 

 

Good luck with the Cremas! I'll be taking out my new 2019 batch today or tomorrow.

I'm taking my founding queen out today [I hope]. Hopefully I'll be able to get her ID'd soon

Ha, good luck with that! As you know, I'm great with ant identification, and I can still barely tell the differences between queens of most species. I just have to wait until workers appear. Although, I could try and ID all of mine eventually. For now though, I'm fine leaving them at Crematogaster cf. ashmeadi/lineolata.

Really? Queens have always been much easier for me. It can get much more difficult with workers.

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Yeah. Once you actually take a look at queens up close, you'll realize they're pretty difficult to ID. There's also no key to Crematogaster queens on AntWiki or anything that I know of. I guess I know what my next project will be. Also, if you're implying they're easy to ID based on color, that's not really the way to properly ID ants in most cases. pinicola, laeviuscula, minutissima and missouriensis are the exceptions to that Crematogaster wise.

[madbiologist]

Good luck with the Cremas! I'll be taking out my new 2019 batch today or tomorrow.

I'm taking my founding queen out today [I hope]. Hopefully I'll be able to get her ID'd soon

Ha, good luck with that! As you know, I'm great with ant identification, and I can still barely tell the differences between queens of most species. I just have to wait until workers appear. Although, I could try and ID all of mine eventually. For now though, I'm fine leaving them at Crematogaster cf. ashmeadi/lineolata.

Really? Queens have always been much easier for me. It can get much more difficult with workers.

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Yeah. Once you actually take a look at queens up close, you'll realize they're pretty difficult to ID. There's also no key to Crematogaster queens on AntWiki or anything that I know of. I guess I know what my next project will be. Also, if you're implying they're easy to ID based on color, that's not really the way to properly ID ants in most cases. pinicola, laeviuscula, minutissima and missouriensis are the exceptions to that Crematogaster wise.

It may just be easier because Ohio has a few less species than you guys, we're only up to 160 something or so.

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[Ferox_Formicae]

 

 

It may just be easier because Ohio has a few less species than you guys, we're only up to 160 something or so.

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Yeah, and you guys only have 3 Crematogaster species.

[TennesseeAnts]

 
It may just be easier because Ohio has a few less species than you guys, we're only up to 160 something or so.
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Yeah, and you guys only have 3 Crematogaster species.

We have like 12.....

[Ferox_Formicae]

Camponotus castaneus Colony B

 

First pupa! Tons of larval growth as well.

 

Aphaenogaster miamiana, Previously texana

 

Reidentified as miamiana due to the head shape and mandibular sculpturing. I gave them some crushed up sunflower seeds, and they accepted them, carrying them all back to the nest.

 

Aphaenogaster lamellidens

 

First pupa for them as well! As with the miamiana colony, I gave them some sunflower seeds too, and they accepted them.

 

Cyphomyrmex rimosus

 

Aw shot, here we go again... Yup, I'm trying Cyphomyrmex rimosus once again. This colony was collected in my front yard under a rock at the base of a River Birch. These colonies seem to show up just out of nowhere, and then if I leave them alone for a few weeks and then come back, they're gone. It does make sense though, considering they make semi-permanent nests, often under objects. Anyways, they're doing pretty good at the moment, with around 40 workers, a single queen, and a small number of yeast globules. Around 10 workers have died, but that was in the first day when stress was high and yeast was low. I currently have them nesting in an Attine laboratory formicarium, and they seem to be enjoying it. I also supplemented them with a bit of sugar water when they had only a few yeast globules. The yeast grows fast though, and at the moment the colony is stable. I do need to be sure I hydrate them enough though, as that is what's killed all of my colonies in the past, just because they're so damn sensitive! I'm going to be keeping a very close eye on the nest, and I'll probably hydrate it once every 5 days or so, depending on the rate of evaporation and whether or not the nest is still saturated.

 

Crematogaster minutissima

 

Tons of brood in this colony, and the queens keep on pumping out more eggs. They are really fast growers, that's for sure. They currently have around 5 or so pupa, though I can't be too sure as I haven't looked at them under the microscope in a few days. Those pupa should be eclosing within 2-3 weeks, maybe sooner as the first pupa appeared like 2 weeks ago. I'm probably gonna have to move this colony into something a bit bigger within the next few weeks/months. They're current nest is already pretty small as it is, just a medium-sized test tube.