367 replies to this topic

[NickAnter]

Not to be that spelling geek but... It is Formica subsericea with an ea not an ia.  Sorry, it is just that stuff bugs me

[ForestDragon]

hahaha, its like camponotus novaeborecensis, BARELY ANYONE KNOWS HOW TO SPELL IT

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Yeah lol

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Just put my Formica queen in the fridge to chill out for a bit. Then I'll see how many eggs she has and if I have to move her into the Mini-Hearth or not (1-4 eggs=Mini-Hearth, 5+ eggs =test tube). My reasoning is, if she's not doing well in the test tube, I could move her into the Mini-Hearth (which is proven better), and check on her in 2-3 weeks after (around the time I re-hydrate it). 

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

I had to move her into the Mini-Hearth, as she ate her eggs (again). She sprayed me and my dad with formic acid, but my dad's quick thinking helped her not get anymore on herself (it was dripping from her gastor). Half the nest is saturated and the water tower is filled, so she looks ready to go for the next 3-4 weeks. She's hiding in a space between stopper and the nest, and cleaning herself. Fingers crossed she'll get workers this time, although I'm starting to believe it's not my fault at this point, because I only checked for 3 minutes tops, and she still was jumpy. Seems like I got myself a handful-at least until workers come...

[ForestDragon]

That species of formica is notoriously skiddish, mine are the same way, once they get workers they are still jumpy but eat brood less-ish mine has yet to lay eggs this year but I'm expecting it any day, her gasters quite swolen

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Her gastor is as big as my Camponotus queen's gastor, and I feel stupid for checking on her. How long should I leave her alone? I have to refill the water tower every 3-4 weeks (two whole syringes to fill up that bad boy), and she's in a mini-hearth, so she should feel more at home. She is EXTREMELY sensitive to light (she literally teleported into the darkest place of the formicaium lol).    

[RushmoreAnts]

Her gastor is as big as my Camponotus queen's gastor, and I feel stupid for checking on her. How long should I leave her alone? I have to refill the water tower every 3-4 weeks (two whole syringes to fill up that bad boy), and she's in a mini-hearth, so she should feel more at home. She is EXTREMELY sensitive to light (she literally teleported into the darkest place of the formicaium lol).    

Yeah, Formica sort of have an annoying habit of acting berserk when only slightly disturbed. It also means they're more likely to eat their eggs, which makes it more difficult to found....

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Yeah, I'm thinking (and it's fine if you don't follow, this is a thought after all), that I leave her alone, only refilling the water tower for 1.5-2 months. That way there's not a snowball's chance in heck that she goes ballistic. But, what would you do in my situation?

[RushmoreAnts]

I would continue to check them once a week, but not make many vibrations. Light is one thing, but vibrations make the situation ten times worse.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Yeah, I think the test tube setup was never going to work for her. As for light, she is incredibly jumpy (I didn't even touch her setup and just exposed it to light, and she ate some eggs. Crazy). So, unless I expose her gradually somehow, it's going to be an interesting relationship between me and her, that's for sure lol.

[NickAnter]

Leave her alone for a few weeks. No interaction whatsoever. She could get pupae in that time if she is heated. She probably won't eat those. And don't move her out of the tube! Will cause even more stress. I would recommend just putting a covering over the tube.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

I moved her out of the tube already, and I had a cover on it. My room (for whatever reason) is not what she likes to be in test tube wise. Sadly, I can't heat her, but her gastor is bloated which is a good sign. I think I'll leave her alone because in the test tube, it took her two weeks to lay, so I'll assume she's laying in a week, her brood takes about a month-a month and a half to develop (nine-ish weeks). Thanks for the help, sorry for being so new at Formica, and making the 'new' mistakes. I'm sure it'll be easier to not stress her out once my Camponotus come out, so I'll just leaver her alone, and I'll have to refill the water tower about twice

[TennesseeAnts]

Her gastor is as big as my Camponotus queen's gastor, and I feel stupid for checking on her. How long should I leave her alone? I have to refill the water tower every 3-4 weeks (two whole syringes to fill up that bad boy), and she's in a mini-hearth, so she should feel more at home. She is EXTREMELY sensitive to light (she literally teleported into the darkest place of the formicaium lol).

Yeah, Formica sort of have an annoying habit of acting berserk when only slightly disturbed. It also means they're more likely to eat their eggs, which makes it more difficult to found....

They are not at all difficult to found. I just toss mine into a test tube in my heated drawer with my other ants, and check on them once or twice a day. I have an 80/100 success rate with Formica. Sure, they will eat their eggs, but not any more often than other ants.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

OK. I'm going to leave mine alone for a while (about two tower refills, so nine weeks because mine aren't heated). Sound good? 

Edited by Da_NewAntOnTheBlock, February 15 2020 - 6:31 AM.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Hey ant keepers, I am starting to loose hope in my ability to raise my formica queen. Last batch was the 5th or 6th batch she ate, and since she's lived longer than most infertile queens have, I'm guessing she's fertile which means I'm not doing something right. I gave her the opportunity to go to the darkest side of the nest ( in which she happily obliged), but I have a final plan for Selene. Every week or so, will move my cover a couple centimeters and let her adjust, then repeat. This [hopefully] will at least somewhat desensitize her to light and allow me to check on her without stressing her out as much. If this doesn't work, then I'll go on a fall back plan, which is take part of the cover would allow me to see her whilst giving minimal stress, hopefully allowing me to see if she has eggs without exposing her to light (in this way I can see her entire body as a silhouette, and if there is something in her mandibles, acknowledge she has eggs. If this doesn't work then I'll sell/trade her to someone in Illinois, and give her the chance to make a colony in better hands.     

[RushmoreAnts]

You should feed her and forego checking for a month. She should have her nanitics by then.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Okay, thank you. This is like when the immune system encounters such a deadly disease it uses all of it's weapons at the same time in a last attempt to destroy the disease; I'm using all them help I can get to raise this queen lol. 

[ANTdrew]

AntsDakota is right on. Soak a tiny piece of paper towel in some nectar and put a drop of juice from whatever insects you have for protein. Then put her in the dark and leave her undisturbed until St. Patty’s day to be exact. Focus on any other hobby or whatever else you can to keep busy. She won’t be the last queen you ever find, so don’t worry about it too much.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

So I'm using honey not nectar for her, should I soak the honey up, or do something else? Also, it might be difficult to get some cricket juices from the leg, but I'll see... Thanks again!