204 replies to this topic

[TennesseeAnts]

*Trachymyrmex septentrionalis.

[Ferox_Formicae]

I'm not so sure your Pheidole dentata are actually dentata by the way. Their heads look a bit too bulky and their bodies look a bit too robust. I'd say they're something more along the lines of P. pillifera, which is a more robust, widespread species with a larger head. If you could send me some pictures (or even better specimens), I could get a proper ID on them.

[AntsExodus]

Ok thanks Ferox!

[AntsExodus]

Today I had another good haul! Found a young Aphenogaster colony and a Lasius Aphidicola queen! I gave her some Lasius Neoniger or Americanus workers and I put them in the fridge for 5 min and they are not fighting but not interacting that well either. The Lasius workers I caught also had some larvae. Any tips?

[AntsExodus]

My Parasite Lasius colony is doing fine and are all getting along!

[AntsExodus]

My Pheidole Dentata colony loves protein jelly! They have been trying to finish it for a day now and they even moved one of the queens near the jelly! They love it so much I'm not sure about the other colonies cause I have not seen them try to eat it.

Edited by AntsExodus, April 17 2020 - 7:06 PM.

[AntsExodus]

I will give you an update on all of my colonies I have had that died or got sold.

 

First, I sold my Pheidole Dentigula colony through the GAN project. They were one of my very first ants and it was a pleasure keeping them but sadly I had to let them go cause I had too much Pheidole.

 

Next, My Lasius Aphidicola queen died for unknown reasons she was not killed the host workers were all getting along with her so I do not know what happened but she has died.

 

Finally, I'm pretty sure no one knew but I had a pretty big termite colony but I am going to trade them to someone for 5 Camponotus queens all different species which is a pretty good deal for me! Even Camponotus Discolor!

 

DISCLAIMER: All the people I have sold ants and Termites to are in GA and I met them personally so I did no shipping during this process!

Edited by AntsExodus, April 20 2020 - 6:43 AM.

[ANTdrew]

“Too much Pheidole,” that’s a first world problem! Congrats on all the sales. That’s one of the funnest parts of ant-keeping, and it helps family members respect your hobby.

[AntsExodus]

Thanks!

[AntsExodus]

I have some sad news. The Pheidole Dentata I merged that used to have 2 queens now has one. They decapitated the other. I don't really know why cause they are polygenous and were doing really well together. Maybe I should have not merged them and bred them when they got mature.

[ForestDragon]

they are not polygnous, they will always end out with 1, very rarely do they keep the other queen

[AntsExodus]

Thanks for the info!

[VoidElecent]

Just a reminder that in documentation while genus is capitalized, species is not. (e.g. Pheidole dentigula, vs. Pheidole Dentigula).

[AntsExodus]

Oh sorry thanks!

[AntsExodus]

I will starting from now be more organized with my colonies and how I write about them.

 

Pheidole dentata: This colony already has pupae! Its only been a week since they laid eggs and they already have pupae! All I have done was give them a heating pad and that was pretty cool. They did not have any brood when I caught them so I am very confused.

 

Camponotus chromaidoes: This colony I have brood boosted they now have around 10-12 workers which is pretty cool. I think I brood boosted them to much cause I gave them around 500 larvae cause I found a huge Camponotus chromaidoes colony with alates and I gave the brood from them to my colony. I'm pretty sure a lot of the brood is supermajors and alates but I think that is pretty good. They have been in a food craze lately cause of all the larvae they have to take care.

 

Aphenogaster Colony B: This is my second Aphenogaster colony they are the same species as the other one and I hope to breed their alates when they have them.

[Imkindabored1126]

500 larvae for a 10-12 worker colony seems pretty overkill, are you going to move them into a bigger setup when they all hatch at once?

[AntsExodus]

Their outworld is a formicarium but I am not using the nest part yet cause they are a small colony. My Prenolepis Imparis came and my new Temnothorax colony and they are safe and sound!

[AntsExodus]

All of my ants arrived in the mail safely! Its so great. They where actually in the mail for 3 weeks! I'm pretty sure a new world record! And they all survived! I thought at least one of them where gonna die but luckily I was blessed and all came safe. They came from Cumberland island which is a barrier island in the southern parts of Georgia. He is the same person I bought the Pheidole Megacephala from. If you live in GA I will tell you who he is I recommend him. I've actually never seen Temnothorax Curvispinosus and they are so small! I thought the workers would be the size of tetramorium workers but they are not!

[AntsExodus]

After catching 3 colonies one aphenogaster rudis and 2 brachymyrmex colonies I come across this in my backyard. 3 Trachymyrmex septentrionalis colonies! I got so exited and started digging them up. Sadly after I finished collecting one of the colonies I slipped and lost them all. I recovered some fungus and workers but no queen. So I dug up another colony to merge with them. The first colony that I dug up had 3 chambers and this one had 2. I dug them but I'm not sure if I caught a queen or not. I really need some tips on how to dig these guys and how to find the queen in this mess! I know you dig a trench first then start digging from but I think I need some more info! Help please! I am not sure if my Trachymyrmex colony has a queen so I am so sad. Very high chance they don't. I have only 2 colonies of Trachymyrmex in my backyard left and I will leave them alone. I will also like to request what they eat and their background.

Edited by AntsExodus, April 25 2020 - 7:53 PM.

[ponerinecat]

*cough cough research/ferox*