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What is the best piece of advice for new antkeepers that you have learned?

Started By Ants_Dakota , Feb 20 2020 10:31 AM
ants new antkeepers

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53 replies to this topic

#41 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted February 24 2020 - 7:31 PM

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Just a question, how would you genetically test them?


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

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#42 Offline Thunder_Birds - Posted February 24 2020 - 7:55 PM

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Good question :yes: Not sure...AntsDakota, yeah your probably right, because some of my works are very large. And Camponotus Pennsylvanicus are big ants. 


Edited by Thunder_Birds, February 24 2020 - 7:57 PM.

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#43 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted February 24 2020 - 9:03 PM

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Good question :yes: Not sure...AntsDakota, yeah your probably right, because some of my works are very large. And Camponotus Pennsylvanicus are big ants.

They are literally identical to C. modoc. Again, genetic analysis would be required to be sure.

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#44 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted February 25 2020 - 4:32 AM

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But the climate seems to favor pennsylvanicus.

"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis

#45 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted February 25 2020 - 5:27 AM

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Never leave the finicky species alone for more than a few days without a reliable water source!!! I cannot stress that enough. I can't tell you how many times I've lost colonies of Cyphomyrmex rimosus and Strumigenys spp. to dehydration. I've learned my lesson at this point though, and I've been keeping my colonies of finicky species for longer now, especially due to the fact that I have advanced my methods of hydration and have established a system of hydration in all of my colonies. On top of that though, beginning ant keepers shouldn't be keeping finicky species, period.


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Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipes, Strumigenys brevisetosa, Strumigenys clypeata, Strumigenys louisianae, Strumigenys membranifera, Strumigenys reflexa, Strumigenys rostrata

 

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#46 Offline NickAnter - Posted February 25 2020 - 6:41 AM

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Theantguy is right. This should be in General Ant Keeping, not General Anting.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#47 Offline PurdueEntomology - Posted February 25 2020 - 7:22 AM

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Well I agree with so many voices in this set of advices.  I would encourage real reflection and not to collect any species you are not certain you can reasonably provide a proper habitat: substrate, temperatures and humidity along with proper food.  It is easy to find a colony and scoop it up, it is disheartening when it declines and dies because of improper attention.  There are an amazing assortment of endemic ants in various genera here in North America, just choose wisely, do not go for the most usually, cryptic or hard to find, you may bite off more than you can chew.  And the issue of ethics is important and personal integrity regarding husbandry and culture.  


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#48 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted February 25 2020 - 9:28 AM

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Well I agree with so many voices in this set of advices.  I would encourage real reflection and not to collect any species you are not certain you can reasonably provide a proper habitat: substrate, temperatures and humidity along with proper food.  It is easy to find a colony and scoop it up, it is disheartening when it declines and dies because of improper attention.  There are an amazing assortment of endemic ants in various genera here in North America, just choose wisely, do not go for the most usually, cryptic or hard to find, you may bite off more than you can chew.  And the issue of ethics is important and personal integrity regarding husbandry and culture.  

So true, it has happened too many times with me(usually before i knew that much about ants, though). I get/dig up a colony, and then put them in a formicaruim, whether real or home made. Out of maybe 10 colonies, my only success was a myrmica Americana colony.


Theantguy is right. This should be in General Ant Keeping, not General Anting.

Sorry, i guess i didn't realize what this chat would turn into.


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

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Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

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#49 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted February 25 2020 - 9:40 AM

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But the climate seems to favor pennsylvanicus.

Camponotus modoc and pennslyvanicus are identical. 


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#50 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted February 25 2020 - 9:51 AM

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But the climate seems to favor pennsylvanicus.

Camponotus modoc and pennslyvanicus are identical. 

 

So just a name difference?


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My Nationwide Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship ants nationwide

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

My Formica sp. Journal

My Lasius sp. Journal

My Micro Ants Journal

My Pogonomyrmex occidentalis Journal

#51 Offline ANTdrew - Posted February 25 2020 - 9:55 AM

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Very good advice, PurdueEntomology. Beginners, and really all ant-keepers, should limit themselves to ants that are actually suitable for captivity. Just because some ant is super rare and weird looking, that doesn't give you the right to dig it up and likely kill the colony. Learn to appreciate native ants in their native habitats.


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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#52 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted February 25 2020 - 9:56 AM

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But the climate seems to favor pennsylvanicus.

Camponotus modoc and pennslyvanicus are identical. 

 

So just a name difference?

 

That, geographical distribution and genetics. They are physically identical.


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#53 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted February 25 2020 - 9:56 AM

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But the climate seems to favor pennsylvanicus.

Camponotus modoc and pennslyvanicus are identical. 

 

So just a name difference?

 

That, geographical distribution and genetics. They are physically identical.

 

Ok, thanks! :)


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My Nationwide Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship ants nationwide

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

My Formica sp. Journal

My Lasius sp. Journal

My Micro Ants Journal

My Pogonomyrmex occidentalis Journal

#54 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted February 25 2020 - 10:07 AM

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But the climate seems to favor pennsylvanicus.

Camponotus modoc and pennslyvanicus are identical. 

 

So just a name difference?

 

That, geographical distribution and genetics. They are physically identical.

 

Ok, thanks! :)

 

Any time.


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