71 replies to this topic

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

keep doing what you're doing mate

[Thunder_Birds]

Well that’s good to hear! Thanks.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

np

[RushmoreAnts]

Update?

[Thunder_Birds]

Yeah, sorry. I’ll give an update tomorrow

[RushmoreAnts]

Looking forward to it....... 

[Thunder_Birds]

Well, sorry it’s been a while....anyway, my C. Pennsylvanicus colony is doing good. Nothing much has changed, but here is some pictures that I took a few weeks ago of them eating honey, and a cricket. I just got done with school for the year, so now I have a lot more free time. One of these days I will put them in the garage for the summer. 

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[Thunder_Birds]

Update #6

Hello everybody! Well, I moved my Camponotus colony into my shed in the backyard for the summer, and they have been doing well. Sadly a lot of the natistics have died out, so the worker count is at a total of 6 (not including the queen). They have 3 large larva, and one smaller larva, so hopefully I will have some new workers here pretty soon. I fed them a fly today so they have been enjoying that. I accidentally flooded their nest today, so they brought all the larva up to the top (see pictures below). Well, that is the update for today, and I will keep you updated.

Edited by Thunder_Birds, June 17 2020 - 3:10 PM.

[Thunder_Birds]

Here are the pictures:

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[RushmoreAnts]

I still feel they should have a lot more workers than that by now, though.

[Thunder_Birds]

Yeah They aren’t really developing that fast....

[MrOdontomachus]

Yeah They aren’t really developing that fast....

*Laughs in camponotus floridanus*

[RushmoreAnts]

Yeah They aren’t really developing that fast....

*Laughs in camponotus floridanus*

Well, even for pennsylvanicus. This is the colony’s third season, and should have at least a couple dozen workers, probably more.

[Thunder_Birds]

Yeah, they did have some a set back last year though where I accidentally fried 14 of them. So, hopefully they can rebuild this year. 

[MrOdontomachus]

C. floridanus usually don't enter diapause so maybe that's why they grow as fast as they do. It's probably also evolutionary pressure to exit the vulnerable stage of founding as soon as possible due to RIFA.

[Thunder_Birds]

Yeah. (And by the way this colony is C. Pennsylvanicus )

[RushmoreAnts]

C. floridanus usually don't enter diapause so maybe that's why they grow as fast as they do. It's probably also evolutionary pressure to exit the vulnerable stage of founding as soon as possible due to RIFA.

Yeah, I knew that. However, I still think the species in general just grows faster, with or without diapause.

Edited by AntsDakota, June 18 2020 - 7:19 AM.

[Thunder_Birds]

Hey y’all,

Well, I have a new colony now (Formica Montana), so I will be updating them both in this journal.

 

Update #7

C. Pennsylvanicus - Nothing really new, but they do have one pupa now, so hopefully they will have another worker here pretty soon. And, it seems that there are a few pupa that are missing, so that’s weird...

 

Formica Montana - New! Well, I caught them 2 days ago (6/24) in my drive way, and I actually have been trying to find a colony that is smaller than my camponotus, so this colony is going to be perfect. And today she laid 2 eggs!

[Thunder_Birds]

Here is the Formica Montana Queen with her 2 eggs:

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[DDD101DDD]

Some advice for your C. pennsylvanicus colony, feed them as much protein as possible. Don't try to adhere to schedules, just feed them a ton of protein. Basically just feed them protein until they stop taking it.