20 replies to this topic

[MegaMyrmex]

So I found a piece of wood with a strumigenus colony on it and tossed it into my isopod bin thinking that they’d eventually die out and my porcellio scaber need their rotten wood...a couple weeks later the colony ahs doubled in size and there’s a ton of brood. Just thought I’d share, never had this happen. Seems like this species does better when left in a more established vivarium type environment.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

interesting

[RushmoreAnts]

So I found a piece of wood with a strumigenus colony on it and tossed it into my isopod bin thinking that they’d eventually die out and my porcellio scaber need their rotten wood...a couple weeks later the colony ahs doubled in size and there’s a ton of brood. Just thought I’d share, never had this happen. Seems like this species does better when left in a more established vivarium type environment.

Sounds more great than weird.

[Manitobant]

Strumigenys are amazing ants, you are so lucky to have a colony!

Edited by Manitobant, February 29 2020 - 7:17 PM.

[MegaMyrmex]

Strumigenys are amazing ants, you are so lucky to have a colony!

These are a lot more common than you'd think. Also, I found that the best way to keep these species and let them thrive is to provide a well-established vivarium, or a springtail culture at the least. They're really not too hard but providing food is much more difficult.

[OhNoNotAgain]

I don't know anything about them but from Wikipedia it sounds like they are specialized for eating springtails, so that makes total sense.

Have you noticed a dip in your springtail numbers?

(Of course the way my springtails breed even a dip would be hardly noticeable....)

[RushmoreAnts]

 They're really not too hard but providing food is much more difficult.

I tried catching springtails once. But if I tried to be gentle with them and not crush them, they can jump away. If I quick snag them, they got crushed. 

[NickAnter]

 

 They're really not too hard but providing food is much more difficult.

I tried catching springtails once. But if I tried to be gentle with them and not crush them, they can jump away. If I quick snag them, they got crushed. 

 

Use a cotton ball. Or better yet, an aspirator.

[Ferox_Formicae]

Ahem, I'm kind of the Strumigenys expert around here, so I can definitely help if need-be. Anyways, any information on the species? If you don't know and would like to know, PM me and I tell you how to send some dead specimens to me. I've contributed to Doug Booher's upcoming "Key to Western Nearctic Strumigenys", so understandably, I should definitely be able to put an ID on them. Also, nice job finding them and living in an area where they're so common! I've only ever seen three species in my are, two of which, silvestrii and membranifera, are invasive, and the other, louisianae, is the most common member of the genus. Going off of region, I'd say yours are maybe rostrata, pergandei, or maybe pulchella, but I'd need specimens to be sure.

 

*Edit* Reading over this, I may have come off as a bit too cocky. Sorry about that, that's just my twisted sense of humor. 

Edited by Ferox_Formicae, March 2 2020 - 6:06 PM.

[ponerinecat]

Ahem, I'm kind of the Strumigenys expert around here, so I can definitely help if need-be. Anyways, any information on the species? If you don't know and would like to know, PM me and I tell you how to send some dead specimens to me. I've contributed to Doug Booher's upcoming "Key to Western Nearctic Strumigenys", so understandably, I should definitely be able to put an ID on them. Also, nice job finding them and living in an area where they're so common! I've only ever seen three species in my are, two of which, silvestrii and membranifera, are invasive, and the other, louisianae, is the most common member of the genus. Going off of region, I'd say yours are maybe rostrata, pergandei, or maybe pulchella, but I'd need specimens to be sure.

 

*Edit* Reading over this, I may have come off as a bit too cocky. Sorry about that, that's just my twisted sense of humor. 

Yes, you've gotten a lot more confident after you started working on the book. You deserve the credit though.

[TennesseeAnts]

Ahem, I'm kind of the Strumigenys expert around here, so I can definitely help if need-be. Anyways, any information on the species? If you don't know and would like to know, PM me and I tell you how to send some dead specimens to me. I've contributed to Doug Booher's upcoming "Key to Western Nearctic Strumigenys", so understandably, I should definitely be able to put an ID on them. Also, nice job finding them and living in an area where they're so common! I've only ever seen three species in my are, two of which, silvestrii and membranifera, are invasive, and the other, louisianae, is the most common member of the genus. Going off of region, I'd say yours are maybe rostrata, pergandei, or maybe pulchella, but I'd need specimens to be sure.
 
*Edit* Reading over this, I may have come off as a bit too cocky. Sorry about that, that's just my twisted sense of humor. 

Yes, you've gotten a lot more confident after you started working on the book. You deserve the credit though.

Indeed he does. I find that S. membranifera are the most common around here.

[FSTP]

Pics or it didn't happen, lol. 

[NickAnter]

I think I am one of the only ones to find a Strumigenys queen here in California. She sadly disappeared, as i could not find ehr anywhere in the test tube the second day after I found her in the pool on a warm July evening.

[MegaMyrmex]

I have no idea how to add pics on here so can't do that. Not sure on species either. I think it'd be best to buy a springtail culture or keep them somewhere where springtails/other microfauna can thrive as well. Also, the whole setup is relatively dry and is a bit moist in some places, but there are lots of newly hatched isopods. I'd like to remove them so I can observe them better but they seem to be doing well in the setup I have them in so far so I'll leave them there until I obtain a springtail colony soon.

[OhNoNotAgain]

I have no idea how to add pics on here so can't do that. Not sure on species either. I think it'd be best to buy a springtail culture or keep them somewhere where springtails/other microfauna can thrive as well. Also, the whole setup is relatively dry and is a bit moist in some places, but there are lots of newly hatched isopods. I'd like to remove them so I can observe them better but they seem to be doing well in the setup I have them in so far so I'll leave them there until I obtain a springtail colony soon.

You can easily attach pics but you need to click on "More Reply Options" to get to the full editor.

[ForestDragon]

i have no idea how to find these guys, i don't have a lot of woodland area tho, unless i tresspass on the neighbors property... id get shot

[RushmoreAnts]

I have no idea how to add pics on here so can't do that.

Make an account on imgur.com and upload your photos from your device. Pull up two tabs on your search engine and have imgur in one tab and formiculture in the other. Drag your image from the imgur tab to Formiculture and into the reply box.

[Ants_Dakota]

You don't actually need to make an account on imgur. Just follow what ohnonotagain said. And also, sorry about the matching verses. I didn't know that someone else had it too. I can change it, if you want.

[MegaMyrmex]

Ok so the colony decided to disappear somewhere within the wood chunks so I’d prefer to leave them alone for now. I know that they’re still alive because I still find workers foraging, hopefully they’ll increase in numbers eventually.

[ponerinecat]

I think I am one of the only ones to find a Strumigenys queen here in California. She sadly disappeared, as i could not find ehr anywhere in the test tube the second day after I found her in the pool on a warm July evening.

What sp. I'm going there sometime.