73 replies to this topic

[RushmoreAnts]

Actually just found out the Pogonomyrmex queen laid around five eggs. Myrmica eggs are hatching into small larvae.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

yikes, the golden death is back? Sounds like a serious yikes from me...

[RushmoreAnts]

yikes, the golden death is back? Sounds like a serious yikes from me...

It was an isolated incident. None of the other colonies have shown symptoms, and I plan to keep it that way.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

gud

[Ants_Dakota]

wow. I had no idea lasius brevicornis was so coveted! I might need to keep one of my queens for myself!

[RushmoreAnts]

UPDATE #0007 

Thursday, May 14th, 2020

 

 

Lasius brevicornis
First appearance on Update #0005
 

 

Getting a dealate queen from Ants_Dakota. Her two nestmates will be given to Ants4fun. Here's a picture he took of them:

 

 

 

Myrmica sp.

First appearance on Update #0005

 

Their giant egg pile of over 100 (could even be as many as 200) has been hatching into small larvae. A distinct color difference can be seen between the eggs and larvae, as the larvae are slightly paler and a bit larger than the eggs. I didn't manage to get a photo of the larvae, but I got this picture of the egg pile when it was still mostly eggs:

 

You can see a couple queens in the picture, if you look closely enough.

 

 

Lasius aphidicola

First appearance on Update #0005

 

Nothing new with the colony, however I plan to collect a couple hundred more hosts from a mature colony. I ordered a THA Inception Chamber to support the larger colony. Anyways, I was able to get a clearer picture of the queen:

 

 

 

Ponera pennsylvanica/Hypoponera opacior

First appearance on Update #0005

 

Might be getting a colony from Ants_Dakota. It has two queens, and a dozen or so workers. If Ants4fun finds another, I may trade for it and attempt to merge them. Here's Ants_Dakota's colony:

 

 

 

 

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

First appearance on Update #0005

 

Nothing new. Just noticed a little egg pile. They also seem to like pumpkin seeds:

 

 

Aphaenogaster picea

First appearance on Update #0006

 

The colony's been doing well. The largest larvae look almost ready to pupate. The workers are also very active in their outworld.

 

 

 

Here's them doing their thing in their outworld:

 

 

 

 

Formica subsericea

First appearance on Update #0006

 

Fed these, and the queen laid again, after the colony ate their eggs. Also gave them an outworld.

[RushmoreAnts]

Mini Update #0007A

 

Aphaenogaster picea

 

I did not realize how much brood this colony had until looking in this morning! The whole floor is literally covered with eggs and small larvae! However, that knowledge came at a price......... it turns out half the workerforce decided to up and leave the nest and head for the outworld, for some reason. That happened yesterday, but it turns out today most of them were dead. Oh well, at least I can see the brood and queen better......... and I know those workers will be more than replaced in a couple weeks. 

 

Here's some of the brood and queen (There's MUCH more than shown in the picture):

 

[Ants_Dakota]

That is sad.

[RushmoreAnts]

Mini Update #0007B

 

Aphaenogaster picea

 

So, it turns out these guys kept on dying. It finally got the point where there were not enough workers to even carry their dead into the outworld. I finally decided to move them into a test tube, as an attempt to save the rest of the colony. Managed to get the queen, around 15 workers, and a few dozen brood:

 

 

[RushmoreAnts]

UPDATE #0008

Friday, May 22nd, 2020

 

Lasius brevicornis

First appearance on Update #0005

Got three queens from Ants_Dakota. I will be keeping one, as the other two will be given to Ants4fun and his colony, which I gave to him. They have 20 or so eggs. I'm also trying an experiment in their test tube- I 'planted' some of my Pogonomyrmex's grass seed in the cotton, hoping that roots will grow into the cotton. They are currently in the top cotton (not the water cotton), which I am keeping moist. As of now, the seeds are beginning to sprout. If grass does grow in their tube, then I would be able to successfully raise root aphids in captivity. 

 

 

 

Myrmica sp.

First Appearance on Update #0005

 

Pretty  much all the eggs are small larvae by now. I really can't see them that well, as to me (and the camera), they're just one big blob of brood. Many of the large larvae look almost ready to pupate:

 

Lasius aphidicola

First appearance on Update #0005

 

I added several hundred more host workers, and moved them into a THA Inception Chamber. However, most of the ants are still in the outworld, as I dumped them from a temporary holding container. I truly am sorry for the poor quality of this photo, as the Inception Chamber's design makes it difficult to take photos with an iPad (I just scrapped the macro lens, as it was big and bulky and getting in the way). I also circled the queen's gaster.

 

 

Managed to get a better one here:

 

 

Ponera pennsylvanica/Hypoponera opacior

First Appearance on Update #0005

 

Finally got this colony from Ants_Dakota. It only has one queen, however, but it may have a couple ergatoids in there as well. I fed them a few fruit flies, which they took readily. I also circled the queen to make her easier to pick out:

 

 

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

First Appearance on Update #0005

 

There are lots of eggs now! I have been vainly trying to get  a picture of the pile, but they are extremely good at hiding it. They also separate it into smaller batches, making counting confusing for me. However, I now know that there are at least 50 or 60 eggs! They also have 15-20 pupae, a few large larvae, and 4 new callows! In this photo I managed to capture a smaller egg pile, along with many of the pupae.

 

 

Aphaenogaster picea

First Appearance on Update #0006

 

Nothing new. They seem to be recuperating in their new test tube.

 

Formica subsericea

First Appearance on Update #0006

 

The colony has around 15 eggs. I am beginning to see workers foraging in their outworld.

 

Edited by AntsDakota, May 22 2020 - 5:38 AM.

[CatsnAnts]

That’s an interesting idea to plant the seed directly into the test tube, would like to see how it turns out.

[ANTdrew]

The issue would be getting the plants enough light without stressing out the subterranean ants. Most grasses need full sun to grow.

[RushmoreAnts]

The issue would be getting the plants enough light without stressing out the subterranean ants. Most grasses need full sun to grow.

The grass would grow out of the cotton, and into open air, so I could cover the test tube, and still give the grass ample lighting.

[Ants_Dakota]

And put root aphids for the ants to eat. I think it is an awesome idea, and will be trying it myself.

[ANTdrew]

The light inside a house may still be too low. Full sun plants need at least six hours of direct sunlight to thrive. Sorry, just playing devil’s advocate.

[RushmoreAnts]

The light inside a house may still be too low. Full sun plants need at least six hours of direct sunlight to thrive. Sorry, just playing devil’s advocate.

I’d have it by a window sill.

[Ants_Dakota]

The light inside a house may still be too low. Full sun plants need at least six hours of direct sunlight to thrive. Sorry, just playing devil’s advocate.

Questioning people will make better products

[Ants4fun]

Usually when I have large die-offs it’s due to lack of humidity. Aephenogaster especially need moisture constantly. They also don’t have social stomached, so they can’t transport water to their nest mates. They need constant water at all times. I usually include a test tube attached to their nest for that purpose. A couple days without constant hydration can be disastrous.

[RushmoreAnts]

Usually when I have large die-offs it’s due to lack of humidity. Aephenogaster especially need moisture constantly. They also don’t have social stomached, so they can’t transport water to their nest mates. They need constant water at all times. I usually include a test tube attached to their nest for that purpose. A couple days without constant hydration can be disastrous.

That was probably it. They’ll probably bounce right back in the test tube.

[RushmoreAnts]

UPDATE # 0009

Friday, May 29th, 2020

 

Myrmica sp.

First Appearance on Update #0005

 

Several hundred eggs and small larvae. However, I am not heating them, so they're developing SUPER slowly.

 

This is their version of a tiny egg pile.

 

And this is their main pile.

 

Lasius aphidicola

First Appearance on Update #0005

 

So, it turns out the neoniger workers began attacking the queen. I figured the queen could hold her own and eventually gain the workers' trust again, yet she failed after a day or two. Subsequently, I captured some Lasius americanus workers and stuck them in with her. They bit her for a few minutes, yet then they surrounded her and groomed her like she was their own queen. I'm expecting eggs any time now.

 

 

Ponera pennsylvanica

First Appeareance on Update #0005

 

Found a couple more queens and introduced them. They're all getting along great! Also fed them a mealworm a day or so before the introduction, which they seemed to like. Still no eggs.

 

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

First Appearance on Update #0005

 

These guys are thriving. They've eaten a lot of mealworms (besides their regular seeds). Eggs have hatched, lots of pupae are eclosing, and everything else in between is growing at a good pace. I also find it interesting that queen still tends to the brood every once and while. Probably typical of a semi-claustral queen. 

 

Aphaenogaster picea

First Appearance on Update #0006

 

Nothing new. Fed them a couple sunflower seeds.

 

Formica subsericea

First Appearance on Update #0006

 

Around 20 eggs. Fed them another mealworm and some honey.

 

NEW!!!

Lasius americanus

 

While searching for Lasius americanus workers to act as hosts for my Lasius aphidicola queen (see above),  I must have accidentally grabbed a Lasius americanus queen (didn't realize it until I was sorting through the workers I had collected). I then gave her most of the workers (500 or so) and a couple hundred small larvae. I moved them in to a dirt setup (technically it has sand, but whatever). Recently the queen laid a few dozen eggs!

 

In the picture, the colony was still on the surface, yet has since excavated some tunnels, and has moved underground.

 

NEW!!!

Aphaenogaster rudis

Found a colony of these with a couple hundred workers. They had several dozen larvae between 2nd and 4th instars. I'll edit this post once I get pics.