18 replies to this topic

[FSTP]

I saw one of my Camponotus fragilis majors just resting on the food bridge so I thought I'd see if I could get a picture of her. The picture was taken at maximum zoom on my iPhone so that's why its not the best looking, but you can see the ant. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was thinking we could use this thread to share pictures of other pictures of our Majors. So if you have any pics of your majors post them I'm sure we'd all enjoy seeing them. 

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

I have no majors, but I have medians...

[FSTP]

Of what species ?

[Nare]

 

No macro lens here either, I find unfortunately THA formicaria are too deep for the macro to focus. Fortunately with more light, pictures with just a phone camera can turn out alright. These are a few pics of some of the majors in my colony, I think a couple of them are laying eggs.

 

I think this is my only species w/ majors, Formica can get some really big workers, same with Pogonomyrmex but I don't have any of those yet. Might update when I get some.

[FSTP]

Wow that one major looks stuffed with eggs!

[RushmoreAnts]

According to his journal, she apparently is.

[Nare]

AntsDakota, on 09 Apr 2020 - 6:58 PM, said:

According to his journal, she apparently is.

Haven't actually seen her lay, but there's tons of brood all about the nest, so I assume it's her, or one of the other fat majors.

[FSTP]

Have any of those egges eclosed? are they maturing into drones?

[Canadant]

Nare, on 09 Apr 2020 - 5:39 PM, said:

No macro lens here either, I find unfortunately THA formicaria are too deep for the macro to focus. Fortunately with more light, pictures with just a phone camera can turn out alright. These are a few pics of some of the majors in my colony, I think a couple of them are laying eggs.

I think this is my only species w/ majors, Formica can get some really big workers, same with Pogonomyrmex but I don't have any of those yet. Might update when I get some.

Those are with a phone? Which one? They're great.

[Nare]

Canadant, on 09 Apr 2020 - 11:16 PM, said:

 

Nare, on 09 Apr 2020 - 5:39 PM, said:

No macro lens here either, I find unfortunately THA formicaria are too deep for the macro to focus. Fortunately with more light, pictures with just a phone camera can turn out alright. These are a few pics of some of the majors in my colony, I think a couple of them are laying eggs.

I think this is my only species w/ majors, Formica can get some really big workers, same with Pogonomyrmex but I don't have any of those yet. Might update when I get some.

Those are with a phone? Which one? They're great.

 

Thanks! It's a Samsung Galaxy S9. It helps that they're in a nest with museum glass, so there's little to no glare. I'm also shining a flashlight on them, which really helps the photos come out nice and crisp. The other trick with a phone is to try and avoid zooming on the phone, as that reduces the resolution of the image. I've heard it's best to crop afterwards if you want to focus on something in particular.

FSTP, on 09 Apr 2020 - 11:02 PM, said:

Have any of those egges eclosed? are they maturing into drones?

No drones yet, but there are some pretty big larvae already... I think they'll be hungry for protein, so I should probably give them a roach or something. 

[OhNoNotAgain]

 

I posted a pic of one of my C. fragilis majors in my journal. Here she is, coming out to help process dead black fly.

 

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, April 9 2020 - 6:20 PM.

[FSTP]

that's pretty cool. I like the fragilis majors they have a nice dark head that makes them easy to spot from afar. 

[OhNoNotAgain]

It was interesting, too, how timid they are when newly eclosed. The major above only started coming out at age 4 months or so (?) - at least I think that's the one. When she was younger she was super timid. Unfortunately they are kind of hard to see right now in the Fortress. (Fallen Fortress seems to have better visibility for me.)

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, April 10 2020 - 5:06 PM.

[anttics]

Camponotus and formica Majors do not lay eggs. Only the queen. Those fat majors in the picture. Are use to store water, protein, or nectar.

[RushmoreAnts]

anttics, on 11 Apr 2020 - 1:32 PM, said:

Camponotus and formica Majors do not lay eggs. Only the queen. Those fat majors in the picture. Are use to store water, protein, or nectar.

On the contrary. In most species, if the queen dies, workers may lay unfertilized male eggs in a desperate attempt to pass on their genes.

[FSTP]

OhNoNotAgain, on 11 Apr 2020 - 01:05 AM, said:

It was interesting, too, how timid they are when newly eclosed. The major above only started coming out at age 4 months or so (?) - at least I think that's the one. When she was younger she was super timid. Unfortunately they are kind of hard to see right now in the Fortress. (Fallen Fortress seems to have better visibility for me.)

 

Yeah I've noticed that too. The majors are soo shy and timid. Even when they do decide to come out when there is food around they only do it when there are tons of other minor workers. Even then they don't seem to want to do much. One would think that with them being larger and stronger with that huge head that they would be more bold but they don't seem to be. 

[OhNoNotAgain]

FSTP, on 11 Apr 2020 - 4:12 PM, said:

 

OhNoNotAgain, on 11 Apr 2020 - 01:05 AM, said:

It was interesting, too, how timid they are when newly eclosed. The major above only started coming out at age 4 months or so (?) - at least I think that's the one. When she was younger she was super timid. Unfortunately they are kind of hard to see right now in the Fortress. (Fallen Fortress seems to have better visibility for me.)

 

Yeah I've noticed that too. The majors are soo shy and timid. Even when they do decide to come out when there is food around they only do it when there are tons of other minor workers. Even then they don't seem to want to do much. One would think that with them being larger and stronger with that huge head that they would be more bold but they don't seem to be. 

 

 

I guess they represent such a huge investment of resources they "save themselves up" for when they are really needed? I think someone said something about older colonies with many majors becoming pretty aggressive.... It's just interesting to watch colonies change as they grow.

[FSTP]

Yeah maybe as the colony gets larger they will be more agressive. My colony is getting big though. They're right around 1000 induviduals. 

 

I'm still waiting to see other members majors 

[anttics]

Once they reach 1000s. Fragilis majors will cone out. To forage, help pull food. And 2 or 3 majors guard every entrance to the nest. The majority of major will always be in the nest storing food.