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Broncos's Pheidole Californica

Started By Broncos , Apr 27 2020 7:59 AM
pheidole big headed ant

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19 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Broncos - Posted April 27 2020 - 7:59 AM

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2 weeks ago I received a Pheidole Californica from Vern with 100 workers and about 5-7 queens. They are being housed in a mini hearth and are doing great!


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Currently Keeping:

Pogonomyrmex Californicus Bicolor & Concolor

Pogonomyrmex Subnitidius

Camponotus Sansabeanus

Youtube:https://www.youtube....-ants-tutorials

#2 Offline MsTesaAnt - Posted April 27 2020 - 5:20 PM

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I would love to see a picture!


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#3 Offline Broncos - Posted May 26 2020 - 9:46 AM

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When they came in a test tube, they had no brood and 5 queens. I am not a fan of paying for 7 queens when there were only 5. There is a pretty large difference. Yes I checked the dead pile.

 

But everything aside, they are doing very well. Obviously because they came with no brood it looks like way more have been dying, which is true. About 30 ants have died but they are making a huge comeback because the queens have been producing a lot and most of the first batch of eggs that they laid have woken up from their pupae leaving them back at around 120 workers.

 

Also I found a pet store called Super Pets in Orange and they sell crickets for 5 cents. Quite the bargain. Especially because I've been buying them for 17 cents at PetSmart. So I have been able to feed my ants more, and not have to make sure I don't run out of feeder insects.

 

Watching these guys eat is so cool because they are so strong. That is... for being that small. They only need a few ants to carry a crushed cricket into the nesting part of the Mini Hearth.


  • TennesseeAnts and Pumpkin_Loves_Ants like this

Currently Keeping:

Pogonomyrmex Californicus Bicolor & Concolor

Pogonomyrmex Subnitidius

Camponotus Sansabeanus

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#4 Offline Broncos - Posted May 26 2020 - 11:02 AM

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1e146c9e2f789b1fdece3a3fb75a5f0c.jpg
bdfa5015fd5afc05e3e9afa708fda242.jpg
This was the best photo I could get of the brood pile.
  • TennesseeAnts likes this

Currently Keeping:

Pogonomyrmex Californicus Bicolor & Concolor

Pogonomyrmex Subnitidius

Camponotus Sansabeanus

Youtube:https://www.youtube....-ants-tutorials

#5 Offline Broncos - Posted June 14 2020 - 9:50 AM

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So this colony has stopped decreasing in numbers and started gaining workers faster than they die which is good. Still at around 100 workers and 5 queens863fda1eeba9ad014f69a47b3271357c.jpg
e893fd3c9b7b7c501a32b6f5c43891ab.jpg

Edited by Broncos, June 14 2020 - 10:29 AM.

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Currently Keeping:

Pogonomyrmex Californicus Bicolor & Concolor

Pogonomyrmex Subnitidius

Camponotus Sansabeanus

Youtube:https://www.youtube....-ants-tutorials

#6 Offline Broncos - Posted June 29 2020 - 4:03 PM

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This colony has had the biggest population spike I've ever seen. All of the brood you saw in the last photo has eclosed so this colony is around 200 workers.


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Currently Keeping:

Pogonomyrmex Californicus Bicolor & Concolor

Pogonomyrmex Subnitidius

Camponotus Sansabeanus

Youtube:https://www.youtube....-ants-tutorials

#7 Offline Broncos - Posted July 28 2020 - 9:52 PM

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This population spike was 3x bigger than the last. At least 1k workers now and they outgrew an xl mini hearth so they are now in a 12 inch dirt nest. And they have tons of alates too!


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Currently Keeping:

Pogonomyrmex Californicus Bicolor & Concolor

Pogonomyrmex Subnitidius

Camponotus Sansabeanus

Youtube:https://www.youtube....-ants-tutorials

#8 Offline TechAnt - Posted July 28 2020 - 10:40 PM

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Hey Broncos, wanted to ask if you know where these girls max out in workers.
My Ants:
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen

#9 Offline Antkid12 - Posted July 29 2020 - 4:41 AM

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Nice!


Ants I have: Tapinoma sessile(2 queen colony). RED MORPH Camponotus neacticus(now has pupae!), Tetramorium immigrans (x3), Aphaenogaster sp, Temnothorax sp, Brachymyrmex sp.   possibly infertile   :(,  Ponera pennsylvanica, and Pheidole morrisi!  :yahoo: 

 

Other insects: Polistes sp. Queen

                    

Ants I need: Pheidole sp., Trachymyrmex sp., Crematogaster cerasi , Dorymyrmex sp. Most wanted: Pheidole morrisii

 

                    

                   

 

 

#10 Offline Broncos - Posted August 4 2020 - 3:53 PM

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Hey Broncos, wanted to ask if you know where these girls max out in workers.

I would say probably around 10k workers. 


Currently Keeping:

Pogonomyrmex Californicus Bicolor & Concolor

Pogonomyrmex Subnitidius

Camponotus Sansabeanus

Youtube:https://www.youtube....-ants-tutorials

#11 Offline Broncos - Posted August 19 2020 - 11:57 AM

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Still more than 1k workers. I've seen lots of alates come up every day and I keep trying to get them to fly but they just won't.


Currently Keeping:

Pogonomyrmex Californicus Bicolor & Concolor

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Camponotus Sansabeanus

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#12 Offline TechAnt - Posted August 19 2020 - 12:05 PM

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Oh also quick question, what seeds do you like to feed them?

I feed mine Flax, black caraway, chia, and yellow mustard seeds.


Edited by TechAnt, August 19 2020 - 12:05 PM.

My Ants:
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen

#13 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted August 19 2020 - 7:30 PM

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Hey Broncos, wanted to ask if you know where these girls max out in workers.

I would say probably around 10k workers.

More likely around 2k, if they're anything like Ph. bicarinata.

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#14 Offline Broncos - Posted August 19 2020 - 7:32 PM

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Oh also quick question, what seeds do you like to feed them?
I feed mine Flax, black caraway, chia, and yellow mustard seeds.

I don’t have many seeds at the moment but I feed them Kentucky bluegrass seeds. But when I get more I’ll feed them a large variety


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Currently Keeping:

Pogonomyrmex Californicus Bicolor & Concolor

Pogonomyrmex Subnitidius

Camponotus Sansabeanus

Youtube:https://www.youtube....-ants-tutorials

#15 Offline Broncos - Posted September 25 2020 - 4:45 PM

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Steady growth population but there is much less brood because (I think) summer is ending.


Currently Keeping:

Pogonomyrmex Californicus Bicolor & Concolor

Pogonomyrmex Subnitidius

Camponotus Sansabeanus

Youtube:https://www.youtube....-ants-tutorials

#16 Offline Broncos - Posted February 5 2021 - 10:11 AM

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This colony had the biggest dyout I've ever seen. They all died in 2 days. They had access to water and food. They just died. I enjoyed watching this colony.  :(


Currently Keeping:

Pogonomyrmex Californicus Bicolor & Concolor

Pogonomyrmex Subnitidius

Camponotus Sansabeanus

Youtube:https://www.youtube....-ants-tutorials

#17 Offline TechAnt - Posted February 5 2021 - 10:51 AM

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This colony had the biggest dyout I've ever seen. They all died in 2 days. They had access to water and food. They just died. I enjoyed watching this colony.  :(

RIP, about the same happened to me, I still have a few workers/majors and a queen left though.


My Ants:
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen

#18 Offline Broncos - Posted February 9 2021 - 12:02 PM

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This colony had the biggest dyout I've ever seen. They all died in 2 days. They had access to water and food. They just died. I enjoyed watching this colony.  :(

RIP, about the same happened to me, I still have a few workers/majors and a queen left though.

 

Aw dang.


Currently Keeping:

Pogonomyrmex Californicus Bicolor & Concolor

Pogonomyrmex Subnitidius

Camponotus Sansabeanus

Youtube:https://www.youtube....-ants-tutorials

#19 Offline NickAnter - Posted February 9 2021 - 12:12 PM

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I believe it is quite possible these queens have very short lifespans. I think Drew caught one of these, and had the same experience. Many small Myrmecine ants are this way, sadly.


  • Pumpkin_Loves_Ants likes this

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). 

#20 Offline Broncos - Posted February 10 2021 - 10:40 AM

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I believe it is quite possible these queens have very short lifespans. I think Drew caught one of these, and had the same experience. Many small Myrmecine ants are this way, sadly.

Oh that makes sense.


Currently Keeping:

Pogonomyrmex Californicus Bicolor & Concolor

Pogonomyrmex Subnitidius

Camponotus Sansabeanus

Youtube:https://www.youtube....-ants-tutorials

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