35 replies to this topic

[B_rad0806]

4-27-20

A week ago I asked my grandparents out in Apple Valley to see if they can find Veromessor Pergandei. I showed them what to look for and said they should dig up founding chambers with a shovel. A few days later my grandpa says he thinks he found a queen ant. He showed me the picture and they were Pogonomyrmex Rugosus! He also found 3 of them! I had no clue these things flew this early. I don't even know how they found them. He said they are going to ship them out to me. Hopefully they survive the shipment. Also if you guys have any tips on these it would be greatly appreciated. I'm 0-30 on trying to found Pogonomyrmex.

 

Edited by B_rad0806, August 4 2022 - 3:34 PM.

[Broncos]

They only really do WELL in dirt setups. These guys are pretty hard to keep. Also the queens are easily stressed. Even the slightest shaking will make them eat their eggs. But over all they are great ants.

[NickAnter]

I think these are Veromessor andrei. Far too early to be rugosus.

[Broncos]

Hmmm. Now that I look at it closer. That does look like Veromessor andrei

[B_rad0806]

I think these are Veromessor andrei. Far too early to be rugosus.

That’s not Andrei. I have Andrei and they do not look like that. Also I’ve caught a Rugosus Queen in the past, it died really fast though. And the don’t have Andrei in there area

[JenC]

Flights this year have been strange due to climate change. So some species are being seen earlier than usual.

[NickAnter]

Upon closer inspection you appear to be right. I just find it strange they would fly before californicus, who usually fly first.

[TheAntGuy]

Nurbs actually caught some rugosus queens about a week or so before this, so it is confirmed that at least rugosus flights are a bit strange this year. Anyway you've got some nice grandparents brad. I recommend you get those queens into some dirtbox style nests. Put them in a closet or something and don't bother them.

[Broncos]

In my opinion, Veromessor andrei and Rugosus look identical if they have the same color. What made me think it was rugosus was the jaws/mandibles. My rugosus looks the same.

[YsTheAnt]

Rugosus have small flight throughout the year actually, its just they oftentime go unnoticed. The biggest flights occur in summer. I think there's some records of them flying as early as march haha.

[FeedTheAnts]

Why is no one pointing out that you have the coolest grandparents in the world  

[B_rad0806]

Update 5-7-20

These guys arrived about a week ago. One of the 3 died because my grandpa accidentally made it drown. There was little water so he dropped water into it. That ended up killing it. It's fine though, I still have 2 others. I have one in a tube under my bed and one in a dirt box. The one in the dirt box has not dug yet. It still used the tube as it's home. When it gets workers it's probably going to dig. 

[B_rad0806]

Update 7-6-20

I'm pretty sure these are infertile. I only have one left and it has no eggs. They had eggs at one point but I guess it ate them in the time it was in the dark. Hopefully I can find more this summer.

[TechAnt]

Oof. I hope your last one is fertile.

Edited by TechAnt, July 6 2020 - 11:14 AM.

[B_rad0806]

Update 10-6-2

That last queen ended up being a dud and died. This weekend I bought a small colony of these from cocdeshijie with 2 workers and a small pile of brood. Hopefully these don't die like the other ones and I get an actual good colony. 

[Antkeeper014]

I love rugosus! Good luck on the colony

[Antkeeper01]

Why is no one pointing out that you have the coolest grandparents in the world  

mine would just walk a little faser without catching it.

Edited by Antkeeper01, October 6 2020 - 2:40 PM.

[B_rad0806]

Update 10-29-20

These have 4 workers now. The two new ones are larger than the first two nanitics. They still have 3 larvae and are doing good so far.