29 replies to this topic

[AnthonyP163]

5/12/20

 

I have a colony of Pheidole bicarinata from western Wisconsin. The colony has over 50 minors and ~7 majors now, and the queen has just laid enough eggs to make the batch bigger than herself. I have them in a mini hearth, which they will definitely grow into by the end of this summer.

 

Here's a picture of them cutting up a cricket leg 1cm from their nest entrance. 

 

 

The majors have gasters full of sunburst

[CheetoLord02]

That colony is sweet! I currently have a tiny P. bicarinata colony myself (about 20 workers +1 major) but they won't be small for long, they currently have roughly 4 or 5 pupae for every worker! Basically, you're totally correct that that mini hearth will be full by the end of summer.

[ANTdrew]

Really cool colony. Any tips for finding these queens? Pheidole is my white whale for 2020.

[Antkid12]

Really cool colony. Any tips for finding these queens? Pheidole is my white whale for 2020.

same.

[RushmoreAnts]

Pheidole is my white whale for 2020.

Mine too. Ants4fun claims to have seen them a few miles from here in an area I don't really get around to that much, and is going to try to find queens this year, but who knows. I might just find them myself (but doubtful  ).

 

And Anthony- amazing colony by the way.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

How did you get those? I might like to get my hands on some this summer.

[AnthonyP163]

How did you get those? I might like to get my hands on some this summer.

A keeper in western WI told me he was giving away a Pheidole colony, and I gladly took it. He said they flew in late June and July. 

 

Really cool colony. Any tips for finding these queens? Pheidole is my white whale for 2020.

As mentioned above, the colony was given to me. I am going to try to find some queens out west this summer.

 

Florida anters seem to have been getting Pheidole bicarinata for a few weeks now, I am guessing they would be flying within the next few weeks in Virginia. Anyway, good luck!

[RushmoreAnts]

I will be looking. 

[RushmoreAnts]

I wonder if these are polygynous.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I wonder if these are polygynous.

I'm pretty sure they are.

[TennesseeAnts]

I wonder if these are polygynous.

I'm pretty sure they are.

Nope. Never try that. I tried multiple times and the workers always killed the less dominant queen(s).

[RushmoreAnts]

I mean, I like polygynous Pheidole better myself (or any ant, for that matter) but come on- they're still Pheidole. 

[CheetoLord02]

I wonder if these are polygynous.

P. bicarinata are pleometrophic. They will found together but workers will quickly pick a favorite and "dispose" of the others.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

 

 

I wonder if these are polygynous.

I'm pretty sure they are.

Nope. Never try that. I tried multiple times and the workers always killed the less dominant queen(s).

 

Thank you so much for correcting me on that! 

[RushmoreAnts]

Well, at least the queens don't kill each other. That can be lethal to a colony. It's much better if the workers dispose of them.

[Antkid12]

any updates?

[AnthonyP163]

5/24/20

 

The colony is doing very well. They've accepted crickets, almonds and sunburst. I feed them at least 5 crickets or pieces of crickets per week, since they have at least a hundred larvae. The colony has constructed a great wall around the water tower. They aren't living in it, it is purely to obscure my view of them   . I am confident that by mid June this colony will begin to get new workers! 

 

[Kaelwizard]

My neighborhood sounds like a perfect area for them, but I have never seen a colony yet. I think there was a dead queen in a spider web in my garage though.

[RushmoreAnts]

My neighborhood seems like a horrible place for them.

[Antkid12]

My neighborhood also doesn't have Pheidole bicarinata either, only the smallest species of Pheidole. 

Edited by Antkid12, May 25 2020 - 4:09 AM.