60 replies to this topic

[TechAnt]

As the title says, this will be a journal about my (currently) young Campontous Vicinus colony, which I will refer to as CV as typing the whole name is kind-of a pain.

So let me give a run-down to all who have not seen my previous posts I made about them.

They first started off as a Queen I got from Vern which had a big stack of larvae and was missing a leg, which she was not affected by. They later all turned to Pupae and a few have eclosed. Now she has three workers and a few more coming along the way by looking at the dark cocoons in their test tube. This morning I fed them some Organic Honey from TarHeel Ants, the queen drank some, and a worker gourged on it making its gaster have streaks of yellow on it. It essentially made itself a replete, then the third worker hatched after that. Now we stand where I am now, three workers, and a fairly healthy colony.

Photos of them:

Attached Images

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Edited by TechAnt, September 1 2020 - 9:02 AM.

[TechAnt]

Update July 1st, 2020

So the queen laid four new eggs on top of the Pupae, and in response I gave them some chicken. I took out the wax paper that the honey was on. I will update the post when I check on them in a few hours to see if they ate it. Then I will put photos up.

Edit: Photos are here! Earlier it looked like they were feeding a larvae, so that’s a good sign.

Attached Images

• 
• 

Edited by TechAnt, July 1 2020 - 3:33 PM.

[Antkid12]

Nice queen! 

[TechAnt]

Update July 5th, 2020

The colony has been inactive for a while, but soon I will feed them. They have two really dark cocoons that may hatch any day now. They don’t seem to be moving around a lot, they are all huddled together in the tube. Once the two dark pupae hatch, I will put them in a tube and tubes set-up.

Edit: I just did a 15 minute stand-off between me and a worker at the exit of the test tube, I am TOTALLY giving them an outworld, as that was a pain just to give them some honey.

Edited by TechAnt, July 5 2020 - 10:28 AM.

[TechAnt]

Update July 6th, 2020

I see one of the pupae has a visible worker inside it, it probably will hatch today. Later I will post photos around noon.

[RushmoreAnts]

I love this species. I have a pair myself that has larvae. 

[TechAnt]

They just have had their fourth Worker, and a fifth is on the way by the looks of another pupae. I'm due to feed them today, but I’m not going to describe the pain of test tube feeding again.

Photos:

Attached Images

• 
• 
• 

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

[M_Ants]

Make a nurbs setup. It works great.

[TechAnt]

Make a nurbs setup. It works great.

That’s a good idea, but I was thinking I may use one of my TarHeel set-ups I’m getting today.

[M_Ants]

Oh if you have one of those then use that. I'm too cheap for those right now.

[TechAnt]

These guys just got their fifth worker, which means I may give them a outworld/TarHeel formicaria. Oddly these guys freaked out when I checked up on them again to get photos, any I got were blurry. So I will try again soon to get good photos.

[JenC]

You shouldn't need an outworld till year 2 or 3. I didn't give my vicinus an outworld at all during year 1.

[Kaelwizard]

You shouldn't need an outworld till year 2 or 3. I didn't give my vicinus an outworld at all during year 1.

It’s okay to do it sooner than that if they are hard to feed in the tube. Also, a small outworld is okay for a colony of that age.

[TechAnt]

You shouldn't need an outworld till year 2 or 3. I didn't give my vicinus an outworld at all during year 1.

 

Not for me, as this colony in particular always likes to have workers sitting by the entrance ready to rush out of the Test Tube. 

[ANTdrew]

You shouldn't need an outworld till year 2 or 3. I didn't give my vicinus an outworld at all during year 1.

That sounds like a really stressful year 1 for everyone involved.

[JenC]

Not really, the colony just cuddles and doesnt really do anything when I feed. Now they don't even forage till I'm gone.

You can just twist the cotton until they go away. Eventually they will go back to the queen. 5 workers shouldn't make it hard to feed even if they rush.

Edited by JenC, July 7 2020 - 12:52 PM.

[TechAnt]

Not really, the colony just cuddles and doesnt really do anything when I feed. Now they don't even forage till I'm gone.

You can just twist the cotton until they go away. Eventually they will go back to the queen. 5 workers shouldn't make it hard to feed even if they rush.

I do do that, but it gives me like a 30 second window to feed and clean their test tube until the worker comes back with more workers to try and check it out again..

[RushmoreAnts]

My Formica don't try to rush out of their tube at all when I feed them. Heck, I could leave them on a table while I left the room and got food for them and they'd all be in there when I got back.

[TechAnt]

Update July 9th, 2020

So, I found these guys in a little huddle on the brood, they seemed snug. Unfortunately, when I got my phone to snap photos. Once again, the colony freaked out and it was a blurry mess. So no photos.. I promise next update though I will get some good photos.

[TechAnt]

Update July 10th, 2020

Heyyyy, photos are here! Nothing to report besides I accidentally had a pupae fall out of the tube when test tube feeding. Luckily I got it back in the tube safely.

Attached Images

• 
• 
• 
•