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Why is Monomorium (minimum in specific) so adorable.

Started By TechAnt , Jul 24 2020 10:38 PM

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17 replies to this topic

#1 Offline TechAnt - Posted July 24 2020 - 10:38 PM

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I was looking on the TarHeel Ants page looking for anything new released (125$ 5 Mini Hearth deal and new Pogomyrmex Occidentalis queens if anybody was wondering). I then saw this little photo of Monomorium Minimum on there, WHY DO I WANT TO CUDDLE EACH WORKER, QUEEN, AND BROOD IN THERE. Send help, can’t stop looking at this photo, strange urge to go anting all over the world to find them.

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Edited by TechAnt, July 24 2020 - 10:39 PM.

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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

#2 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 25 2020 - 3:22 AM

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I know, right!
I’ve come across multiple flights of theirs this July. I’m currently founding a three queen grouping.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#3 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted July 25 2020 - 6:43 AM

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I've been keeping an eye out for these ever since I first found out about them, but haven't seen a single worker, not to mention alates.


"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis

#4 Offline ponerinecat - Posted July 25 2020 - 7:36 AM

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Monomorium are way too common here, and to be frank I feel they're rather dull ants. I can't deny they're fun to watch though. The queens are especially interesting to me.


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#5 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 25 2020 - 7:51 AM

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Monomorium are way too common here, and to be frank I feel they're rather dull ants. I can't deny they're fun to watch though. The queens are especially interesting to me.

Always throwing the shade.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#6 Offline Manitobant - Posted July 25 2020 - 10:01 AM

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Crematogaster are cuter imo
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My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#7 Offline ponerinecat - Posted July 25 2020 - 10:49 AM

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Crematogaster are cuter imo

Most myrmicines fit into what we think of as cute.


#8 Offline NickAnter - Posted July 25 2020 - 12:18 PM

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I'm not a huge fan of them. They are pretty slow moving, and rather dull as ponerinecat said. Formicinae and Ambloponinae are my favorites, not much of a Myrmicine fan, except for Crematogaster and Manica.

 

While they may not be my favorites, they are very fascinating. Here, in argentine territory, the areas they occupy are havens for natives, or less pushy non-natives. The main reason for this is that argentines never dare to mess with them, at least large colonies. Near Santa Barbara, small colonies are frequently harassed by larger argentine colonies.


Edited by NickAnter, July 25 2020 - 12:18 PM.

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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). 

#9 Offline Antkid12 - Posted July 25 2020 - 1:59 PM

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I think they are pretty cute. 


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 Kaelwizard - Posted July 25 2020 - 2:20 PM

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Tiny Myrmicinae are the best.
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#11 Offline FSTP - Posted July 25 2020 - 3:35 PM

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its the gaster shape that makes them adorable. 


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#12 Offline cewtsoul - Posted July 25 2020 - 4:22 PM

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They are fun and can be aggressive in large numbers. i have a colony with 8 queens now...trying to find a nice formicarium for them with outworld at the top and smaller tunnels to closer to their size. Anyone have any ideas?


#13 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted July 25 2020 - 4:27 PM

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Crematogaster are cuter imo

Most myrmicines fit into what we think of as cute.
Tetramorium aren’t that cute, neither are Pogonomyrmex or Solenopsis invicta/geminata, just to name a few. They all look stocky, aggressive, and something you don’t want to mess with, which is true for all of them.
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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis

#14 Offline Vendayn - Posted July 25 2020 - 5:39 PM

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The great thing about Monorium minimum/ergatogyna is they win 99% of their fights against Argentine ants. And their colonies "can" get huge, so they can drop the Argentine ant population a lot in an area. Some areas they even completely drive them out. They don't do much against Solenopsis invicta though, but seen S. invicta bodies piled up around their nests. They always disappear every winter though, no matter what area they are in or how warm winter is. If they were active year round, they'd probably be the #1 best native species in California to fight off Argentine ants.


#15 Offline FSTP - Posted July 25 2020 - 6:00 PM

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Crematogaster are cuter imo

Most myrmicines fit into what we think of as cute.
Tetramorium aren’t that cute, neither are Pogonomyrmex or Solenopsis invicta/geminata, just to name a few. They all look stocky, aggressive, and something you don’t want to mess with, which is true for all of them.

 

I disagree Pogonomyrmex have those huge cute bobble heads.


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#16 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted July 26 2020 - 7:48 AM

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Crematogaster are cuter imo

Most myrmicines fit into what we think of as cute.
Tetramorium aren’t that cute, neither are Pogonomyrmex or Solenopsis invicta/geminata, just to name a few. They all look stocky, aggressive, and something you don’t want to mess with, which is true for all of them.
I disagree Pogonomyrmex have those huge cute bobble heads.
I was thinking the same thing.

#17 Offline OhNoNotAgain - Posted July 28 2020 - 12:56 PM

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The great thing about Monorium minimum/ergatogyna is they win 99% of their fights against Argentine ants. And their colonies "can" get huge, so they can drop the Argentine ant population a lot in an area. Some areas they even completely drive them out. They don't do much against Solenopsis invicta though, but seen S. invicta bodies piled up around their nests. They always disappear every winter though, no matter what area they are in or how warm winter is. If they were active year round, they'd probably be the #1 best native species in California to fight off Argentine ants.

 

So like, a one-two punch of Monomorium for warm months and Prenolepis for cool months would be the best anti-Argentine defense, is this what you're suggesting? lol

 

(Now if only I could attract massive colonies of Prenos and Monos to the yard....)


Edited by OhNoNotAgain, July 28 2020 - 12:57 PM.

Formiculture Journals::

Veromessor pergandei, andrei; Novomessor cockerelli

Camponotus fragilis; also separate journal: Camponotus sansabeanus (inactive), vicinus, laevigatus/quercicola

Liometopum occidentale;  Prenolepis imparis; Myrmecocystus mexicanus (inactive)

Pogonomyrmex subnitidus and californicus (inactive)

Tetramorium sp.

Termites: Zootermopsis angusticollis

 

Isopods: A. gestroi, granulatum, kluugi, maculatum, vulgare; C. murina; P. hoffmannseggi, P. haasi, P. ornatus; V. parvus

Spoods: Phidippus sp.

#18 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted July 28 2020 - 3:03 PM

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To answer the topic's question, I think M. minimum's small size, round, rolly-polly look and their glossy exoskeletons are what make them so cute.  :)


"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis

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