85 replies to this topic

[Antkeeper014]

On July 23 I ended up catching 7 Pheidole queens after a short afternoon thunderstorm. Since this species is known to fly immediately after short and heavy rainstorms, I left for the pine barren right after the rain stopped. As of parking my bike, there was a queen digging her chamber right on the trail. I couldn’t believe my luck. Soon after, I saw another, then another, and eventually ended up with seven queens. As of making this journal, all have a sizable egg pile.

Since I’m from MA I didn’t think I would ever find Pheidole, This has been my dream species ever since I started keeping, and I can’t wait to have a colony.

Edited by Antkeeper014, November 18 2020 - 8:26 AM.

[CatsnAnts]

I’m so jealous! I have found a few of these queens last year and this year, but none were ever successful. Hopefully you’ll have more success, I’d love to see the majors of this species! Good luck!

[Antkeeper014]

Some pics

Edited by Antkeeper014, August 28 2020 - 6:48 AM.

[Antkid12]

Nice queen! I Pheidole are one of my favorite.

Edited by Antkid12, July 25 2020 - 1:47 PM.

[Antkeeper014]

A little over a week later and they all have a ton of eggs, and I mean a ton


The duo I put together are also showing great signs of cooperation, such as frequent grooming of each other and overall non-aggression towards each other. I doubt they will successfully found a colony and make it to workers without one of the queens being killed, but I have a glimmer of hope. Worst case scenario they are showing behaviors of pleometry when the workers arrive and I separate them

[akaant]

I would separate them when you have a few workers. I had 2 colonies with 2 queens in each of this species. The queens will fight sooner or later after the workers are born. In my case both queens died in both colonies. Maybe try a experiment where the colony is divided so only the workers can pass through a point and have access to both separated queens.  (I'm also from MA)

[Antkeeper014]

I probably will separate them when workers arrive, I know the chances of them cooperating are basically non existent, but since I caught 7 queens I wanted to try it out and see how it went. So far so good

[Antkeeper014]

Update; All the queens are doing great, with a large pile of eggs and some small larvae.



The duo has progressed much faster than the solos, and seem to have a major larvae as of typing this.



Hopefully I can get major nanitics, I can’t wait till the second generation.

Edited by Antkeeper014, November 18 2020 - 8:28 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Great photos.

[Antkeeper014]

Great photos.

Thanks!

[TechAnt]

I love this journal, though I’m still biting my lip every time I come here lol because I’m just hoping you can separate them before they try and fight.

[Antkeeper014]

I love this journal, though I’m still biting my lip every time I come here lol because I’m just hoping you can separate them before they try and fight.

don't worry, I’m keeping a very close eye on them. They have been very chill so far but I’ve heard the workers are more of the problem then the queens fighting.

[Antkeeper014]

Pilifera duo have pupae, and the major larvae looks to be getting ready to pupate.



On another note, a solo founding dark morph has a major larvae, which caught me by surprise when I checked on them yesterday




Sorry for the low quality pics I didn’t have my full light setup yesterday and it looks like Tapatalk compresses the image. Looks pretty grainy

They should have nanitics within the next week

[Antkeeper014]

We have nanitics! I was late posting this, but as of three days ago a solo had one callow(surprisingly beating out the duo), and the rest soon followed after.





One solo seems to be struggling, with only eggs and some larvae. I’m not too worried, as she still is progressing, just at a slower rate.

The duos major larvae has pupated, and will be eclosing the near future

[Antkeeper014]

So far so good, although one queen does not have nanitics yet. The duo has not begun to fight yet, although I’m far from safe.

Photoshoot:






Just gave them all fruit flies, although they were very shy at first they eventually managed to take them in

[Antkid12]

Awesome!

[Antkeeper014]

The duo has been the only one to rear major larvae into pupation, although both times they have eaten it. I’ve been feeding all as much as they take in FFs, and I’m not sure why they are eating them. Very frustrated right now, all other minor brood are developing fine.

[Ants_Dakota]

The duo has been the only one to rear major larvae into pupation, although both times they have eaten it. I’ve been feeding all as much as they take in FFs, and I’m not sure why they are eating them. Very frustrated right now, all other minor brood are developing fine.

I totally get that. I hate when my ants eat their larvae for no reason.

[Antkeeper014]

At least my other colonies are doing quite well, it’s certainly frustrating but not really harming the colony in any way

[Antkeeper014]

Photodump: most of my colonies are starting to get on track with growing. So far I’ve given two colonies to ankrauser, so now I’m down to 4 colonies. The duo is doing better now, with yet another major in development, and tons of eggs.









I have one other light morph that it doing very well, with tons of brood pupating atm. They should be approaching 20 workers after this gen.

Old test tube:


New test tube:




As you can see, now that the second gen is starting to pop up, most of the queens are starting to lay a lot.