8 replies to this topic

[attagarrett]

This last weekend I was able to collect some Myrmecocystus placodops queens from an earlier flight and these girls are massive!

I have them setup in a 25mm x 200mm Glass Test Tube, quartz play sand was added as a substrate.

The queens are being kept at 78 degrees and so far no die off. (13 queens collected). 2 weeks since flight 6 days since collection.

 

 

Excited to see how these progress and will post updates!

Edited by attagarrett, January 5 2022 - 3:44 PM.

[MsTesaAnt]

Great photos.  This is an interesting looking ant.  Good luck with your colony.

[ReignofRage]

M. placadops flying in March?

[attagarrett]

A bit of an update, sorry its been so long. All the queens have had their first workers. Here are a few pictures

 

Growth has been exceptional, exceeding M. mexicanus. Most of their first generation exceeded 17 workers, with the highest being 21. 0 die off from the original queens collected.

[JamesJohnson]

Update?

[ReignofRage]

Considering a few research papers and the area you caught these, these are M. placodops-01. They are the largest M. placodops variant by far and only known to be in Texas and possibly stretching a little south into Mexico. Such an amazing find!

[attagarrett]

Long awaited update. 1-5-2022

Colony is now around 150 workers, this picture is from 2 weeks ago and since then around 50 pupae have eclosed. Should hit 1,000 workers by summer.

Edited by attagarrett, January 5 2022 - 4:02 PM.

[NicholasP]

Placodops are an incredible ant species to keep. I remember I caught one last year in June but she died from condensation.

[Jonathan5608]

Update