56 replies to this topic

[NickAnter]

The longest colony kept in captivity to my knowledge is Pogonomyrmex occidentalis for over 30 years. L. niger comes in second with 29 years.

[ANTdrew]

The longest colony kept in captivity to my knowledge is Pogonomyrmex occidentalis for over 30 years. L. niger comes in second with 29 years.

I’d love to read those “biographies” if they’re out there. I’ve seen the factoids in various sources, but I’d love real detail on how these queens lived all those years.

[RushmoreAnts]

Update?  Probably too soon, but it's worth asking.

I’ll try to make one later this afternoon.

[RushmoreAnts]

Update #0002

 

Wednesday, August 26th, 2020

 

 

     This colony had been exploding in population lately! I estimate at least 100 workers. Every time I open up the nest, workers come boiling out in a mad rage. Before they seemed terrified as they rushed out, but now they just look angry. The colony has definitely been behaving much more boldly and aggressively lately. I also fed them two mealworms, and they swarmed them, which they never used to do when I fed them insects. I'm seeing more workers in the outworld, and now they're using both chambers of their Palladium as brood chambers. In a couple months I'll have to move them.   The queen continues to produce brood, and the brood develops quickly, and into large, strong workers. I'm really excited about this colony in the coming season/year!

 

  Pictures do a terrible job of displaying how large the colony actually is/looks (the video even doesn't completely display this), so I just posted a video for this update, and will likely continue to. Anyways, here is the video:

 

Video

 

     Sorry for the poor camerawork, It's hard to get good lighting in a tubes 'n tubes style setup.

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes

 

 

No additional notes for this update.

Edited by AntsDakota, August 26 2020 - 3:51 PM.

[Devi]

Wow!  Thanks for the update! 

[KitsAntVa]

Mine are like that but they are a very small colony only nine workers and when I feed 6 come out looking so angry and threatening

[RushmoreAnts]

Update #0003

 

Sunday, September 13th, 2020

 

 

 

At this point this colony has most certainly passed the 100 worker mark. While I would go into a more lengthy description, I just decided that this time, I'll let you guys see for yourselves in This VIDEO. This video doesn't show it, yet the queen's most recent batch of eggs includes around 50 eggs, half the colony's current population. There's also at least 50 larvae and pupae in the nest currently.

 

(Excuse me moving the nest cover out of the outworld, as I was attempting to brush any workers off so they wouldn't scamper across my table and start exploring my house).

Edited by AntsDakota, September 13 2020 - 2:01 PM.

[Antkid12]

Awesome!

[RushmoreAnts]

Update #0004

 

 

Saturday, September 19th, 2020

 

 

 

     So I decided to move this colony into a THA Station I received a while back, as their Palladium was getting a little bit dirty. The colony would have also outgrown that nest in a month or two anyway, at the very most. I opened up their old nest, and moved the heating mat to their new nest, thus encouraging them to move into the new nest. All the brood was moved out within an hour, as they are extremely punctual when it comes to keeping their brood in the dark. Surprisingly the queen was actually one of the first to enter the new nest, although she is much more independent minded than most other queens I've kept. I also find it fascinating how workers will approach the callows and attempt to pick them up; the callows resist a little, but then curl up like they're pupae again and allow the workers to carry them over their heads to the new nest.   But anyways, moving them has also greatly improved the quality of the footage I take of them, as seen in this video:

 

https://imgur.com/H0e1L6v

 

This video is also the only time I got a good shot of the queen, so PLEASE WATCH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes

 

 

 

No additional notes for this update.

[KitsAntVa]

Update? 

[Ants_Dakota]

yes!

[Antkeeper01]

now?

[Ants_Dakota]

anytime soon.

[Antkeeper01]

has the youtube come out yet

[ANTdrew]

I joined Team Pogonomyrmex yesterday. A colony Spazmops mailed to me arrived safe with a queen, two workers, and one larva.

[KitsAntVa]

yay!

[ANTdrew]

Such cool ants. I really hope I can build up their numbers.

[KitsAntVa]

Always keep these things seeds heat humidity and a tarheelants nest with them and they will explode in population so much that it’s just how they normally grow. Also always have nestmate.
I’d love to see a journal of them.

[ANTdrew]

My micro-colony has settled in to their mini-hearth. I was able to pull out the tubing leading to the foraging area, so they can climb easily. I’ve offered them a wide array of wildflower seeds (dandelion, hemp hearts, Rudbeckia, Penstemon, Oenothera, and Monarda) from my native plant garden and a mealworm piece.
My hope for the colony is still basically z e r o, though, until the queen lays more eggs.

[KitsAntVa]

If you give her seeds and a couple fruit flys expect eggs within the hour.