23 replies to this topic

[Kaelwizard]

I caught this queen earlier this month. I believe she is one of the several species that fall under the rudis complex. She surprised me by laying eggs. I currently have her in a small tupperware with dirt and a rock, which she dug her claustral chamber under. She has gotten more fat today and it looks like the egg pile has grown compared to earlier this week, so I hope that means she will lay more. It will be interesting to see how fast they develop compared to my Tetramorium colony, who I haven’t made a journal on. I hope that she succeeds because there are not a lot of journals on Aphaenogaster.

Edited by Kaelwizard, August 27 2020 - 6:27 AM.

[KitsAntVa]

Cool! I have a aphaengaster llemdians I didn’t spell that right but it took forever for her to get larvae and pupae she just got pupae a week ago and their mature colony’s are 100 workers so they grow slow I’ve had her since the beginning of anting year.

[CheetoLord02]

Cool! I have a aphaengaster llemdians I didn’t spell that right but it took forever for her to get larvae and pupae she just got pupae a week ago and their mature colony’s are 100 workers so they grow slow I’ve had her since the beginning of anting year.

Aphaenogaster lamellidens grow at a similar rate to most Aphaenogaster, which granted isn't all that fast. Also, their maximum colony size is somewhere between 600-1000 workers, not 100. Either way, most Aphaenogaster can grow at least relatively quickly if they are fed a proper diet and kept at a good temperature.

[Kaelwizard]

Cool! I have a aphaengaster llemdians I didn’t spell that right but it took forever for her to get larvae and pupae she just got pupae a week ago and their mature colony’s are 100 workers so they grow slow I’ve had her since the beginning of anting year.

Aphaenogaster lamellidens grow at a similar rate to most Aphaenogaster, which granted isn't all that fast. Also, their maximum colony size is somewhere between 600-1000 workers, not 100. Either way, most Aphaenogaster can grow at least relatively quickly if they are fed a proper diet and kept at a good temperature.

What should they be fed?

[Antkid12]

Nice do you have any pictures?

[CheetoLord02]

 

 

Cool! I have a aphaengaster llemdians I didn’t spell that right but it took forever for her to get larvae and pupae she just got pupae a week ago and their mature colony’s are 100 workers so they grow slow I’ve had her since the beginning of anting year.

Aphaenogaster lamellidens grow at a similar rate to most Aphaenogaster, which granted isn't all that fast. Also, their maximum colony size is somewhere between 600-1000 workers, not 100. Either way, most Aphaenogaster can grow at least relatively quickly if they are fed a proper diet and kept at a good temperature.

What should they be fed?

 

Aphaenogaster in general have a pretty unique diet due to the fact that they lack social stomachs. Because of this, they tend to refuse liquid sugars in favor for solid carbohydrates. I normally offer these in the form of crushed nuts, such as peanuts, cashews, pecans, almonds, etc.

Another note is that I typically feed these ants more protein than other ants, proportionally at least. In the wild Aphaenogaster function primarily as solitary hunters, with a granivorous diet coming as sort of a secondary niche most of the time. Personally I find that my Aphaenogaster's favorite food of all time is termites, although those are definitely difficult to supply consistently. Most feeder insects are readily accepted though. Another thing is when I prekill prey, I like to cut them into smaller pieces than with other colonies, as they have to take the food back into the nest.

[Kaelwizard]

Thank you Cheeto.

Nice do you have any pictures?

I can’t get my camera to properly focus on her (at least while she is in her chamber), so not right now. Maybe I can get a phone picture but it won’t be as good.

[Kaelwizard]

[AleeGuy]

I caught aphaenogaster tennesseensis(according to ID request) and I don't know what to do to her

[CheetoLord02]

I caught aphaenogaster tennesseensis(according to ID request) and I don't know what to do to her

Apologies in advance for hijacking the thread;

A. tennesseensis are arguably the easiest parasite you'll deal with. For the introduction I did, I basically just threw the queen into a test tube with ~20 A. rudis workers and some brood, and the queen got accepted almost instantly. I'm not sure if this is consistent, but it definitely worked for me. Once the queen gets accepted, basically just treat them like a normal Aphaenogaster colony. Also keep in mind that 20 hosts is essentially a minimum, and more is always better. A. rudis, picea, and fulva are all suitable hosts.

[AleeGuy]

I caught aphaenogaster tennesseensis(according to ID request) and I don't know what to do to her

Apologies in advance for hijacking the thread;

A. tennesseensis are arguably the easiest parasite you'll deal with. For the introduction I did, I basically just threw the queen into a test tube with ~20 A. rudis workers and some brood, and the queen got accepted almost instantly. I'm not sure if this is consistent, but it definitely worked for me. Once the queen gets accepted, basically just treat them like a normal Aphaenogaster colony. Also keep in mind that 20 hosts is essentially a minimum, and more is always better. A. rudis, picea, and fulva are all suitable hosts.

But I'm new ant keeper and I don't have that host ant species( So what should I do?

Edited by AleeGuy, August 31 2020 - 8:49 AM.

[CheetoLord02]

 

 

I caught aphaenogaster tennesseensis(according to ID request) and I don't know what to do to her

Apologies in advance for hijacking the thread;

A. tennesseensis are arguably the easiest parasite you'll deal with. For the introduction I did, I basically just threw the queen into a test tube with ~20 A. rudis workers and some brood, and the queen got accepted almost instantly. I'm not sure if this is consistent, but it definitely worked for me. Once the queen gets accepted, basically just treat them like a normal Aphaenogaster colony. Also keep in mind that 20 hosts is essentially a minimum, and more is always better. A. rudis, picea, and fulva are all suitable hosts.

But I'm new ant keeper and I don't have that host ant species( So what should I do?

 

collect some from a wild colony

[AleeGuy]

I caught aphaenogaster tennesseensis(according to ID request) and I don't know what to do to her

Apologies in advance for hijacking the thread;

A. tennesseensis are arguably the easiest parasite you'll deal with. For the introduction I did, I basically just threw the queen into a test tube with ~20 A. rudis workers and some brood, and the queen got accepted almost instantly. I'm not sure if this is consistent, but it definitely worked for me. Once the queen gets accepted, basically just treat them like a normal Aphaenogaster colony. Also keep in mind that 20 hosts is essentially a minimum, and more is always better. A. rudis, picea, and fulva are all suitable hosts.

But I'm new ant keeper and I don't have that host ant species( So what should I do?

collect some from a wild colony

I only saw aphaenogaster workers few times, I will go outside after rain(that is going on right now) and try to take as much aphaenogaster workers as possible and maybe brood if I find(most likely not).

[Kaelwizard]

Flipping over rocks is a good way to find colonies. I am so jealous of you guys! I want that species so badly!

[Antkid12]

 

 

 

 

I caught aphaenogaster tennesseensis(according to ID request) and I don't know what to do to her

Apologies in advance for hijacking the thread;

A. tennesseensis are arguably the easiest parasite you'll deal with. For the introduction I did, I basically just threw the queen into a test tube with ~20 A. rudis workers and some brood, and the queen got accepted almost instantly. I'm not sure if this is consistent, but it definitely worked for me. Once the queen gets accepted, basically just treat them like a normal Aphaenogaster colony. Also keep in mind that 20 hosts is essentially a minimum, and more is always better. A. rudis, picea, and fulva are all suitable hosts.

But I'm new ant keeper and I don't have that host ant species( So what should I do?

collect some from a wild colony

I only saw aphaenogaster workers few times, I will go outside after rain(that is going on right now) and try to take as much aphaenogaster workers as possible and maybe brood if I find(most likely not).

 

Go to some forest. You will most likely see aphaenogaster.

[AleeGuy]

‎

Edited by AleeGuy, September 2 2020 - 7:48 AM.

[Kaelwizard]

Can you please move this to a different thread? Your kinda hijacking my journal. But to answer your question, I don’t think only 5 will work.

[Ants_Dakota]

I have aphaenogaster rudis as well. They lay HUGE amounts of eggs before stopping for a while. You need to feed then lots of protein. I mean lots. 

[Kaelwizard]

I have aphaenogaster rudis as well. They lay HUGE amounts of eggs before stopping for a while. You need to feed then lots of protein. I mean lots.

Yeah, from what I have read and from what Cheeto has said, they mostly forage for insects rather than other food items.

[ponerinecat]

 

 

 

Cool! I have a aphaengaster llemdians I didn’t spell that right but it took forever for her to get larvae and pupae she just got pupae a week ago and their mature colony’s are 100 workers so they grow slow I’ve had her since the beginning of anting year.

Aphaenogaster lamellidens grow at a similar rate to most Aphaenogaster, which granted isn't all that fast. Also, their maximum colony size is somewhere between 600-1000 workers, not 100. Either way, most Aphaenogaster can grow at least relatively quickly if they are fed a proper diet and kept at a good temperature.

What should they be fed?

 

Aphaenogaster in general have a pretty unique diet due to the fact that they lack social stomachs. Because of this, they tend to refuse liquid sugars in favor for solid carbohydrates. I normally offer these in the form of crushed nuts, such as peanuts, cashews, pecans, almonds, etc.

Another note is that I typically feed these ants more protein than other ants, proportionally at least. In the wild Aphaenogaster function primarily as solitary hunters, with a granivorous diet coming as sort of a secondary niche most of the time. Personally I find that my Aphaenogaster's favorite food of all time is termites, although those are definitely difficult to supply consistently. Most feeder insects are readily accepted though. Another thing is when I prekill prey, I like to cut them into smaller pieces than with other colonies, as they have to take the food back into the nest.

 

I've had an occidentalis colony double in size in a few months by feeding exclusively on springtails. Overload them with insect prey.