16 replies to this topic

[drtrmiller]

 

 

Above images Copyright © 2013 Nathanael Siders

 

 

Collection

 

 

Like the Pheidole colony I kept last year, I collected this one on May 11, 2015, under a rock.  In this wooded flower bed, there was a Pheidole colony of some sort under every other rock.  Some rocks housed two colonies living inches apart.  In all, I saw about 3-4 different species of Pheidole, a Brachymyrmex, Solenopsis invicta, and two other distinct genera, all flipping rocks on a wooded lot.

 

I did not bring many collecting tools to the collection site, so I basically had a metal spoon, some small containers, and a funnel.  One Pheidole dentata cf. queen and colony was almost collected, but I ended up flinging the queen at my face and losing her in the grass due to the gnats and mosquitos that were swarming around me.

 

I ran into luck with one of several Pheidole tysoni colonies that I found under these rocks.  Only one colony had a queen visible, clinging to the rock as I flipped it—most others dispersed underground upon my intrusion.  I managed to collect the queen, several hundred workers, and a large number of brood.

 

Known facts

 

 

Very little about this species is documented online.  Some speculate that they are mostly a subterranean species, feeding on subterranean homopterans such as aphids and mealybugs.  These are small ants, with 2 mm long workers, 4 mm majors, and the queen at about 6 mm (the queen is easily confused with the majors).

 

Unique behavioral observations

 

 

Movement

 

One thing that quickly impressed me about them, was the organization of movement.  Upon flipping the rocks, many species would scatter in random directions—not so with P. tysoni.  Instead, they moved in chains, following the leader.  If I were to tilt the rock in a different direction, and the leader changed to that direction, the chain would follow.  In this manner, they reminded me of a timelapse of a slime mold.

 

Going further, upon moving these ants into a byFormica GroTube XL formicarium by dumping them and their brood, which had inhabited a sorghum seed pod during transport, into the foraging area, they instantly began moving the brood into the nest portion of the formicarium.  In stark contrast, most ants will take a significant amount of time to determine a suitable emergency nest location, organize, and move in.  These ants managed to relocate their entire colony of several hundred workers and brood within 2-3 minutes of introduction—in what must be a world record for ant relocation.  There are no better words to describe the organizational superiority of their nest relocation skills.

 

Foraging and recruitment

 

Experimental diets E2, left blue droplet; E4, right blue gel. Italian forest honey, top. Cockroach, far right.

 

In any case, with so little study on this species, especially with regard to diet (my specialty), it will be interesting determining their feeding habits. One thing I have noticed about this species, is that they do not appear to recruit heavily.  The time it takes for a significant number of ants to congregate to a food source is very long—as if the collection of ants is more of random encounters, than an organized recruitment.  I have observed what appear to be foraging trails, but the frequency of responding workers to such trails is very low, even if a large number eventually congregate to the food.

 

I'll post pictures, videos, and other observations as this moves along.  They don't appear to be ill suited for captivity—however, only time will tell if they thrive.

Edited by drtrmiller, May 12 2015 - 12:28 AM.

[drtrmiller]

I know it hasn't been long, but I wanted to update this.

 

Firstly, I attempted to get a picture of the queen—not an easy task, given the number of ants.  From the picture, you can tell how easy it was to miss her among the confusion when I flipped the rock they were originally inhabiting.  She has the head of a major, and just a slightly larger abdomen, with the main size difference being in the thorax.

 

 

 

Also, I wanted to point out that the entire roach in the photo of the above post, is completely gone.  I think I see a leg somewhere in the nest, but otherwise, just 8 or so hours after I introduced a 12 mm roach nymph, I see hardly a trace of it anywhere.  I observed the majors chewing away at the exoskeleton on camera, and it was interesting to observe how effective they were.  I guess it's in tiny bits now hoarded throughout the nest, or they've managed to feed larvae most of it already—either way, I can't find it.

Edited by drtrmiller, May 12 2015 - 7:40 AM.

[Myrmicinae]

My two Pheidole colonies (P. ceres and P. megacephala) are probably the most enjoyable to watch of all my ants.  

 

Have you tried offering seeds to this colony?  According to AntWiki, seeds are sometimes found in natural P. tysoni nests.

[drtrmiller]

The nest was far too damp when I introduced them.  I suppose I can find some wildflower seeds to give them when the nest dries out a bit. Most will be far too large, probably.

[drtrmiller]

Not sure why this posted here.

Edited by drtrmiller, May 12 2015 - 10:11 AM.

[drtrmiller]

For the second straight day, they appear to have completely disappeared a 12+ mm roach nymph.  I see no trace of it or particles of it anywhere.  They also completely ate a small sliver of blue waxworm gel, labeled on the byFormica site as E4.

 

They don't forage too much, but when they do find food, it always manages to disappear.

[BugFinder]

Wow that is a beautiful ant.  How bid is it relative to an average Pogonomyrmex?

[dspdrew]

The nest was far too damp when I introduced them.  I suppose I can find some wildflower seeds to give them when the nest dries out a bit. Most will be far too large, probably.

 

Try some amaranth. It's a really small seed. It's one of the seeds I put in my pogo seed mix.

[BugFinder]

what other seeds do you put in your Pogonomyrmex mix bud, and where do you order your seeds?

[dspdrew]

Grass seed I collected from the wild, Kentucky bluegrass seed, rainbow quinoa, millet, chia seed, amaranth, nyjer seed, poppy seed, and some wild flower seed. I get some of it from Whole Foods, and some from Amazon and Ebay.

[BugFinder]

thank you!!

[drtrmiller]

Wow that is a beautiful ant.  How bid is it relative to an average Pogonomyrmex?

 

Tiny.

 

Known facts

 

 

Very little about this species is documented online.  Some speculate that they are mostly a subterranean species, feeding on subterranean homopterans such as aphids and mealybugs.  These are small ants, with 2 mm long workers, 4 mm majors, and the queen at about 6 mm (the queen is easily confused with the majors).

[drtrmiller]

Enjoy this tasty secretion the queen made on the lid.  Minutes later, the workers had consumed it so there was no trace of it.

 

[drtrmiller]

Nothing too new to report.  I don't think I was able to save any eggs when I captured the colony, so fresh batches are being laid.  There will probably be a slight disruption in development in a few weeks when the current larvae finish developing.

 

Here is a photo of them eating a roach:

 

[drtrmiller]

No photo today.

 

The ants chewed up the plaster in their GroTube shortly after introduction, likely because I never let it cure properly before putting them in it.  So now they are in a test tube.

 

Many died due to dehydration, but now I have a Mercury Liquid Feeder with a tall reservoir that keeps them watered for 1-2 weeks at a time.  They eat a steady supply of roaches and sweets.  They always have a good number of brood, so I'm hopeful I can maintain this colony, provided I give them a little better attention.

[Spamdy]

How is this colony? I assume its dead after the queen died of longevity. Still intrested.

[Virginian_ants]

I know this is really old but how big did this colony get? I have a colony and I can't find how big they get anywhere online. My colony has about 200+ workers and many majors.