86 replies to this topic

[TechAnt]

So as of right now I have (as seen in my signature) 5 M. mimicus queens (used to be 6, one died of some strange white mold / fungus coming out of her gaster), and 8 M. mexicanus queens. Hopefully a few will make it to workers, but with honeypots it’s hard to predict anything during founding. Photos will be up next week and a half when I checkup on them.

Edited by TechAnt, May 4 2021 - 10:04 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Good luck

[TheAntGuy]

I will be following this journal, hopefully they make strong colonies!

[B_rad0806]

I wouldn't recommend checking on them any time soon. Me and the other people I went with to catch pots won't check until the 30th. If you check on them often then they will eat their eggs. 

[Superant33]

I check my mimicus all the time. I don’t even bother collecting mexicanus bc I know they are skittish. Some ants just can’t stand being stared at with a flashlight. I do keep it a minimum with founding mimicus colonies. But my established ones are used to it.

[B_rad0806]

I check my mimicus all the time. I don’t even bother collecting mexicanus bc I know they are skittish. Some ants just can’t stand being stared at with a flashlight. I do keep it a minimum with founding mimicus colonies. But my established ones are used to it.

Just don't look at them then. They are one of the best pots out there

[TechAnt]

Alright so I’m taking B_rad’s advice just in case for the single queens.

However, this journal will still be active as I have bought some Mymercocystus testaceus from Nurbs, I moved them into a Mini Hearth. However half of their brood are still laying in the outworld, but the queen and the other half are in the Mini Hearth. I know these photos are really bad, but this is the best I could do trying not to stress them out. I placed that hummingbird nectar in the liquid feeder into the outworld about two days ago, I check on them and I found it empty, and a worker guzzling whatever was left of it down. In the last photo you can see the ghostly shape of a queen there.

Attached Images

• 
• 

Edited by TechAnt, September 8 2020 - 7:20 AM.

[TechAnt]

Just checked up on them to see how they were, I saw one worker moving the last pupae in the outworld. And most of the brood in a nice pile in the Mini Hearth. (I saw a couple pupae sitting further back where it was too dark to get photos)

Attached Images

• 

[TechAnt]

Ok so a couple things:
The testaceus keep clogging up their refilled feeder with sand, even though they were drinking it just a couple of days ago. 

They are somehow running over several layers of fluon, so I'm going to have to apply more. 

And they just moved out, which is probably my fault as I took off the cover off that was blocking the light, but now they are moving back in, that's good. 

Edited by TechAnt, September 10 2020 - 12:17 PM.

[M_Ants]

I bought one of the other colonies of these. Do you think I need fluon? I haven't moved them into their Mini Hearth yet.

[TechAnt]

I bought one of the other colonies of these. Do you think I need fluon? I haven't moved them into their Mini Hearth yet.

That would be ideal, they are fast little ants.

Edited by TechAnt, September 10 2020 - 12:22 PM.

[M_Ants]

Which fluon do you recommend? There are so many out there for a wide range of prices.

[TechAnt]

I use Tarheel honestly. I have never had any issues with it until now.

[TechAnt]

Also does anybody have some advice about the feeder issue?

Edited by TechAnt, September 10 2020 - 12:47 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Try removing as much loose sand as you can. Ants don’t like having open liquids near their nests, so that’s why they’re sticking sand on it. Maybe put it up on a flat rock farther away from the nest.

[RushmoreAnts]

I bought one of the other colonies of these. Do you think I need fluon? I haven't moved them into their Mini Hearth yet.

You could try it with baby powder as well.

[YsTheAnt]

The name of the genus is Myrmecocystus not Mymercocystus, its mis-spelled in the title. Looking forward to another honeypot journal !

Edited by YsTheAnt, September 10 2020 - 2:14 PM.

[TechAnt]

The name of the genus is Myrmecocystus not Mymercocystus, its mis-spelled in the title. Looking forward to another honeypot journal !

Sorry lol

[TechAnt]

Try removing as much loose sand as you can. Ants don’t like having open liquids near their nests, so that’s why they’re sticking sand on it. Maybe put it up on a flat rock farther away from the nest.

I will try, but they need the sand in order to spin cocoons. And they have some larvae so I would not want to prevent them from getting cocoons.

[DDD101DDD]

Is the sand on the water feeder really a problem? As long as water can get through I think it's fine.