21 replies to this topic

[Devi]

First Entry:  Sep. 16 2020

 

I have a massive solenopsis molesta colony in my backyard and they recently flew.  I collected 11 of them and put them all in a test tube.  I caught them all as alates, but since then,  most of them have taken their wings off.  I will update whenever anything exciting happens. 

 

Sorry in advance for the bad pics.

 

Be kinder than necessary,

Devi

Edited by Devi, September 25 2020 - 3:00 PM.

[Antkid12]

Looks great.

[Antkeeper01]

Lucky, all I have are P. Occidentalis T. Immigrans and T. Caispitum. I have caught a parasitic lasius queen and maybe a Strumigenys queen but the lasius queen died and the other escaped into my bathroom.    

Edited by Antkeeper01, September 16 2020 - 12:24 PM.

[Kaelwizard]

Lucky, all I have are P. Occidentalis T. Immigrans and T. Caispitum. I have caught a parasitic lasius queen and maybe a Strumigenys queen but the lasius queen died and the other escaped into my bathroom.

Just saying, you probably only have T. immigrans as T. caespitum is European.

[Antkeeper01]

but T caispitum also lives in colorado. You may be right you may not but how do you explain the fact they will only eat seeds and popcorn

[Kaelwizard]

but T caispitum also lives in colorado. You may be right you may not but how do you explain the fact they will only eat seeds and popcorn

CAESPITUM DO NOT ONLY EAT SEEDS AND POPCORN!!! I’m sorry I just had to make a point. Both Tetra species are highly opportunistic feeders. Just because one colony has a preference for certain foods DOES NOT make it a different species. And also, where did you hear that caespitum only like that kind of food? That is not even close to true.

I’m sorry Devi, this person is just really aggravating me.

Edited by Kaelwizard, September 16 2020 - 12:45 PM.

[TechAnt]

 

but T caispitum also lives in colorado. You may be right you may not but how do you explain the fact they will only eat seeds and popcorn

CAESPITUM DO NOT ONLY EAT SEEDS AND POPCORN!!! I’m sorry I just had to make a point. Both Tetra species are highly opportunistic feeders. Just because one colony has a preference for certain foods DOES NOT make it a different species. And also, where did you hear that caespitum only like that kind of food? That is not even close to true.

I’m sorry Devi, this person is just really aggravating me.

 

Yes, each colony has their own food prefrences, how could you determine its species soley on its diet. 

[Spazmops]

but T caispitum also lives in colorado. You may be right you may not but how do you explain the fact they will only eat seeds and popcorn

You’ve said this a few times now, could you make a thread listing what foods you’ve tried? I have yet to encounter a Coloradan ant species that denies a grasshopper leg.

Edited by Spazmops, September 16 2020 - 1:09 PM.

[Antkeeper01]

well they don't deny it they taste it and then gets bored with it.

but ok I will make a thread listing what they eat. and what I've tried. it will be in my journal

Edited by Antkeeper01, September 16 2020 - 1:12 PM.

[NickAnter]

Be wary with the queen grouping. I have never had success with it. Make sure to at least get a couple single dealates in separate tubes.

[Devi]

 

but T caispitum also lives in colorado. You may be right you may not but how do you explain the fact they will only eat seeds and popcorn

CAESPITUM DO NOT ONLY EAT SEEDS AND POPCORN!!! I’m sorry I just had to make a point. Both Tetra species are highly opportunistic feeders. Just because one colony has a preference for certain foods DOES NOT make it a different species. And also, where did you hear that caespitum only like that kind of food? That is not even close to true.

I’m sorry Devi, this person is just really aggravating me.

 

No, I understand.

In my experience tetramorium, (both immagrans AND caespitum) are some of my least picky and awesome eaters.  I have never seen a tetramorium colony not like a grasshopper leg, grasshopper body, other dead insects, honey and other sweet liquids and pretty much anything edible.  What the issue sounds like to me, is that you may need to be a bit more patient.  In some of my smaller tetra colonies, they won't approach the food (in this case usually grasshopper legs) for at least a day, to multiple days.  In this case, I just leave it in their habitat for a couple days, come back to check and they have hollowed the whole thing out.  You stated earlier, (I think) that you take the food out after just half an hour.  Try and give it more time, and try to limit the popcorn.  It isn't the most nutritious thing for ants to eat.

 

 

@antkeeper01,  earlier on this thread you expressed interest in acquiring more queens/colonies.  PM me if you are interested in trading/buying/selling.

Edited by Devi, September 17 2020 - 5:48 AM.

[Ants_Dakota]

I have had great success with solenopsis molesta queen groups. AntsDakota once had a 100 queened colony! They grow really fast and love butter and grease, so those are some things you could feed them. They also love seeds.

[NickAnter]

Caespitum is not really present in the US, it is immigrans. This is the commonly agreed on consensus. It has been proved by genetic testing fairly recently. The mindset that they are caespitum is older, and incorrect. Sorry for the hijacking, but I just wanted to clear things up.

[Devi]

Caespitum is not really present in the US, it is immigrans. This is the commonly agreed on consensus. It has been proved by genetic testing fairly recently. The mindset that they are caespitum is older, and incorrect. Sorry for the hijacking, but I just wanted to clear things up.

No, I agree.  I have only kept immagrans, but know a lot about caespitum just because I like to learn about ants.  I have yet to see a caespitum colony in CO.

[Devi]

Second Entry:  Sep. 25 2020

 

We have progress!  I checked on these queens today, (11 in a test tube if you are new) and they have eggs!  Almost all are now de-alates, and I saw a couple dozen eggs!  I am hoping that I can have a super colony and make a natural terrarium for these awesome hardy ants.  I'm hoping that these queens will get along and that they will produce loads of workers.  I am imagining something like maybe a ten gallon tank with a dirt bottom, and then a sandy bank off to one side.  The dirt will form a "mountain" type thing on one corner, and the sandy spot, (probably where I'd put food) will be down at the other side.  Then, lush plants all through out the area!  These ants are really giving me inspiration.  I'm really excited about them.

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Be kinder than necessary,

Devi

[RushmoreAnts]

I have yet to see a caespitum colony in CO.

Not that you could tell the difference even if they were present in the U.S. You'd literally need a microscope.

Second Entry:  Sep. 25 2020

 

We have progress!  I checked on these queens today, (11 in a test tube if you are new) and they have eggs!  Almost all are now de-alates, and I saw a couple dozen eggs!  I am hoping that I can have a super colony and make a natural terrarium for these awesome hardy ants.  I'm hoping that these queens will get along and that they will produce loads of workers.  I am imagining something like maybe a ten gallon tank with a dirt bottom, and then a sandy bank off to one side.  The dirt will form a "mountain" type thing on one corner, and the sandy spot, (probably where I'd put food) will be down at the other side.  Then, lush plants all through out the area!  These ants are really giving me inspiration.  I'm really excited about them.

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Be kinder than necessary,

Devi

If you feed them enough, they could very well reach several hundred in the coming months.

[Devi]

Are Molesta claustral or semi-claustral?

Edited by Devi, September 25 2020 - 3:14 PM.

[RushmoreAnts]

.

[Devi]

 

.

 

I had asked if they were claustral or semi-claustral, but then thought I'd look it up instead.  I ended up asking anyway, lol. 

[TechAnt]

Sorry for taking this off topic, I also think a super colony would be awesome! Anyways:
I don't know why Antkeeper01 refuses and ignores making an ID request for his so called 'Tetramorium caespitum'