125 replies to this topic

[M_Ants]

10/15/2020

10/17/2020

10/18/2020 Look at it eating the booklice!

 

 

Edited by M_Ants, October 19 2020 - 3:47 PM.

[M_Ants]

Cocoon!!!!!!!!!!!! I got a cocoon. So far so good. Been giving the queens fruit flies from time to time which they seem to love. The ones in the dirt setup are both alive but I don't see any brood so hopefully it's hidden in their hole.

 

About 16 days from egg to cocoon. So far the same as Ponera. If they stay on track should have the first worker in 10 days.

Edited by M_Ants, October 19 2020 - 3:56 PM.

[ponerinecat]

Very nice! Looking forwards to workers. Have you Ided them yet?

[M_Ants]

I haven't. I guess I should. Should I make a post?

[Ants_Dakota]

how is it this easy!!! all my and antsdakota's ponera colonies have died. we kept them in test tubes, so should we try something different? what is there to try?

[KitsAntVa]

aren't dirt setups best? i think my ponera colony died ill have to check their dirt set up i haven't seen them in a while and i have seen a downfall in all my critters in there.

[Kaelwizard]

how is it this easy!!! all my and antsdakota's ponera colonies have died. we kept them in test tubes, so should we try something different? what is there to try?

Uhhhh... Dirt? I kept mine in a vial with cotton at the bottom and a layer of dirt on top of that. It worked quite well.

[NickAnter]

I'm determined to have success with these next year. Mine all seem to die within 5 days of capture.  I've tried a couple different setups too. I guess Ill try hydrostone instead of dirt.

[ponerinecat]

I'll just catch a budded ergatoid colony and try not to forget they exist 

[M_Ants]

2 cocoons! You can see the larvae inside spinning the cocoon.

Edited by M_Ants, October 24 2020 - 9:48 AM.

[Swirlysnowflake]

How did you culture those book lice? also do u have a pic of the full setup? this species seems rlly cool, i wanna try keeping them lol

[M_Ants]

So assuming you have booklice it's fairly easy I think. I found the booklice in the test tube of one of my V. andrei. Anyhow, I'm no expert. I just have a plastic container that I throw stuff in. I don't know if they eat seeds but I threw some in because they were in a test tube with V. andrei which eat seeds. They crawl all over the seeds but that doesn't really mean anything. I throw dried up dead insects like crickets and dubias in there. I recently added some pieces of twig. I don't have any substrate. Occasionally I squirt a little water on something like the wood because they need water and they eat mold I think. However, I put a like a drop. They don't need much and like it dry. When I want to feed the Hypos I grab a piece of something inside and tap some into the Hypos setup. The Hypos setup is just a square box with hyrdrostone. I have a sprinkler part that is basically just a tube the goes in through the side into the hydrostone. I attached a tube to it and poked a hole in the tube. To hydrate the Hypos setup I squirt water into the tube and it soaks into the hydrostone. Hope this helps.

[KitsAntVa]

I had a colony of ponera which is now in the wind because i was looking for the queen because i forgot about them and she escaped ;( i plan on catching many of these next year and i am hoping to become the next ponera and stigmatomma expert.

[Swirlysnowflake]

How do u find booklice? 

[KitsAntVa]

In damp places near already existing colonies, try setting traps like bricks and rocks and sit them near a colony of ants that you have seen little jumpy grey things near, they are really active right now so you may find a lot.

[KitsAntVa]

I wish vb was here honestly because I want some cryptics now like stigmatomma. Or stenema

[ponerinecat]

In damp places near already existing colonies, try setting traps like bricks and rocks and sit them near a colony of ants that you have seen little jumpy grey things near, they are really active right now so you may find a lot.

Nah, those are springtails. Booklice like it dry and run instead of jump. You'll find them in granaries, dry leaf piles, pet food, stored grains, and most areas that have an abundance of dried cellulose.

[ponerinecat]

I had a colony of ponera which is now in the wind because i was looking for the queen because i forgot about them and she escaped ;( i plan on catching many of these next year and i am hoping to become the next ponera and stigmatomma expert.

Please, please do not attempt anything with stigmatomma until you are able to keep them. It's fine to make them a goal, but you really need to do a lot of research and be very experienced to keep them healthy. 

[KitsAntVa]

 

I had a colony of ponera which is now in the wind because i was looking for the queen because i forgot about them and she escaped ;( i plan on catching many of these next year and i am hoping to become the next ponera and stigmatomma expert.

Please, please do not attempt anything with stigmatomma until you are able to keep them. It's fine to make them a goal, but you really need to do a lot of research and be very experienced to keep them healthy. 

 

understood. I made a nest today very similar to a bull ant nest made in australia it has a firebrick part some ventilation holes and a grout flooring .and i plan on raising a hyponera or stenamma in it and if i can't find those then a ponera queen.

[KitsAntVa]

anyway how do you tell the difference between ponera and hyponera?