36 replies to this topic

[Chickalo]

Little update:

The colony is growing fast!  They've covered the bottom half of the sides, and is moving to the ceiling and water tower.  I plan on moving them to a Station by TarheelAnts so I don't have to buy another when the outgrow it, I can just unplug the connection tube and let them to the other side!  Their honey test tube began molding so I had to take it out.  I'm still waiting on the hydrostone for the outworld.  Hopefully once they move the visibility is good enough to count the queens.  I think there's over 10!  That's a lot of naming to do...  I might just pull an ANTdrew and name them after mythology.  Probably Greek instead of Norse.  Maybe some after the Nine Muses?

Edited by Chickalo, June 3 2021 - 6:41 AM.

[Chickalo]

Good news and Bad news
Good news:
They’re growing so quickly! I’m definitely gonna need to order that new formicarium. If I find another colony with a queen I might merge for fun.
But there's a problem with finding a colony, and here’s the Bad news:
I’m on crutches since about an hour ago. Today with friends we went the pier and they have a really rusty ladder which my foot got cut on. Long story short I got my first stitches and can’t go anting for two weeks. Very sad...


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[TacticalHandleGaming]

Good news and Bad news
Good news:
They’re growing so quickly! I’m definitely gonna need to order that new formicarium. If I find another colony with a queen I might merge for fun.
But there's a problem with finding a colony, and here’s the Bad news:
I’m on crutches since about an hour ago. Today with friends we went the pier and they have a really rusty ladder which my foot got cut on. Long story short I got my first stitches and can’t go anting for two weeks. Very sad...


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Take care of yourself and heal up. Now's a great time to enjoy the colonies you already have and watch them grow.

[AntBoi3030]

oh no, that sucks man but when you are back in business temnothorax should start flying up there

[Chickalo]

Thanks!  I'm pretty excited for Temnothorax season ngl, I really want to make a cute acorn nest for them lmao.  Anyways, I know I've been saying this so many times, but their brood pile is amazing.  I can safely say that their brood makes up about a good third of their colony right now.  Always love a good growth spurt!

[ANTdrew]

Get a blacklight and just sit next to it. No need to walk and no sweat.

[AntBoi3030]

Yea I think I saw a few temnothorax males last night but you can also make a little twig nest too )

[Chickalo]

Get a blacklight and just sit next to it. No need to walk and no sweat.

In mother Massachusetts you don't go to ant, ant go to you

[ANTdrew]

Exactly, padawan.

[Chickalo]

Last night I witnessed a little feeding frenzy!  Gave them a decent mealworm and in turn they sent a bunch of workers up, some feeding some running around the outworld.  I just realised that they have their new generation of workers arriving soon, so the queens layed a bunch of eggs again.  In perfect time soon, the first couple of workers began dying D:

Also, since this is a multi queen colony of unrelated queens, can they inbreed within the nest?

[AntBoi3030]

I don’t believe mrymica do. I think it is only colonies that have a tendency to have dozens of queens and satiate nests.

[Kaelwizard]

I don’t believe mrymica do. I think it is only colonies that have a tendency to have dozens of queens and satiate nests.

Myrmica can. I remember hearing about how M. rubra do since the queens don't live very long, so the colony continues by breeding within the nest.

[Chickalo]

 

I don’t believe mrymica do. I think it is only colonies that have a tendency to have dozens of queens and satiate nests.

Myrmica can. I remember hearing about how M. rubra do since the queens don't live very long, so the colony continues by breeding within the nest.

 

If they don't I can always merge new colonies.  If they do I might grab a queen with workers and sell them.

Edited by Chickalo, June 11 2021 - 5:35 AM.

[Chickalo]

For some reason they decided they now like Moisture and moved up onto the water tower.  The new generation of workers arrived and now the colony is active as ever, this morning sending 7 workers up; new record!  The queens are back at it laying eggs to, and the colony ate up their mealworm body like there's no tomorrow (the head went to my ponera). 

[AntBoi3030]

Nice! Good to hear they are starting to take off

[Chickalo]

They are now always hungry, and only are at their calmest when eating, which isn't saying much since they still run around lol.  Now I end up feeding them in the morning and at night, always sending up 5+ workers everyday, and the amount of eggs the queens layed after the new generation of workers is absolutely INSANE!  I posted a video on my channel for updates on all my colonies if you want to check that out:

[AntBoi3030]

I think that some of the eggs are eaten and do not always survive.

Edited by AntBoi3030, June 24 2021 - 5:40 AM.