4 replies to this topic

[OhNoNotAgain]

Can definitely say that Veromessor excel at this.

I should try it more often with my one remaining Pogonomyrmex colonies.

 

https://www.youtube....rts/vEm3WYf3sqc

 

(ETA: Trying to get it inline but I guess not working)

Edited by OhNoNotAgain, January 7 2024 - 8:21 PM.

[BleepingBleepers]

I didn't know they go after dandelion

 

Quite fascinating how many there were, did they really need that many workers to deal with a small dandelion? 

 

That worker barely reacted, it's like being kept in captivity got them re-wired into thinking "yup, there goes the hand that knows all and sees all, thanks for the food!"

[OhNoNotAgain]

I didn't know they go after dandelion

 

Quite fascinating how many there were, did they really need that many workers to deal with a small dandelion? 

 

That worker barely reacted, it's like being kept in captivity got them re-wired into thinking "yup, there goes the hand that knows all and sees all, thanks for the food!"

When this colony was very new (2019) and had less than 10 workers, even then they sort of recognized fresh dandelion seeds. Problem was, although one worker recognized the seed, when she brought it into the test tube, her sisters would encounter the fluff end and drag it out as trash. It was pretty funny.... I wish I'd watched more closely the transition where they came to recognize "fluff is connected to food."

 

>Quite fascinating how many there were, did they really need that many workers to deal with a small dandelion?

 

No, they don't, but with Veromessor pergandei they travel in huge foraging columns, and if news spreads of food, it triggers masses of workers to try to go foraging. They are phototropic so I also have a video of huge numbers crawling up the outworld wall toward a moving light source.

 

>That worker barely reacted, it's like being kept in captivity got them re-wired into thinking "yup, there goes the hand that knows all and sees all, thanks for the food!"

 

Which one? When the breeze comes in upon opening the outworld lid, they definitely all kind of jumped to attention. It was interesting to see it in the video. lol

[futurebird]

Excellent video. My Pogonomyrmex also love this treat. It's great "enrichment" for them. 

 

 

The queen from my Pogonomyrmex colony passed away many months ago and for a long time they produce winged males, but as of a few weeks ago the last members of the colony died. I'll miss them. I don't know what killed the queen. But I think she's been dead for a year since that's when I started seeing males. Seeing this video makes me want to get another colony of Pogonomyrmex... even though I have been thinking of just focusing on Carpenters and local species ... for the next few years they are so cute and industrious with their wide-spaced eyes and excitement over seeds. 

[ANTdrew]

Woah, you’re back!