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Orion’s Solonopsis Invicta Journal

Started By Orion8 , Jun 2 2021 11:34 AM

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60 replies to this topic

#41 Offline ANTdrew - Posted June 27 2021 - 9:52 AM

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Do an ID thread, please.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#42 Offline Orion8 - Posted June 29 2021 - 11:44 AM

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Another thing I do not know is their temperature requirements. When I try to find out I get seriously mixed messages, but I figure you guys know because some of you have probably kept this species yourselves.

#43 Offline ANTdrew - Posted June 29 2021 - 1:16 PM

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It depends on what your goals are. If you want a somewhat manageable experience, I’d shoot for lower temps around 75. If you want them to thrive and totally take over your entire house, shoot for temps in the 80s.
Read this article: http://tarheelants.b...or-ant.html?m=1
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#44 Offline Orion8 - Posted July 3 2021 - 3:02 PM

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Weekly Update Four: Nothing has really changed since last week. I do not think there are any pupae yet, and the brood pile is about the same size. But, I thing there are some more eggs between the larvae. Also, my house is 73 F, so that is a factor in the colony growth.
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#45 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 3 2021 - 3:46 PM

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Way too cold for colony growth, but that’s a good thing in this case.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#46 Offline Orion8 - Posted July 11 2021 - 4:34 PM

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Weekly Update Five: I can see that there are 3 pupae, and a TON of larvae. I also have ordered a starter formicarium.
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#47 Offline Orion8 - Posted July 13 2021 - 4:06 PM

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Turns out I am blind, there are way more pupae than previously speculated.
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#48 Offline yibsi - Posted July 13 2021 - 5:46 PM

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Turns out I am blind, there are way more pupae than previously speculated.


Yeah I’ve done that before, especially with the smaller species.

    Nylanderia parvula - 4 queen polygynous colony with larvae + devoloping workers

    Camponotus pennsylvanicus  - 1 queen with 2 cocoons, and a few larvae and eggs

    Tetramorium immigrans - 3 colonies, first nanetics!

    Formica pallidifulva - 1 queen, 8-10 eggs

    Tetramorium atratulum - 1 queen with roughly 17 host workers

    :D Pheidole pilifera - 1 queen! recently caught! :D

    Solenopsis Molesta - 2 queens so far, polygenous set-up

---------------------------------------------------

My Ant Journal - yibsi’s Wonderful Ant Keeping Journal 5-22-21 - Ant Keeping Journals - Ants & Myrmecology Forum (formiculture.com)

My T. Atratulum Journal - https://www.formicul...ontinued/page-2

#49 Offline Orion8 - Posted July 16 2021 - 8:58 AM

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The Formicarium I ordered came with a bag or what feels like sand. I just wanted to double check if I am supposed to use it as the substrate, or if I am supposed to mix it with soil or something.

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#50 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 16 2021 - 9:16 AM

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Which formicarium did you order? If that substrate can be rolled into a ball that retains its shape, then it has some clay in it and will work well. If it’s pure sand, you should mix some clay soil from outside in with it. Bake the soil a bit before hand to sterilize. There’s no magic ratio; you just want to prevent tunnel collapses.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#51 Offline Orion8 - Posted July 19 2021 - 11:32 AM

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Weekly Update Six: I got my formicarium, a AC ant tower small(I know they will not stay in it for long) and am currently setting it up. Also, the first worker eclosed, it is still hardening!

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Edited by Orion8, July 19 2021 - 11:34 AM.

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#52 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 19 2021 - 11:41 AM

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Look out!
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#53 Offline Orion8 - Posted July 22 2021 - 5:01 AM

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First worker hardened!

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#54 Offline Antkeeper_21 - Posted July 22 2021 - 5:04 AM

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WOOHOO, you can now feed them something small


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#55 Offline Orion8 - Posted July 23 2021 - 5:04 AM

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I am leaving on a weeklong trip, will they be fine without food until I get back?

#56 Offline AntBoi3030 - Posted July 23 2021 - 5:14 AM

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I don’t think so leave a little raw honey in there. Or you could just feed them now and they’d be A-ok

Check out my new YouTube Video!

 https://youtu.be/uut...0Ky8KdHM4FQ_nvo

#57 Offline AntBoi3030 - Posted July 23 2021 - 5:16 AM

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I don’t think so leave a little raw honey in there. Or you could just feed them now and they’d be A-ok

Check out my new YouTube Video!

 https://youtu.be/uut...0Ky8KdHM4FQ_nvo

#58 Offline Antkeeper_21 - Posted July 23 2021 - 6:59 AM

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how much workers do you have? The more workers, higher demand on food


#59 Offline Orion8 - Posted July 23 2021 - 9:21 AM

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I put in a q tip tip dipped in honey in there, there is still only one hardened worker but there are maybe 3 others. They should survive off the little bit of honey and the rest of the queen’s stores, right?

#60 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 23 2021 - 9:59 AM

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Perhaps. Get them some protein, too.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.
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