8 replies to this topic

[sgheaton]

22-June-2021 - The Grand Return

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G'day everyone! Been quite awhile since I've made a post. Lots has changed since then, and now is not the time, but I have a journal entry to make. Let's see if I remember how to do all of this....  Mystery Solved!

 

 

 

Location of collection: Windowsill, Blaine, Minnesota

Date of collection: Sunday, June 20th, 2021
Habitat of collection: Domicile 

 

So I've been wanting to get back into anting but 1) I've moved and the season wasn't right and then 2) I didn't find anything last year. Was folding clothes and went to put things away and noticed a queen struggling on her back, wingless, on the windowsill in my bedroom.

 

 

Right there: 

 

I thought one of my cats bit/played/catted whatever it was because it was strugglin' weirdly on its back. Nope, ant queen. Didn't have anything ready or prepared. Was totally not expecting to find one let alone in my house. Found the cups and tubes I've used in the past. All but 1 were cracked so I quickly made a makeshift set up for her. 

Not the best pictures, my apologies. 

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Covered the tube and went about my day. The next day, she's got 2 specks of white with her. This morning, a little bit of a white ball. Guess I need to start buildin' up another formicarium, eh?

 

 

Edited by sgheaton, September 14 2021 - 9:24 AM.

[Antkeeper01]

looks like tetramorium immigrans also welcome back

[ANTdrew]

Legendary comeback! You didn’t find that queen; she found you!

[Ants_Dakota]

22-June-2021 - The Grand Return

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

 

G'day everyone! Been quite awhile since I've made a post. Lots has changed since then, and now is not the time, but I have a journal entry to make. Let's see if I remember how to do all of this.... 

 

 

 

Location of collection: Windowsill, Blaine, Minnesota

Date of collection: Sunday, June 20th, 2021
Habitat of collection: Domicile 

 

So I've been wanting to get back into anting but 1) I've moved and the season wasn't right and then 2) I didn't find anything last year. Was folding clothes and went to put things away and noticed a queen struggling on her back, wingless, on the windowsill in my bedroom.

 

 

Right there: 

 

I thought one of my cats bit/played/catted whatever it was because it was strugglin' weirdly on its back. Nope, ant queen. Didn't have anything ready or prepared. Was totally not expecting to find one let alone in my house. Found the cups and tubes I've used in the past. All but 1 were cracked so I quickly made a makeshift set up for her. 

Not the best pictures, my apologies. 

-

 

- 

 

Covered the tube and went about my day. The next day, she's got 2 specks of white with her. This morning, a little bit of a white ball. Guess I need to start buildin' up another formicarium, eh?

yup. all of my tetramorium lay eggs with in the first few days, and like you said, a clump of them.

[sgheaton]

25 - June - 21 - Egg Update

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First off - I don't remember how to update the "thread title" from the founding date to the last updated date. Anyone able to help me do that?
 

I'm going to need to see which version of Drews' Box he's sellin' these days. And when I snagged this one. Think it was back in 2018... 

 

Haven't decided on a name yet. I'll come up with something fitting I'm sure. For now, I've got her set up on Drews' 2018 box. I'm not sure where to put the heating wire but it's not time for that yet.

 

 

Nice lil egg pile is growing:

[ANTdrew]

You can edit the title by editing the very first post and choosing Use Full Editor.

[sgheaton]

12 - July - 2021

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Put a cotton ball plug in the tube and well it got wet and moldy. Not a good sign that things have already molded up with nothing living in it. While I have filled the formicarium with water, I don't have a heating wire on things yet. Still waiting on any nanitics.

[sgheaton]

14 - July - 2021 - Minor update

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So originally purchased two of Drews boxes:


The fact that the previous set up might have housed things, I don't remember it entirely, I set up the other box as the new home. Box had yet to be opened so everything was brand new:


I imagine the lack of heat & tunnels just caused for a swamp. 74% humidity and the entire thing was wet. I'll clean it up and reuse it. 

While she wasn't too happy with the move, I know it'll be for the better in the long run:

[sgheaton]

14 - September - 2021 - Movement update

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Ha! It has been one month. How about that. I was going to start of by saying that I was having troubles with  .........don't think I named this ant yet. Her tube was moldin' up. She was movin' dirt in the tube. 

 

Gave her some honey/water and food pieces. I dunno. Nothing happened yet. I think I scared her whenever I re-attached the tube to the other formicarium box. 


I tried poking some pre-holes to get her started, but she wasn't taking to them. .. Until today! Checked in after awhile and noticed she was workin' down at the end of this hole:


About time! I'll remove her tube and then ... wait. Can't really do anything else now except make sure she's got moisture. Wait for ants to make it to the surface! If she lays again. More? It's about to be colder here so hibernation will be soon. Mainly, she's moved into the dirt from the moldy test tube.