12 replies to this topic

[AlexLebedev]

Anyone selling cyphomyrmex colonies that can be shipped and has 50> workers?

[Manitobant]

I don’t think anyone in california has kept cypho long term, and good luck getting a permit for fungus growers from out of state.

[JamesJohnson]

Not to mention the fact that Cyphomyrmex wheeleri (the only Cyphomyrmex species native to California not just only found 20 miles west of the Arizona border) don't get 50+ workers.

Edited by JamesJohnson, July 25 2021 - 8:58 PM.

[MrPurpleB]

I have found some C.Wheeleri nests nearby. I have only seen one Queen fly so far. I'm hoping for more queens to fly in August. I could potentially be able to offer a colony, but it would take some time before they get large in size. I'm not too sure how big the colonies of these Cyphos would get. I have been mostly told they get up to max 200 workers. However, James Johnson mentioned Cyphos not growing over 50+ workers, I wasn't aware of this variance in colony size. So I'm not sure how large these ones would get.

[JamesJohnson]

Mackay and Mackay (2002) describes Cyphomyrmex getting a few dozen workers. How much is a few dozen is anyone's guess. My thoughts on the viability of a 50+ worker C. wheeleri colony aside, Cyphomyrmex is quite the overlooked fungus grower, and I would love to see some journals on them. Best of luck getting your hands on them.

[MrPurpleB]

Mackay and Mackay (2002) describes Cyphomyrmex getting a few dozen workers. How much is a few dozen is anyone's guess. My thoughts on the viability of a 50+ worker C. wheeleri colony aside, Cyphomyrmex is quite the overlooked fungus grower, and I would love to see some journals on them. Best of luck getting your hands on them.

It has been difficult finding information about them. The only information I was able to find was in a general study about fungus growing ants, so they only got a brief mention. Hopefully, I do get to see more Cyphomyrmex queens fly. I have seen more foraging activity, but have not see other alates from the one I found earlier this month. If I do grab any, I will totally try to make a journal on them.

[AlexLebedev]

Not to mention the fact that Cyphomyrmex wheeleri (the only Cyphomyrmex species native to California not just only found 20 miles west of the Arizona border) don't get 50+ workers.

Actually that's incorrect I've found a cyphomyrmex wheelri worker in the el dorado hills and 1 other person has aswell. Cyphomyrmex Flavidus is 20 miles west of the arizona border 

Edited by AlexLebedev, July 26 2021 - 10:16 AM.

[Manitobant]

Why hasn’t anyone there tried digging up a colony? Cypho are very polygynous and nest quite shallow, unlike acromyrmex.

[JamesJohnson]

 

Not to mention the fact that Cyphomyrmex wheeleri (the only Cyphomyrmex species native to California not just only found 20 miles west of the Arizona border) don't get 50+ workers.

Actually that's incorrect I've found a cyphomyrmex wheelri worker in the el dorado hills and 1 other person has aswell.

 

That's not what I said. There are two Cyphomyrmex species native to California, wheeleri and flavidus. Wheeleri is native to pretty much all parts of California where it's arid, but flavidus has only been found near the Arizona border, hence why for all practicality, wheeleri is the only Cyphomyrmex available to nearly all Californians.

 

 

 

Why hasn’t anyone there tried digging up a colony? Cypho are very polygynous and nest quite shallow, unlike acromyrmex.

I agree, I think that Cyphomyrmex wheeleri would be very easy to collect. They're found very shallow or under small rocks, and have fungal gardens a few centimeters across. It wouldn't strike me as hard to just pick up the fungi and put into a container fungi, workers, brood, queen, and all.

Edited by JamesJohnson, July 26 2021 - 10:22 AM.

[AlexLebedev]

 

 

Not to mention the fact that Cyphomyrmex wheeleri (the only Cyphomyrmex species native to California not just only found 20 miles west of the Arizona border) don't get 50+ workers.

Actually that's incorrect I've found a cyphomyrmex wheelri worker in the el dorado hills and 1 other person has aswell.

 

That's not what I said. There are two Cyphomyrmex species native to California, wheeleri and flavidus. Wheeleri is native to pretty much all parts of California where it's arid, but flavidus has only been found near the Arizona border, hence why for all practicality, wheeleri is the only Cyphomyrmex available to nearly all Californians.

 

 

 

Why hasn’t anyone there tried digging up a colony? Cypho are very polygynous and nest quite shallow, unlike acromyrmex.

I agree, I think that Cyphomyrmex wheeleri would be very easy to collect. They're found very shallow or under small rocks, and have fungal gardens a few centimeters across. It wouldn't strike me as hard to just pick up the fungi and put into a container fungi, workers, brood, queen, and all.

 

i agree i just live near no Arid environments, desert shrublands or grasslands. nearest undisturbed area i can find ants is mt uminum.

[bullyfan]

Why hasn’t anyone there tried digging up a colony? Cypho are very polygynous and nest quite shallow, unlike acromyrmex.

Is there confirmation that cypho wheeleri are poly? Couldn't find anything about it online. If so, adding a few queens together could produce a larger colony.

Edited by bullyfan, July 13 2022 - 8:58 AM.

[Antlover24]

Yeah I'm also looking to catch some and at some point when I get the chance ill check out the observation and spot of the cyphomyrmex at el dorado hills, if I get a colony or queen (which I doubt) I'll let yall know.

[ZTYguy]

Not to mention the fact that Cyphomyrmex wheeleri (the only Cyphomyrmex species native to California not just only found 20 miles west of the Arizona border) don't get 50+ workers.

If I wanted to I could excavate over 20 colonies that are all within an acre of space. All of this is in Chatsworth. Hours from the Az border.

Edit: I just read through the rest of the thread, thought you were talking about wheeleri.

Edited by ZTYguy, July 13 2022 - 2:12 PM.