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[ReignofRage]

ReignofRage's Myrmecocystus spp. Journal

Here you will find all the Myrmecocystus I keep, questions and comments are very welcomed and I will try to respond to the best of my ability.

 

Current Species List:

Myrmecocystus sp. cf. flaviceps (pleometrotic)

Myrmecocystus placodops-03

 

Past Species:

Myrmecocystus colei

Myrmecocystus creightoni

Myrmecocystus sp. cf depilis

Myrmecocystus ewarti

Myrmecocystus flaviceps

Myrmecocystus sp. cf flaviceps

Myrmecocystus kathjuli

Myrmecocystus kennedyi

Myrmecocystus lugubris

Myrmecocystus mexicanus-02

Myrmecocystus navajo

Myrmecocystus placodops-01

Myrmecocystus placodops-02

Myrmecocystus romainei

Myrmecocystus sp. cf kennedyi-romainei

Myrmecocystus semirufus

Myrmecocystus tenuinodis

Myrmecocystus testaceus

Myrmecocystus sp. "testaceax"

Myrmecocystus wheeleri

Myrmecocystus yuma

Myrmecocystus spp. (9+)

 

 

Just to prevent confusion - I started this journal in 2021, but forgot about it and it only had two one-sentence updates. I edited these two posts to the current species since the old ones would make no sense.

 

Edited by ReignofRage, March 30 2024 - 7:25 PM.

[ReignofRage]

Update 1

 

 

Myrmecocystus sp. cf. flaviceps (polygynous). This is a picture from when I tubed all of the queens from the trip. I collected these queens back in 2023. All of the queens were digging in groups and were kept within their groups. What was interesting is that I came to discover that all of the groups had started out as single queens digging chambers by themelves and eventually groups together. This differs from the recorded habits of M. mimicus in Arizona where queens run around and form groups. It was not uncommon for 2 or more chambers in a line to be empty all for the last chamber in the line to have multiple queens. The largest group collected was a six-queen chamber, one of which is an alate. This group is the one in the image above. This species is a rather distinct and obviously undescribed species most akin to M. flaviceps.

Edited by ReignofRage, February 12 2024 - 2:52 AM.

[ReignofRage]

Update 2

 

Myrmecocystus sp. cf. flaviceps (polygynous). All colonies have workers and large quantities of brood. I have been feeding proteins and sugars in the test tubes. Sooner than later I need to move them into formicaria.

 

 

Myrmecocystus placodops-03. This is a queen of what is known as "M. placodops-03." It is one of two undescribed species currently under M. placodops. It is under my opinion that some prior M. semirufus records are of this species as well, which makes sense considering that this is a sister species to M. semirufus. 

Edited by ReignofRage, February 12 2024 - 3:04 AM.

[Jonathan5608]

Update?

[ReignofRage]

Update 12 Feb. 2024

 

 

Myrmecocystus sp. cf. flaviceps (polygynous). A few of these colonies are a little less polygynous as they once were. A few colonies have decided to kill off a single queen each. One of the colonies that decided to do this is the formerly sex-queen colony, now a five-queen colony. This was unfortunately expected, since M. mimicus is known to kill off queens over time - I had just hoped the colonies would have went on more than a year before killing off queens.

 

Myrmecocystus placodops-03. These have been doing well with steady growth.

[ReignofRage]

Update 22 Feb 2024

 

 

 

Myrmecocystus sp. cf flaviceps (pleometrotic). After a recent check, many of the colonies decided it was best to cull nearly all of their queens, leaving many colonies with one queen. There is only a couple of colonies that still have more than one queen. A couple of colonies also decided to make a singular male each. I guess I don't have to feed them protein this week, . Aside from that unfortunate event, all of the colonies continue to have steady growth. For anyone who doubts that the queen were found together, above is a picture I took while collecting. The gasters of two queens can be seen at the entrance of a founding chamber. Deeper in the chamber was another queen.

 

Myrmecocystus placodops-03. Not much can be said aside from steady growth.