34 replies to this topic

[TennesseeAnts]

Update: 8/16/21 

 

Pheidole dentata; colony #1

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They're nearing 20 workers now, and have several major brood. The larva from last update has pupated and is set to eclose any day now, and three more major larvae have appeared. The queen continuously pumps out eggs, and they have a massive pile of brood, probably 60-70 strong. This colony might even reach maturity before hibernation when and if they hibernate. 

 

 

 

[Antkeeper014]

Update: 8/16/21

Pheidole dentata; colony #1
-------------------------------------
They're nearing 20 workers now, and have several major brood. The larva from last update has pupated and is set to eclose any day now, and three more major larvae have appeared. The queen continuously pumps out eggs, and they have a massive pile of brood, probably 60-70 strong. This colony might even reach maturity before hibernation when and if they hibernate.

Pheidole typically do not hibernate, I think it’s safe to say they will be growing year-round.

[TennesseeAnts]

 

Update: 8/16/21

Pheidole dentata; colony #1
-------------------------------------
They're nearing 20 workers now, and have several major brood. The larva from last update has pupated and is set to eclose any day now, and three more major larvae have appeared. The queen continuously pumps out eggs, and they have a massive pile of brood, probably 60-70 strong. This colony might even reach maturity before hibernation when and if they hibernate.

Pheidole typically do not hibernate, I think it’s safe to say they will be growing year-round.

 

Mine normally do grow year round, but I've had a few Ph. bicarinata colonies hibernate before, so it seems to vary.

[AntBoi3030]

How old are they?

[TennesseeAnts]

They're about 4 weeks old now. The queen got her first worker about 2 weeks ago, maybe a tad longer.

[TennesseeAnts]

Update: 8/23/21

The larger colony continues to impress me. They're at probably 30 or so workers now, and one of the major larvae from the previous update has pupated. It's even larger than the other pupa (probably a nanitic major)by about 1.5x. The queen continues to pump out eggs and the larvae are hatching out in the dozens. In total they've probably got 150 or so eggs, small larvae and pupae. Here's an ok picture from just a few minutes ago after their feeding.

[smares]

Pheidole is one of my favorites! Can't wait to see the majors!

[TennesseeAnts]

Pheidole is one of my favorites! Can't wait to see the majors!

Sorry for the late response.

Definitely! I'm super stoked to have another colony of this species going strong.

[TennesseeAnts]

Update; 8/26/21

Well, we've done it! The larger colony has their first major! She's very small but a major nonetheless. Like I mentioned earlier she's definitely a nanitic major. I noticed they still have two major pupae (one already darkening) and another major larva. In total they have 3 more majors on the way so far. Currently there is 1-3 new workers eclosing every day now. I think I counted 27 or 29 today. Their brood pile continues to grow as well. Their latest batch of eggs has begun to hatch and they're taking in so much protein now. I think I'm going to start powerfeeding them now. I want them to reach maturity before their one-year anniversary.

Edited by TennesseeAnts, August 26 2021 - 5:50 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Ambitious!

[TennesseeAnts]

Update: 8/31/21

 

The smaller colony is just now at 15 or so workers, with a major larva and a decent pile of brood. Meanwhile, the larger colony has really started taking off, at 45-50 workers now, with the current major already hardened and dark, and another one of the larger major pupae is darkening. Their brood pile is getting insane now, definitely surpassed my S. invicta dual-queen colonies. I gave the colony an outworld today, and gave them three mealworms with a bit of sugar water for the day. Right away the workers swarmed the outworld and dragged the mealworms away. Once they got the pieces into the nest their (currently) only major help process them even more, which was pretty cool to see. 

 

[AntBoi3030]

My tysoni can’t keep up!

[TennesseeAnts]

I've noticed Pheidole tysoni don't quite grow as fast as these do in general, don't feel too bad about it.

[TennesseeAnts]

Update: 9/1/21

 

Wow, that happened faster than I expected! The larger colony's second major has eclosed, and she's actually way bigger than the little nanitic major they have. Not much else other than that and some new minors eclosing, but its only been a day so I'm happy. I can actually see two more major pupae I didn't see yesterday, and they have eyes so they aren't that new. Must have been on the bottom of the brood pile.

 

 

[TennesseeAnts]

A little peek into how everything's going...

 

[TennesseeAnts]

Update: 9/25/21

 

In less than a month, the largest colony has more than doubled in size. I used the ant-counter in an attempt to count them! 

In the tube:

 

 

In the outworld: 

Edited by TennesseeAnts, September 25 2021 - 5:55 PM.

[NickAnter]

Link to the ant counter?

 

Very nice! I hope my Pheidole start growing again eventually.

[TennesseeAnts]

Its in German, but if you highlight the page and click "translate to English" it works fine.

https://crazyants.de/antcounter/

[antsriondel]

nice!!!! I really want a pheidole colony. hope they do great!!!!!!!!!!!

[TennesseeAnts]

Thank you! They're doing amazing as always. Slowing down for the winter, but not stopping. I'll update if anything changes.