3 replies to this topic

[GreekAnts]

This is a journal for my first formica colony, as the title says its a formica cinerea colony with 20+ workers, I bought the colony from a friend and originaly it was a queen (caught this summer from a nuptial flight) with 4 nanitics but we had the idea to put a lot of pupae from his colony and it worked, during the shipping the pupae hatched and I ended up with 20+ workers, for now I keep them in a test tube setup and I plan to offer them a second one, after hibernation next year I plan to move them in a proper setup when they will have more workers too.

Here some pictures for you to enjoy them too:

Here you can notice the difference in size from the boosted full size worker and the nanitics:

Edited by GreekAnts, October 16 2021 - 2:00 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Formica are so cool. Good luck!

[GreekAnts]

Sorry for not updating this journal,some workers was able to somehow escape through the lid that was supposed to be secured closed   ,so I made a new home for them with 2 barriers (bottom olive oil, top babypowder) and sand on the floor, their test tube is covered with sand and I can't see anything and there is not so much action going on because we heading for a diapause. The only thing I can see is some workers guard the nest entrance and before 2 days that I fed them some was outside too (forgot to record/photograph that  ).

[GreekAnts]

Formicas are ready to hibernate, I gave them 2 test tubes to have a backup one and a tiny tube with sugarwater just in case, I keep them inside a non working fridge in my balcony inside a white polystyrene box that will help keep the temps and I putted some bottles of water because someone told me its gonna help because the water will keep the temparture. Here we don't get really cold temps in winter so I think I will not have a problem.