94 replies to this topic

[antsriondel]

Here is a picture I took a day ago that shows the growth of the Ochetellus glaber colony.
Will have to give another test tube soon or move them into a nest I ordered online with a voucher I won from Anty Matters.
I'm so happy to get a real nest not made by myself xD

If you look back to the last picture and then this one. You can see what 20 days worth of growth looks like.

IMG_4658.JPG

that's insane!!!!

Edited by antsriondel, January 29 2022 - 1:53 PM.

[PaigeX]

Update:
 

Myrmecia Gilberti Queen has one larvae, happy about that.

 

I brought some queens online. Two Polyrhachis Aurea from the same person and one Rhytidoponera Victoriae.

Unfortunately 1-2 days later one Polyrhachis Aurea queen passed away,  But the other one is doing fine with a large pile of brood.

Here are some pictures.

 

I also made a Ytong nest for my smaller Polyrhachis vermiculosa colony. They moved right in.

 

Also bonus pic, These are all 4 Different kinds of Golden tailed Spiny ants I have. Names go from Left to right.
Unknown Golden tailed Polyrhachis sp.
Polyrhachis vermiculosa

Polyrhachis Aurea

Polyrhachis Ammon

Attached Images

• 

[PaigeX]

Some sad news... a few months ago I saw a dead queen in the outworld of my Polyrhachis Ammon colony, at that time they had a lot of queen alates and I thought it was one of them that died (as it somethings happens)... well after a few months of watching the colony I have seen they no longer produce workers and instead raise drones. So I had a very good look at the nest and saw no queen. Therefore I have released them back outside to live the remainder of their lives as I was continuously having to remove the drones when they came out of the nest.

 

On a more positive note: A few days ago, I gave more queens in test tubes some mini outworlds. Now just down to one full box of queens.   I'm finding it hard to sell them off quick enough to keep up with the space I have available.

 

Everything on the right side after the small piece of wood are for sale and those on the left are mine... or for now at least. I'm still growing out some queens to pick what one I will keep to be my main colony. 

 

 

Here are the queens I have left. In the box there is:

6 Polyrhachis Daemeli

2 Polyrhachis Rufifemur

1 Polyrhachis Aurea

1 Polyrhachis Vermiculosa

1 Polyrhachis Ammon

1 Rhytidoponera Victoriae (I'm for sure it's another one tho)

1 Camponotus Aeneopilosus

2 Colobopsis sp.

1 Camponotus Humilior 

2 Iridomyrmex Bicknelli

1 unidentified Golden Spiny Ant

[antsriondel]

that sucks about your polyrachis Ammon queen, hope you catch more!!!!

Edited by antsriondel, February 13 2022 - 6:21 AM.

[PaigeX]

that sucks about your polyrachis Ammon queen, hope you catch more!!!!

I already have too many I don't know what to do with them hahaha!
I've given 4 away, I've got 4-6 more left to sell AND I'm growing out 3 others to see what one I'm going to keep as main colony.
If I get more.. Ima have to sell them to the online shops 

[PaigeX]

Update: All ants are doing well. 
Here is their progress when I checked on them on the 27th feb.

My 3 personal Polyrhachis Ammon queens: 
Queen A: 5 workers + 4 cocoons. Some brood.
Queen B: 6 workers + 1 cocoon. 5 big brood almost ready to cocoon.
Queen C: 6 workers + 1 cocoon.  2 big brood almost ready to cocoon.

Personal Camponotus Aeneopilosus queen has 25 workers with LOTS of brood.

Personal Polyrhachis Vermiculosa queen has 3 workers with cocoons and brood. 

 

Polyrhachis Tubifera Queen got her 2nd worker. She ate the first one. 

 

Polyrhachis Daemeli queens have brood. I think some don't have eggs yet but most of them have larvae.

 

Found a Polyrhachis Hookeri queen under a rock with one larvae. It has now turned into a cocoon and she has laid some eggs.

Both Polyrhachis Rufifemur queens have larvae and eggs. Doing very well.

 

Polyrhachis Australis colony is outgrowing the container. they are now 3-4 times the size since I collected them. They are getting a bit hard to handle so might let them go back in the yard. they are getting very big. 

 

Polyrhachis Phryne queen ost her only worker. Not sure why it died. she still has one larvae that has not grown. I don't know what's wrong with this queen, been a while since i bought them and no progress. 

 

Polyrhachis Aurea queen is doing well. I think she has a cocoon and brood.

 

The other Polyrhachis Vermiculosa queen is the same as above.

 

Myrmecia Gilberti queen lost her one larvae. Still feeding her just in case she lays more eggs.

 

Ochetellus Glaber outgrown their test tube but are not moving into the new nest. they seem to be fine with light and don't care to move. grr.

 

Colobopsis sp queen doing well with brood. Colobopsis Macrocephala queen has not laid eggs. Been months now. I don't think she mated.

 

Rhytidoponera sp. impressa group. Queen and her worker are doing well. They have a small brood pile since I bought them.

 

Brachyponera Lutea never got brood past one or two cocoons before she ate them... released her. 

 

Melophorus Rufoniger has not laid any eggs and numbers of workers are still dropping. Fed them everything i can think of. 

 

Found and bought some more kinds of ants.
Found a Nylanderia obscura queen under a rock with brood. she now has workers.

Bought a Solenopsis sp queen. doing well with workers and more brood.

Found 2 different Pheidole sp colony's with their queen. Found another queen under a rock, she had brood now.

Found a small Stigmacros sp colony under a rock. They have more brood now too.

Found a small Cardiocondyla sp under a rock as well. Same as above.

Another small ant colony with no ID yet. Doing very well on growth too.

 

Found a Pseudoneoponera porcata, Not sure if worker or gamergrate so keeping her at this time.

 

Released one big Polyrhachis Vermiculosa colony i had as having two colony's was too much.

 

One Pheidole sp queen i found a few months ago only ever laid an egg pile that never grew. She then died a few days ago with no progress. She did have her wings still on.

 

Rest of the queens i have are for sale or sold. All have done very well and non died.

 

Last but not least. My Dolichoderus Scrobiculatus Queen got her first workers! She has 3 now with more on the way. VERY VERY happy with her progress. 

[ANTdrew]

Don’t spread yourself too thin! Burn out is real in this hobby.

[Leptomyrmx]

 

Update: All ants are doing well. 
Here is their progress when I checked on them on the 27th feb.

My 3 personal Polyrhachis Ammon queens: 
Queen A: 5 workers + 4 cocoons. Some brood.
Queen B: 6 workers + 1 cocoon. 5 big brood almost ready to cocoon.
Queen C: 6 workers + 1 cocoon.  2 big brood almost ready to cocoon.

Personal Camponotus Aeneopilosus queen has 25 workers with LOTS of brood.

Personal Polyrhachis Vermiculosa queen has 3 workers with cocoons and brood. 

 

Polyrhachis Tubifera Queen got her 2nd worker. She ate the first one. 

 

Polyrhachis Daemeli queens have brood. I think some don't have eggs yet but most of them have larvae.

 

Found a Polyrhachis Hookeri queen under a rock with one larvae. It has now turned into a cocoon and she has laid some eggs.

Both Polyrhachis Rufifemur queens have larvae and eggs. Doing very well.

 

Polyrhachis Australis colony is outgrowing the container. they are now 3-4 times the size since I collected them. They are getting a bit hard to handle so might let them go back in the yard. they are getting very big. 

 

Polyrhachis Phryne queen ost her only worker. Not sure why it died. she still has one larvae that has not grown. I don't know what's wrong with this queen, been a while since i bought them and no progress. 

 

Polyrhachis Aurea queen is doing well. I think she has a cocoon and brood.

 

The other Polyrhachis Vermiculosa queen is the same as above.

 

Myrmecia Gilberti queen lost her one larvae. Still feeding her just in case she lays more eggs.

 

Ochetellus Glaber outgrown their test tube but are not moving into the new nest. they seem to be fine with light and don't care to move. grr.

 

Colobopsis sp queen doing well with brood. Colobopsis Macrocephala queen has not laid eggs. Been months now. I don't think she mated.

 

Rhytidoponera sp. impressa group. Queen and her worker are doing well. They have a small brood pile since I bought them.

 

Brachyponera Lutea never got brood past one or two cocoons before she ate them... released her. 

 

Melophorus Rufoniger has not laid any eggs and numbers of workers are still dropping. Fed them everything i can think of. 

 

Found and bought some more kinds of ants.
Found a Nylanderia obscura queen under a rock with brood. she now has workers.

Bought a Solenopsis sp queen. doing well with workers and more brood.

Found 2 different Pheidole sp colony's with their queen. Found another queen under a rock, she had brood now.

Found a small Stigmacros sp colony under a rock. They have more brood now too.

Found a small Cardiocondyla sp under a rock as well. Same as above.

Another small ant colony with no ID yet. Doing very well on growth too.

 

Found a Pseudoneoponera porcata, Not sure if worker or gamergrate so keeping her at this time.

 

Released one big Polyrhachis Vermiculosa colony i had as having two colony's was too much.

 

One Pheidole sp queen i found a few months ago only ever laid an egg pile that never grew. She then died a few days ago with no progress. She did have her wings still on.

 

Rest of the queens i have are for sale or sold. All have done very well and non died.

 

Last but not least. My Dolichoderus Scrobiculatus Queen got her first workers! She has 3 now with more on the way. VERY VERY happy with her progress. 

Dolichoderus Scrobiculatus (1).jpg

Dolichoderus Scrobiculatus (2).jpg

 

WHOAOGHGSGGHEVD so jealous of the Pseudoneoponera. One of my all time favourite species, I went looking for some once using an iNaturalist sighting, no luck.

 

Yeah wow... that's a lot of colonies! Good to see you back as well.

Edited by Leptomyrmx, March 4 2022 - 2:07 PM.

[antsriondel]

 

 

Update: All ants are doing well. 
Here is their progress when I checked on them on the 27th feb.

My 3 personal Polyrhachis Ammon queens: 
Queen A: 5 workers + 4 cocoons. Some brood.
Queen B: 6 workers + 1 cocoon. 5 big brood almost ready to cocoon.
Queen C: 6 workers + 1 cocoon.  2 big brood almost ready to cocoon.

Personal Camponotus Aeneopilosus queen has 25 workers with LOTS of brood.

Personal Polyrhachis Vermiculosa queen has 3 workers with cocoons and brood. 

 

Polyrhachis Tubifera Queen got her 2nd worker. She ate the first one. 

 

Polyrhachis Daemeli queens have brood. I think some don't have eggs yet but most of them have larvae.

 

Found a Polyrhachis Hookeri queen under a rock with one larvae. It has now turned into a cocoon and she has laid some eggs.

Both Polyrhachis Rufifemur queens have larvae and eggs. Doing very well.

 

Polyrhachis Australis colony is outgrowing the container. they are now 3-4 times the size since I collected them. They are getting a bit hard to handle so might let them go back in the yard. they are getting very big. 

 

Polyrhachis Phryne queen ost her only worker. Not sure why it died. she still has one larvae that has not grown. I don't know what's wrong with this queen, been a while since i bought them and no progress. 

 

Polyrhachis Aurea queen is doing well. I think she has a cocoon and brood.

 

The other Polyrhachis Vermiculosa queen is the same as above.

 

Myrmecia Gilberti queen lost her one larvae. Still feeding her just in case she lays more eggs.

 

Ochetellus Glaber outgrown their test tube but are not moving into the new nest. they seem to be fine with light and don't care to move. grr.

 

Colobopsis sp queen doing well with brood. Colobopsis Macrocephala queen has not laid eggs. Been months now. I don't think she mated.

 

Rhytidoponera sp. impressa group. Queen and her worker are doing well. They have a small brood pile since I bought them.

 

Brachyponera Lutea never got brood past one or two cocoons before she ate them... released her. 

 

Melophorus Rufoniger has not laid any eggs and numbers of workers are still dropping. Fed them everything i can think of. 

 

Found and bought some more kinds of ants.
Found a Nylanderia obscura queen under a rock with brood. she now has workers.

Bought a Solenopsis sp queen. doing well with workers and more brood.

Found 2 different Pheidole sp colony's with their queen. Found another queen under a rock, she had brood now.

Found a small Stigmacros sp colony under a rock. They have more brood now too.

Found a small Cardiocondyla sp under a rock as well. Same as above.

Another small ant colony with no ID yet. Doing very well on growth too.

 

Found a Pseudoneoponera porcata, Not sure if worker or gamergrate so keeping her at this time.

 

Released one big Polyrhachis Vermiculosa colony i had as having two colony's was too much.

 

One Pheidole sp queen i found a few months ago only ever laid an egg pile that never grew. She then died a few days ago with no progress. She did have her wings still on.

 

Rest of the queens i have are for sale or sold. All have done very well and non died.

 

Last but not least. My Dolichoderus Scrobiculatus Queen got her first workers! She has 3 now with more on the way. VERY VERY happy with her progress. 

Dolichoderus Scrobiculatus (1).jpg

Dolichoderus Scrobiculatus (2).jpg

 

WHOAOGHGSGGHEVD so jealous of the Pseudoneoponera. One of my all time favourite species, I went looking for some once using an iNaturalist sighting, no luck.

 

Yeah wow... that's a lot of colonies! Good to see you back as well.

 

Wow that is a LOT of colonies.  

[PaigeX]

Don’t spread yourself too thin! Burn out is real in this hobby.

i'm growing out a few and will pick the best one for myself I'm happy with then sell the others. 
I've also been giving away some to friends I make. I have really been enjoying blessing others with queens and small colonies. 

[ANTS_KL]

I have never seen Dolichoderus founded from a single queen before. Probably because the species in Malaysia are all in the Borneo side. Thoracius is really hard to keep too. Good luck!

[PaigeX]

Little Update on my activity and findings.

First tho, the Polyrhachis Australis colony got too big and i didn't have the space to make a longer/bigger container setup to house them in so I released them into a tree near where I found them. Took them a few days to move all brood out but seemed to love it there.
I released the small Melophorus Rufoniger colony back where I found them as nothing I did or gave them helped with anything. They dug a hole right away.

 

Found a small Polyrhachis hookeri colony. They were very easy to collect and are doing exceptionally good. great boost in brood production. 

 

Found a medium Myrmecia gilberti colony. Took about 1-2 hours to collect every last ant.. Funny thing is the queen was the very last one to be collected. haha. I made a setup for them and they seem good. They have around 55 works.

 

Found some other mini ant colonies. One looks like mini orange Crematogaster, found under some grass roots. Yet to get a picture.
Found two different mini black ant colonies under small rocks. need pictures also.
Found a 2-3mm mini black ant queen. again need picture.

 

Found another Polyrhachis tubifera queen that was crawling on an Aloe leaf. 

Found two more Dolichoderus scrobiculatus queens in leaf little as well as a Camponotus queen with no ID. will need to wait for workers.

 

Dolichoderus scrobiculatus queen.

Camponotus queen with no ID

 

All other queens I have are doing great. Need to start selling off more as I've run out of room. 
My ant setup as of this post. I still have two boxes of queens in tubes that need mini outworlds. (not in picture)

[JCRHJM]

That is quite the setup, really wish I could expand my collection. I wonder what your usual method is of extracting colonies? 

By the way the gilberti setup is dope 

[PaigeX]

That is quite the setup, really wish I could expand my collection. I wonder what your usual method is of extracting colonies? 

By the way the gilberti setup is dope 

well i use tweezers to dig and a homemade aspirator suck them up. Then place into a tub with a barrier.

Similar to how hunter valley ants does it but with aspirator help.

[PaigeX]

Update: 

My 2 personal Polyrhachis Ammon coloines:

Queen A: 16 workers with brood.

Queen C: 13 workers with brood.

 

Queen B: Queen died about a month ago sadly.

 

 

I sold all my Camponotus Aeneopilosus colonies, the most workers one got to was 50 before I sold it.

 

Polyrhachis Vermiculosa Queen has 17 workers and brood. 

 

Polyrhachis Tubifera Queen has 3 workers and brood.

 

Polyrhachis Daemeli Queens all have at least one worker. Some have 3. + brood. Sold a few of them too.

 

Polyrhachis Hookeri Colony is doing great. Will be giving them their 3rd test tube soon.

Polyrhachis Hookeri Queen has 3 workers and brood.

 

Both Polyrhachis Rufifemur Queens have 3 workers with brood.

 

Polyrhachis Australis colony was released a few months ago. They grew too big too fast for me to keep up and have something bigger for them to live in.

 

Polyrhachis Phryne Queen passed away about a month ago. She never did recover past the lost of the first and only worker she ever had.

 

Polyrhachis Aurea Queen still had brood growing. Very slow. Not sure why.

 

 

Myrmecia Gilberti Queen laid some more eggs. One hatched and ate them all before I had time to feed. I gave her the left over Myrmecia chrysogaster brood to see what would happen.

 

I needed more room so I released the Ochetellus Glaber colony. They grew to a good size but didn't do much. 

 

Colobopsis sp Queen now has one brood. Very small. she's very slow at growing. Bit sus

The 2 Colobopsis Macrocephala Queens I bought now have 5+ workers each with brood.

 

Queen Rhytidoponera sp. impressa group. the eggs hatched and they now have small brood.

 

Nylanderia obscura Queen has 30+ workers now. Will be sold soon.

 

Solenopsis sp Queen I bought is doing great. Many new workers and brood.

 

All the Pheidole sp colonies doing good. released one I had as it was the same as a larger colony.

 

Released the Pseudoneoponera porcata as she never laid eggs or did anything. Released back to the place I found her.

 

 

Dolichoderus Scrobiculatus Queen is doing great. Has 24 workers now.

Found another Dolichoderus Scrobiculatus Queen in leaf litter with two workers. They have 6 workers now.

 

 

Found a small Opisthopsis picta colony, they are doing well.

 

Camponotus humilior queen got her first major ants not long ago. Around 29 wokrers in nest.

 

Found a Camponotus eastwoodi Queen with two workers under a rock. They now have 6 workers + brood.

 

Found a small Crematogaster queenslandica colony with 3 queens. They are doing well.

 

Cardiocondyla sp colonies doing amazingly. They keep making alates that inbreed within the nest. Really interesting to watch.

Stigmacros sp colony going slow but ok. 

 

I have a few queens in test tubes and two with no ID. (or I'm too lazy to look it up again)

 

 

that's as much as I can remember from the top of my head. I posted some pictures on my Insta if you wanna see some of them.

Cheers for reading!

Edited by PaigeX, May 25 2022 - 5:24 AM.

[Leptomyrmx]

That's a lot of colonies.

Opisthopsis are super cute but sometimes a bit fussy and slow growing, very rewarding in the end.

 

can't wait for spring... and my anting trip to FNQ in spring!

[ANTdrew]

I think you need more Polyrachis species…

[PaigeX]

I think you need more Polyrachis species…

One day! There will be more Muahahha xD

[Leptomyrmx]

I saw in the ant photography thread that you got some Carebara... any updates coming soon? I'd love to hear about them.

[JCRHJM]

I saw in the ant photography thread that you got some Carebara... any updates coming soon? I'd love to hear about them.

same, this is some exciting stuff