63 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

Update 8-5-2015

 

The queens in dirt boxes are all still alive, and look like they have brood. One of them I can see has one Dorymyrmex insanus worker from the brood I boosted them with.

 

Of the two remaining queens I kept in test tubes, one died, and the other is doing well. The living queen has a pretty good-sized pile of medium-sized larvae.

[dspdrew]

Update 8-22-2015
 
all four colonies just got their first biological workers yesterday. One colony already had a couple D. insanus workers I boosted them with.
 
It seems the same thing happened this year that happened to me last year when I found a supposed D. bicolor queen in the desert. The workers don't exactly look like D. bicolor to me. The queen totally looks exactly as I would expect her to look, but the workers are very dark in color. I have seen Dorymyrmex like this before, but assumed they were just another Dorymyrmex sp. that would probably be considered D. insanus. I'll probably be combining this journal with my Dorymyrmex sp.1 journal from last year, since I'm pretty sure these are the same species those were.
 
The only other thing I can think might be happening, is the nanitics just look different than the more mature workers, sort of like Liometopum occidentale.
 
Colony in the test tube
 

 

 

 

 
 
Colonies in dirt boxes
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dspdrew]

Update 2-2-2016
 
Well as more workers have been produced, I'm quite sure now that these actually are D. bicolor. The largest colony has about 30 workers now, and the other two have around 15. They all have a lot of brood though, so they all seem to be pretty healthy.
 

 

[dspdrew]

Update 9-5-2016

 

Well I waited a month for the colony to move into a larger setup, and after they finally moved, I noticed there was still no queen. After looking for a while today, I realized she's gone.

[dspdrew]

Update 10-2-2017
 
I was given another small colony of these by nightsweb last year, and they have been growing larger ever since. The colony was up to 300 workers last week before something killed off a bunch of my colonies. They now have about 200 workers and are living in one of my small starter formicariums.
 

 

 

 

[MegaMyrmex]

What's that green- eyed cricket ghing that they were feeding on?

[Ants853]

They really look like iridomyrmex. Love dolichoderinae ants. its amazing the speed at which they develop.

Dorymyrmex = gold

[nurbs]

 

Dorymyrmex = gold

 

You're kidding, right?

[dspdrew]

 

 

Dorymyrmex = gold

 

You're kidding, right?

 

 

  Dorymyrmex is nurbs' favorite too. He tells me every night how much he wishes he had a colony of them.

[nurbs]

 

 

 

Dorymyrmex = gold

 

You're kidding, right?

 

 

  Dorymyrmex is nurbs' favorite too. He tells me every night how much he wishes he had a colony of them.

 

 

I love Dorymyrmex as much as Solenopsis. Incredible species. 

 

Told Drew next season I am going to keep every single Dorymyrmex I find (instead of letting them go) and sell it at the price of gold. Since you kids love them so much.

[dspdrew]

What's that green- eyed cricket ghing that they were feeding on?

 
Oh those are my yellow-eyed crickets. Some sort of genetic mutation that I singled out and started breeding.
 
https://www.formicul...t-breeding-bin/

[FeedTheAnts]

 

What's that green- eyed cricket ghing that they were feeding on?

 

Oh those are my yellow-eyed crickets. Some sort of genetic mutation that I singled out and started breeding.

 

http://www.formicult...t-breeding-bin/

 

Oh wow, that's cool.

[sgheaton]

I think the green eyed crickets just became my favorite. 

[TennesseeAnts]

How large are these queens?

[dspdrew]

How large are these queens?

 

About 8 mm or so.

[TennesseeAnts]

Thanks! Also, are there any in Washington state?

[dspdrew]

Probably not, according to this AntWiki map.

 

[TennesseeAnts]

Awwww, Oh well! We still have one Myrmecocystus sp.!

[AntsCalifornia]

Update 10-2-2017
 
I was given another small colony of these by nightsweb last year, and they have been growing larger ever since. The colony was up to 300 workers last week before something killed off a bunch of my colonies. They now have about 200 workers and are living in one of my small starter formicariums.
 
 
 

 

What are they eating and drinking?

[TennesseeAnts]

He is using Byformica formula blue 100!

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, December 4 2017 - 7:24 PM.