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UA's Crematogaster Chronicles

crematogaster journal utah

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#1 Offline UtahAnts - Posted February 21 2022 - 1:39 PM

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I'm starting this journal for a more focused look at my Crematogaster species. I'll update on all my Crematogaster colonies, but I'm going to focus on my largest colony (colony 1). Here's my original journal. Right now this colony has about 350 workers. They lost a few from hibernation and when I moved them last night into their new setup.
 
Originally, the queens of my two largest colonies (Crematogasrtr cf. mormonum colony 1 and 2) were found in the same founding chamber in southern Utah during fall 2020. I split the queens up and one of them grew extremely quickly. Ironically, the larger colony in the beginning (colony 2) ended up being the smaller of the two, after they were exposed to toxic particles in their nest (resulting in a complete worker die-off). The queen of colony 2 continued to lay eggs, becoming my second largest colony with around 300 workers. The slower growing colony 1 is still the largest, but likely not for long.
 
At the moment I have a a Crematogaster emeryans colony as well with about 100 workers.
 
 
Here's a short recap of the last year or so of growth for colony 1, no heat until the summer months and 2 to 3 feedings a week.

 

Feb. 1 2021

The colony had four workers at this point, I had moved them to a home-made plaster nest after the queen got her first nanitics in a test tube.

IMG-0219.jpg

 

March 21 2021

Brood pile is developing.

IMG-0484.jpg

 

April 18

Second and third generation

IMG-0778.jpg
 

May 26

Around 20 workers. They had chewed through the nest walls, so I put their formicarium in an outworld. I started heating the colony around now.

IMG-1140.jpg

 

June 11

Piles of brood

IMG-1370.jpg

 

July 30

The entire nest was filled up

IMG-2025.jpg

 

August 20

Around 300 workers if not more.

IMG-2316 (1).jpg

 

September 5

400 workers

IMG-2640.jpg

 

December 1 2021

Beginning of offical diapuase, around 450 wokers.

IMG-3681.jpg

 

Febrruary 21 2022

New nest, lost around 100 wokrers during hibernation and the move. It dosn't really matter though becuase of how fast these ants grow with heat  %)

IMG-4539.jpg


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Leave the Road, take the Trails - Pythagoras

 

Utah Ant Keeping --- Here

DIY Formicariums and Outworlds --- Here

Honeypot Ant Journal --- Here

Photo Album --- Here

Videos --- Here


#2 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted February 21 2022 - 2:15 PM

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I love this little ants, but I can never find a queen.
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#3 Offline AntsCali098 - Posted February 21 2022 - 2:34 PM

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Nice colony hope they get real massive.

 

I love this little ants, but I can never find a queen.

same. I love fast growing species


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Interested buying in ants? Feel free to check out my shop

Feel free to read my journals, like this one.

 

Wishlist:

Atta sp (wish they were in CA), Crematogaster cerasi, Most Pheidole species

 

 


#4 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted February 21 2022 - 2:50 PM

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I love how I bought the one fast growing Camponotus colony, and on month four, I am getting major cocoons and have only 20 workers, but also they eat like a superworm a day and get tons of eggs. The one thing I don’t like about fast growing species is the food intake.

Edited by SolenopsisKeeper-, February 21 2022 - 2:50 PM.

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#5 Offline ANTdrew - Posted February 21 2022 - 5:22 PM

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I officially promote you to the rank of CrematoMaster.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#6 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted February 21 2022 - 6:02 PM

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He is the master of all Cremtogasters lol. That’s how you get queens of it lol
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#7 Offline UtahAnts - Posted February 21 2022 - 7:44 PM

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I officially promote you to the rank of CrematoMaster.

 

Thank you sensei  :yes:


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Leave the Road, take the Trails - Pythagoras

 

Utah Ant Keeping --- Here

DIY Formicariums and Outworlds --- Here

Honeypot Ant Journal --- Here

Photo Album --- Here

Videos --- Here


#8 Offline UtahAnts - Posted June 13 2022 - 12:52 PM

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Update

I sold the two large Crematogaster colonies which, if I'm not going to lie, made my life much easier. The queen of the emeryana colony just kicked the bucket, so now this journal needs a restart.

 

To replace them on this journal, I'm adding another poly emeryans colony along with a small species and colony of crematogaster in a foranto nest. So to start off:

 

 

Crematogaster sp. (35 workers)

 

They've chewed up the walls of their Foranto nest, but no tunnels yet. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

 

 

IMG 7882

 

 

 

Crematogaster cf. emeryana: (6 queens, 50 workers)

 

Holy mother of pupae! This colony originally had the pupae before moving into this custom nest but all the new eggs and larvae were laid after the move. This colony's purpose is to mainly test the capabilities of this grout nest, ie. if they can chew through it given time. 

 

IMG 7854

 

IMG 5619
 
IMG 7860
 
IMG 7879
 
 

 


Leave the Road, take the Trails - Pythagoras

 

Utah Ant Keeping --- Here

DIY Formicariums and Outworlds --- Here

Honeypot Ant Journal --- Here

Photo Album --- Here

Videos --- Here


#9 Offline UtahAnts - Posted November 15 2022 - 10:02 PM

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Quick update. All colonies were sold. I don't have any more queens of the genus either, so this will be discontinued for now.


  • ANTdrew likes this

Leave the Road, take the Trails - Pythagoras

 

Utah Ant Keeping --- Here

DIY Formicariums and Outworlds --- Here

Honeypot Ant Journal --- Here

Photo Album --- Here

Videos --- Here






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