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UA's Formica Files

Started By UtahAnts , Feb 21 2022 9:07 PM
formica journal utah

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30 replies to this topic

#21 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted August 12 2024 - 11:36 AM

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Interesting, it appears your parasitic formica laid eggs before winter? Were they being heated? I assume they are just in a normal test tube setup?


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#22 Offline UtahAnts - Posted August 12 2024 - 11:46 AM

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Yes they were being heated. Just a normal test tube setup with a small attached outworld.


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#23 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted August 12 2024 - 12:02 PM

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Yes they were being heated. Just a normal test tube setup with a small attached outworld.

Do you know what temperature at all? Was it a heating pad?


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My Nationwide Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship ants nationwide

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

My Formica sp. Journal

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#24 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted August 12 2024 - 6:01 PM

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New Parasitic colony: Integra group Formica

 

Formica integra is actually a member of the rufa species group. Nice find! I think I might like the bicolored queens even more though...


Interesting, it appears your parasitic formica laid eggs before winter? Were they being heated? I assume they are just in a normal test tube setup?

Would not be surprised if my cf. obscuriventris queen lays before hibernation as well.


"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis

#25 Offline UtahAnts - Posted August 12 2024 - 6:33 PM

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Thanks for the correction. I had them around 80-85 degrees 24/7, not sure on the exact temperatures. Yes, it was a heating pad.


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#26 Offline UtahAnts - Posted August 15 2024 - 7:39 AM

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The desert species are doing well. Here's the two queen Formica cf. perpilosa. They have 20 workers with brood. The parasitic colony is also doing well - no eggs yet but staying hungry and healthy.

 

IMG 3501

 

IMG 3496
 
 
And new Formica fusca group queens: 
 
IMG 3550

 


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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

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#27 Offline Izzy - Posted August 15 2024 - 7:58 AM

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Those amber red desert ones are beautiful!


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#28 Offline Nare - Posted August 15 2024 - 8:46 AM

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New Parasitic colony: Integra group Formica

 

Formica integra is actually a member of the rufa species group. Nice find! I think I might like the bicolored queens even more though...


Interesting, it appears your parasitic formica laid eggs before winter? Were they being heated? I assume they are just in a normal test tube setup?

Would not be surprised if my cf. obscuriventris queen lays before hibernation as well.

 

North American "rufa-group" actually got moved to the new integra- and dakotensis-groups a few years back. See this paper.


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#29 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted August 15 2024 - 9:51 AM

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Interesting, didn't know that. Thanks!


"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis

#30 Offline UtahAnts - Posted October 6 2024 - 5:31 PM

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All three desert species are still doing great. They all have a few pupae left, but the large dark species (I believe in the Formica neogagates-group) and the bi-colored species (possibly F. perpilosa) have stopped egg laying, and both are pictured below. Interestingly the smaller Formica neogagates-group colonies all have eggs given heat, so they may grow through the winter. 

 

Larger dark species, possibly in the Formica neogagates-group? 3 colonies at 20 workers.

 

IMG 3975

 

IMG 3974

 

 

 

Bi-colored species Formica cf. perpilosa. These colonies grew amazingly fast for Formica. Egg to worker was about 3.5 weeks. Since they flew three months ago, all four colonies got to nearly 50 workers. It's safe to say these are my Favorite Formica I've ever kept: fast-growing, hardy, and amazing colors.

 

IMG 3965

 

IMG 3964

 

 


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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

#31 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted October 6 2024 - 6:55 PM

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Stunning! perpilosa is definitely up there amongst my favorite-looking Formica species.


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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis

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