12 replies to this topic

[PurdueEntomology]

Hello!

 

I have a Tapinoma sessile colony (no surprises there)  collected for my research from last summer.  I have kept it indoors save for a brief cool period in the late fall and early winter.  This colony has produced both male and female reproductives.  I have tried to house this species before but usually they have declined.  This is the only colony I have maintained that surprisingly is doing really well.  It is polygynous fyi.  I was wondering if any of you have kept this species and if so did the colon(y/ies) you have produce reproductives?? Thanks for the input.

[antgallery]

I just got a huge colony that was nesting in a Wiffle ball bat in my garage. I was wondering what you use to keep them in there nest, Fluon, Olive Oil, etc? I have tried Fluon but they just climb right over. Also, what are you nesting these in? I have mine in an Outworld connected to 2 nesting areas (I figured they might need a satellite nest) but they actually enjoy the dry, unheated tubes connecting everything more than the actual nest itself. And to answer your original question last year I also had a huge colony of these and they had reproductives, I think some mated and stayed but they definitely killed some.

[PurdueEntomology]

I just got a huge colony that was nesting in a Wiffle ball bat in my garage. I was wondering what you use to keep them in there nest, Fluon, Olive Oil, etc? I have tried Fluon but they just climb right over. Also, what are you nesting these in? I have mine in an Outworld connected to 2 nesting areas (I figured they might need a satellite nest) but they actually enjoy the dry, unheated tubes connecting everything more than the actual nest itself. And to answer your original question last year I also had a huge colony of these and they had reproductives, I think some mated and stayed but they definitely killed some.

I have them in a Fluon lined plastic container with no lid (one of those pet lizard carriers one can get from Petco), it has dried leaves, a large test tube with cotton/water and that is it.  I keep them under a heat lamp though.

[madbiologist]

I had a colony with a few hundred workers produce males and a couple queen alates 2-3 years ago.

Edited by madbiologist, March 24 2022 - 3:04 AM.

[Antkeeper01]

ask antboi

[Canadian anter]

I had a colony which produced a few alates-- I was able to get them to fly outdoors in a small mesh tent

[AntBoi3030]

I had a large colony that produced alates. I actually captured a male mating with a female inside the nest. Some queens mated and became productive queens; the workers culled many alates of both genders.

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Edited by AntBoi3030, March 24 2022 - 4:10 PM.

[ANTdrew]

I have a free-range colony of these in my kitchen.

[PurdueEntomology]

I had a large colony that produced alates. I actually captured a male mating with a female inside the nest. Some queens mated and became productive queens; the workers culled many alates of both genders.

AntBoi, what was the set up and diet, heating etc you provided for this colony?

[AntBoi3030]

They were in an acrylic formicarium heated with a heat cable attached to a out world with tubing. I had to cover each entrance with putty to stop them from finding gaps. I just fed them meat, meal worms, fish flakes, and spiders. My colony of around 500+ didn't require too much protein. they did need a lot of sugar. They also preferred the dryer and warmer parts of the nest.

[PurdueEntomology]

They were in an acrylic formicarium heated with a heat cable attached to a out world with tubing. I had to cover each entrance with putty to stop them from finding gaps. I just fed them meat, meal worms, fish flakes, and spiders. My colony of around 500+ didn't require too much protein. they did need a lot of sugar. They also preferred the dryer and warmer parts of the nest.

What were your sugar sources?

[AntBoi3030]

Sugar water, 1 part sugar 3 parts water.

[ANTdrew]

Sugar water, 1 part sugar 3 parts water.

Old school!