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Jant’s Pheidole Californica

Started By JAnt , Apr 3 2022 11:52 PM

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105 replies to this topic

#101 Offline Stubyvast - Posted June 12 2024 - 8:40 AM

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Wow I gotta say that's a lot of alates! probably the increase of food helped with that. Are you planning to release them to mate during the next nuptial flight? Might be hard to do but who knows! Can these queens stay in the nest and mate with their brethren? 


Currently raising: 

Myrmica Rubra (1 queen +  ~5 workers)

Lasius Niger (single queen + ~90+ workers)

Lasius Neoniger (two single queen + brood)

Formica spp. (Queen [likely parasitic, needs brood])

Also keeping a friend's tetramorium immigrans for the foreseeable future. Thanks CoffeBlock!

#102 Offline JAnt - Posted July 3 2024 - 6:58 AM

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Wow I gotta say that's a lot of alates! probably the increase of food helped with that. Are you planning to release them to mate during the next nuptial flight? Might be hard to do but who knows! Can these queens stay in the nest and mate with their brethren?


The alates were from two years ago. I didn't release them, but I did pull out some of them, hoping they’d try to take flight; it didn't happen. Although they kept the queen alates, those same alates took their wings off and mainly did brood care within the nest. I have yet to be sure whether they can mate within the colony.
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#103 Offline JAnt - Posted July 3 2024 - 7:00 AM

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Monthly update soon! I think we’ll see alates this year! Photos will be included.
Monthly update soon! I think we’ll see alates this year! Photos will be included.

Edited by JAnt, July 3 2024 - 7:01 AM.

#104 Offline JAnt - Posted July 23 2024 - 9:42 PM

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Update!

Male and female alates were spotted! The colony is still doing well, and much brood is coming!

They’ve been active this summer, possibly because they have alates again.

I finally decided and had the time to expand their nest, choosing my THA labyrinth (5x7 nest) instead of our traditional THA mini/xl hearths. They have a much bigger outworld this time.

BEFORE:
887d25cb71c2ea0a0b97fbdf006d8b22.jpg

AFTER a few days:
5a318ac6402b8a9fbd37a41e4b6fd285.jpg

Even with this amount, each of the mini/xl hearths is still full but not as tightly filled.

Four years and five months!

Thanks for checking out this journal!
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#105 Online ANTdrew - Posted July 24 2024 - 2:52 AM

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Very similar to the nest I have my bicarnata in. They look great in it.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#106 Offline Zzz - Posted July 25 2024 - 10:40 PM

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Wow, they are awesome! Will my Pheidole Pallidula get to that size one day, if they make it?


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