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Cyphomyrmex rimosus Feeding

Started By Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* , May 7 2022 4:40 AM

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#1 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted May 7 2022 - 4:40 AM

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I recently caught a colony of Cyphomyrmex rimosus, but they only had one pupae with yeast…how should I go about raising the yeast? What will they eat? They seem to have built their nest out of beetle bodies, so could I feed them dead superworms? Some people said they also eat dead fruit….

#2 Offline Manitobant - Posted May 7 2022 - 6:33 AM

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Cyphomyrmex are especially fond of insect poop from what I’ve heard, especially caterpillars. If your local pet stores have hornworms, you could try raising them for their poop.
My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#3 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted May 7 2022 - 8:00 AM

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Wait… insect poop… ant poop? I wonder if I could use waste products of my Floridanus colony

#4 Offline ZTYguy - Posted May 7 2022 - 8:02 AM

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It’ll be better to just use hornworm poop. It’s easier to cultivate and there is tons of the stuff.
Currently: Considering moving to Australia
Reason: Myrmecia

#5 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted May 7 2022 - 8:56 AM

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I’ll hold off on hornworms for a bit, as I do not have much room for more insects. If I end up buying trachymyrmex later this year, I’ll defiantly get some.

Also, what do hornworms become? Moths? Before they pupate, can they be used as feeders for other ants?

Edited by SolenopsisKeeper-, May 7 2022 - 10:45 AM.

#6 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted May 7 2022 - 10:43 AM

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Is this fungus/yeast?

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#7 Offline mmcguffi - Posted May 7 2022 - 11:31 AM

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Possibly, but I don't think so. C. rimosus can cultivate a yeast form of their fungus, or a multicellular form ("mushroom"). If you have yeast the yeast form, it should look like what this thread shows: https://www.formicul...?hl=cyphomyrmex i.e. they look like little white-ish crystals

 

If you have the "mushroom" form, it should look more like a typical attine fungal farm: https://www.mindenpi...ge00111516.html

 

And of course, the inimitable Alex Wild has pictures of both forms: https://www.alexande...ra/Cyphomyrmex/


Edited by mmcguffi, May 7 2022 - 11:38 AM.

#8 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted May 7 2022 - 1:40 PM

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Possibly, but I don't think so. C. rimosus can cultivate a yeast form of their fungus, or a multicellular form ("mushroom"). If you have yeast the yeast form, it should look like what this thread shows: https://www.formicul...?hl=cyphomyrmex i.e. they look like little white-ish crystals
 
If you have the "mushroom" form, it should look more like a typical attine fungal farm: https://www.mindenpi...ge00111516.html
 
And of course, the inimitable Alex Wild has pictures of both forms: https://www.alexande...ra/Cyphomyrmex/

Possibly, but I don't think so. C. rimosus can cultivate a yeast form of their fungus, or a multicellular form ("mushroom"). If you have yeast the yeast form, it should look like what this thread shows: https://www.formicul...?hl=cyphomyrmex i.e. they look like little white-ish crystals
 
If you have the "mushroom" form, it should look more like a typical attine fungal farm: https://www.mindenpi...ge00111516.html
 
And of course, the inimitable Alex Wild has pictures of both forms: https://www.alexande...ra/Cyphomyrmex/


I saw no fungus when I took apart the tree nest…. Maybe that’s why they have no brood. Can they accept new queens? Maybe I can catch a queen and introduce her with the fungal pellet

#9 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted May 7 2022 - 1:54 PM

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Also what looks like rust dots formed at the bottom of the plaster. Any ideas?

Also how long can they survive on seeds, as they have been DEVOURING this seed from a seed mix for Pogomyrmex.

#10 Offline mmcguffi - Posted May 7 2022 - 3:08 PM

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Can you see where they are depositing the seeds? As far as I know, attines don't eat solid matter besides their fungus -- they just use leaves, debris, etc to farm their fungus. I have no specific knowledge of how to keep Cyphomyrmex so I can't comment on if seeds-only will sustain them. However, my Atta seem to be very particular and will stop accepting certain leaves/flower/etc if I offer them for too long -- they seem to "know" what the fungus wants ::shrug::

 

 

 

I saw no fungus when I took apart the tree nest…. Maybe that’s why they have no brood. Can they accept new queens? Maybe I can catch a queen and introduce her with the fungal pellet

I'm not sure -- if they have no queen I suppose there is no harm in trying!


Edited by mmcguffi, May 7 2022 - 3:09 PM.

#11 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted May 7 2022 - 7:29 PM

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They do have a queen. Found more brood in the debris, maybe some yeast somehow got on them? Looking at the original nest site tomorrow to see if I see anymore queens(Are they polgynos?) and yeast

#12 Offline VenomousBeast - Posted May 7 2022 - 8:33 PM

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They do have a queen. Found more brood in the debris, maybe some yeast somehow got on them? Looking at the original nest site tomorrow to see if I see anymore queens(Are they polgynos?) and yeast

Yes, they are polygynous! I've found colonies in Florida with 10-15 queens, they'll also accept other colonies very easily.

Keeps:

1:Pogonomymex occidentalis

4: Tetramorium immigrans

2 Reticulitermes flavipes

#13 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted May 7 2022 - 8:50 PM

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Great! If I don’t end up going for some reason, I will be sure to be on the lookout for queens,as nuptial flights have begun with them

Edited by SolenopsisKeeper-, May 7 2022 - 8:51 PM.

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#14 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted May 8 2022 - 8:13 AM

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I didn’t go back… couldn’t find the tree I caught them at, as it was near a forest, and I saw workers, but no nest.

Luckily, when I got home, there was something growing on the crystals attached to the leaf… it wasn’t there last night…. It is white specs…… I think it may be fungus, but I am VERY new to this genera of ants. I didn’t even know cyphomyrmex existed before this😂

They desperately need some sort of outworld, but I can’t make holes in these cheap cups… will see about making a new nest at some point.(note: tan thing is a seed that I think is what has been keeping them alive without yeast)

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#15 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted May 8 2022 - 8:14 AM

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You can also see the caterpillar poop I found in the bottom right has a bit on it, almost not noticeable(This poop was added when I originally put them in here)

#16 Offline VenomousBeast - Posted May 8 2022 - 8:15 AM

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Yup, those white specks on the leaf is their yeast!

Keeps:

1:Pogonomymex occidentalis

4: Tetramorium immigrans

2 Reticulitermes flavipes

#17 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted May 8 2022 - 8:17 AM

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Where did it come from?!

Edited by SolenopsisKeeper-, May 8 2022 - 8:18 AM.

#18 Offline mmcguffi - Posted May 8 2022 - 8:21 AM

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I'm not convinced that is their yeast, but I hope so!

 

I highly recommend getting something connected to the nest as soon as possible -- beyond just being able to forage, they need somewhere to dump their trash. All of that organic matter is prime for other yeasts/molds/bacteria to start growing and wipe out your colony. If they have an outworld, trash container, etc., they can more easily manage problems caused by rotting debris


#19 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted May 8 2022 - 8:25 AM

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I'm not convinced that is their yeast, but I hope so!

I highly recommend getting something connected to the nest as soon as possible -- beyond just being able to forage, they need somewhere to dump their trash. All of that organic matter is prime for other yeasts/molds/bacteria to start growing and wipe out your colony. If they have an outworld, trash container, etc., they can more easily manage problems caused by rotting debris

Working on it now, planning on using some recyclable containers for a temporary nest and outworld etc. What works as a base instead of plaster?

Also, if it isn’t yeast, I am concerned for the brood… it is on some pupae…

Edited by SolenopsisKeeper-, May 8 2022 - 8:28 AM.

#20 Offline mmcguffi - Posted May 8 2022 - 8:29 AM

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I would use plaster as a base for their nest chamber -- the fungus needs to be kept at a higher humidity

 

That post I previously linked seems to have a really successful setup with a similar species of Cyphomyrmex: https://www.formicul...?hl=cyphomyrmex

 

Personally, I would take inspiration from that person's setup


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