23 replies to this topic

[aznphenom]

 

Very valuable to be so close to a colony where you can check up on them. I am jealous of the people more south having them everywhere. My locations are very unique and small. 

The only place I have found them is around 10 colonies in a 20x20 square meter area a 30 minute hike away from the nearest paved road, which is why I don't want to leak location.

 

Definitely understand the thought. Mine might be the exactly same size but luckily not a hike but definitely well hidden and unique but there is already a huge hole there. I never tried counting colonies. I might go do that this week. It doesnt feel abundant like I was expecting but they are small ants and their unique mounds arent that big/noticeable. There are definitely other ants there. Like a10 and the largest formica colony I have seen. Not the mound could but its like 5x5 wide. 

Edited by aznphenom, May 16 2022 - 8:01 AM.

[VenomousBeast]

Yeah, same here, there's only 6 colonies that I've counted, maybe some small colonies or just founding queens are around but I haven't found them yet. But here's a picture of one of the colonies I found
I gave them some sugar water so I could get them to stay still for pictures😝

[aznphenom]

Yeah, same here, there's only 6 colonies that I've counted, maybe some small colonies or just founding queens are around but I haven't found them yet. But here's a picture of one of the colonies I found20220406_163152.jpg
I gave them some sugar water so I could get them to stay still for pictures

Granular sugar? and that worked? I should start baiting out colonies and follow them back to the mounds. Maybe I can condition them to work into a trap, which i have thought about doing before.

[VenomousBeast]

Yeah, same here, there's only 6 colonies that I've counted, maybe some small colonies or just founding queens are around but I haven't found them yet. But here's a picture of one of the colonies I found20220406_163152.jpg
I gave them some sugar water so I could get them to stay still for pictures

Granular sugar? and that worked? I should start baiting out colonies and follow them back to the mounds. Maybe I can condition them to work into a trap, which i have thought about doing before.

Yup, just regular granular sugar‍ I always carry some with me and a water bottle so can see what's living in an area. I normally set it out and then check back in 10-30 minutes after putting a few more in other spots and document what I find. It's a good way of finding a general population size of a specific area! Especially in species that build trails. You can tell which are from the same colonies and which are not as they'll compete over the sugar and you can know how many colonies there are, and a general idea of how many in the colony based on how many show up. It's not the most accurate for finding the colony sizes, and it differs from each species on who shows up to feed, but very useful!

Edited by VenomousBeast, May 16 2022 - 8:22 AM.