12 replies to this topic

[UberDuber]

Hi there I have caught a number of atta texana queens this season, but only a couple have produced fungus, so I would like to see if anyone would be willing to sell me some fungus to help boost my survival rate. I am a leafcutter newbie, so I appreciate any help I can get to establish a colony.

 

Thanks!

[aznphenom]

So that means you have a lot of fungus? If so, you can give the others a piece of it and they will accept it and grow it

Edited by aznphenom, May 24 2022 - 9:21 AM.

[UberDuber]

None of mine have enough fungus that I could easily piece it out. The three that I think have fungus, it's about the size of a grain of rice or maybe an apple seed at best.

[aznphenom]

You literally just need a speck. Fungus grows exponentially. You can wait for it to grow if you want. I didn’t merge my queens until 2 weeks after flight. I will try to upload some pictures tonight. Yesterday is 4 weeks for them so I probably have photos of each week.

Edited by aznphenom, May 20 2022 - 5:11 AM.

[UberDuber]

FYI I'm still interested in purchasing A. Texana fungus if anyone has some available Thanks!

[mmcguffi]

Not to derail this conversation, but I wanted to +1 what aznphenom said (I also sent a private message to UberDuber, but I think cataloging this info publicly for future people is helpful)

 

If some of your colonies have fungus, all you need is to take a sesame seed size of fungus from one that has fungus to a colony that doesn't. They should lay trophic eggs that will liquify and feed the fungus and in a few days the previously fungus-less colonies should have ~a US nickel's worth of fungus

 

In any case, I hope you can get some fungus if you are still looking for it UberDuber! 

[PurdueEntomology]

A friend of mine in Houston wants to purchase an Atta texana founding dealate (queen), any of you know who would have some available?

[aznphenom]

 duplicate

Edited by aznphenom, May 25 2022 - 4:44 AM.

[aznphenom]

People observed alates just yesterday morning. But people and vendors will probably have them for sale around July. With the mortality rate, no one wants to sell just queens for them to die and people start bad mouthing their reputation

[UberDuber]

AntsEmporium will probably have atta colonies later in the year. It's hard to sell these as just queens because the mortality rate is so high. Also they do not ship well.

 

Still very much would like to buy fungus from someone though

[VenomousBeast]

AntsEmporium will probably have atta colonies later in the year. It's hard to sell these as just queens because the mortality rate is so high. Also they do not ship well.

Still very much would like to buy fungus from someone though

I've got Trachymyrmex fungus if you're desperate enough🤷‍♂️ I'm not sure how well it'll be used by Atta but the fungus is the same species, though, if I recall, they are different subspecies 🤔🤷‍♂️

[UberDuber]

Thanks Venom but that sounds too risky to me if it's not specifically from an atta texana colony. Appreciate the offer though

[VenomousBeast]

Thanks Venom but that sounds too risky to me if it's not specifically from an atta texana colony. Appreciate the offer though

No problem! Wish I was in an area that had Atta again, they're very entertaining