3 replies to this topic

[Broncos]

On august 2nd I went to Phelan to go anting because it had gotten hit by rain pretty hard the previous day. Right as I got out of the car, I already saw a queen digging her founding chamber. I hiked the area and my total was 15 Pogonomyrmex. Rugosus queens. So currently they all have 2-4 brood boosted Pogonomyrmex. Californicus pupae or workers. Everything went alright between the two species. All are housed in test tubes with some dirt at the bottom.

[Broncos]

Lost 4 queens so far. The others are doing great. All other 11 rugosus queens have either large larva or very fresh pupae. I did spread some of the queens out into different types of formicariums. I've got 1 queen in a small starter formicarium, 2 in dirt box formicariums, and 1 in a small amac box filled with some desert sand. I've noticed that the ones in the dirt formicariums are doing much better than the ones in test tubes. These queens love crushed walnuts despite being fully claustral. 

[UtahAnts]

Lost 4 queens so far. The others are doing great. All other 11 rugosus queens have either large larva or very fresh pupae. I did spread some of the queens out into different types of formicariums. I've got 1 queen in a small starter formicarium, 2 in dirt box formicariums, and 1 in a small amac box filled with some desert sand. I've noticed that the ones in the dirt formicariums are doing much better than the ones in test tubes. These queens love crushed walnuts despite being fully claustral. 

 

I've had similar results with my rugosus. I caught more then I was planning for, so I didn't have enough test tubes. I threw some into some small containers with sand and clay, and just hydrated them every few days. While the test tube queens died, almost all the dirt container queens founded successfully.

 

I'll need to try walnuts, is there a certain type or brand that works best?

[Broncos]

 

Lost 4 queens so far. The others are doing great. All other 11 rugosus queens have either large larva or very fresh pupae. I did spread some of the queens out into different types of formicariums. I've got 1 queen in a small starter formicarium, 2 in dirt box formicariums, and 1 in a small amac box filled with some desert sand. I've noticed that the ones in the dirt formicariums are doing much better than the ones in test tubes. These queens love crushed walnuts despite being fully claustral. 

 

I've had similar results with my rugosus. I caught more then I was planning for, so I didn't have enough test tubes. I threw some into some small containers with sand and clay, and just hydrated them every few days. While the test tube queens died, almost all the dirt container queens founded successfully.

 

I'll need to try walnuts, is there a certain type or brand that works best?

 

I just got some organic walnuts from target. ill house a couple more in dirt setups if i can. I feel like all Pogonomyrmex do better in dirt.