61 replies to this topic

[Vendayn]

I think I asked somewhere before, and I spent quite a bit of time looking for the post. So either can't find it or maybe I forgot to ask. But, how big are these compared to Pogonomyrmex rugosus? About same size? Bigger? They look really awesome, and next time you put some up for sale I might buy a colony off you. Look pretty straight forward to raise, like Pogonomyrmex rugosus are.

[dspdrew]

They're a little bigger than P. rugosus. They're skinnier, but longer than them, and they have much longer appendages.

[fortysixandtwo]

Very pretty ants and great set up. Glad to see they are doing well. 

[Vendayn]

Oh, I thought I'd let you know I noticed my Pogonomyrmex rugosus do the same thing. Even when they aren't bothered, every time I look at them, a worker is ALWAYS carrying a cluster of eggs. No matter when or what day, one is always carrying/holding eggs. It isn't because they are moving them or stressed or anything, one worker just sits there holding a bunch of eggs. I noticed they did this when I first had them, and always thought it funny. None of my other ants I've had, just hold eggs and do nothing else or even move. Similar to your worker(s) doing it.

[Leo]

update?

[dspdrew]

Update 4-15-2017

 

This colony is still doing great and growing like crazy. They're now up to about 320 workers.

 

Here's a little video I took of them. You can see them holding all the smallest larvae and eggs in their mandibles like they always do. I don't know why, but they never let it sit on the ground.

 

[nurbs]

So cool!

[Herdo]

This is a really cool and interesting colony.  All your stuff looks amazing; what camera are you using for the stills and video?  I'm starting to look into a good camera for macro images.

[dspdrew]

Update 6-17-2017

 

As much as i loved this colony, someone made an offer on it that I couldn't pass up. I really hope I can find more of them this year. They should be flying some time in the next month.

[dspdrew]

Update 7-23-2017

 

Well I found a bunch more of these, so hopefully I get another good colony out of them. All these new queens were found in Nipton, California on 7-11-2017 and 7-17-2017. They flew around 9:00 PM and were found running around all night until it got light. At that point they all hid and couldn't be found anymore.

 

I'm keeping a few of these in my new founding formicariums, and all the rest in test tubes.

[FeedTheAnts]

I love this species. Awesome colony!

[YsTheAnt]

Update?

[AntsMaryland]

They seem very dog-like ants.

[YsTheAnt]

They are super fun to watch, and are very curious, dog like indeed.

[Bryce]

By far my very favorite ant.

[dspdrew]

Update 12-5-2018

 

I have four of these colonies left, all living in starter formicariums. About two months ago, the largest colony's queen died, so I took what I thought was a dud queen (she wasn't laying any eggs) from one of the test tubes, and added her to the colony. I turned the temperature up in my fridge, and put them in there to cool them off. I left them in there for an hour or so, then took them out. As they warmed up, they started fighting with the queen, so I put them back in again. I don't remember exactly how much longer I left them in, but eventually they were not as aggressive. The queen and the workers did not seem to get a long very well, but they were not trying to kill each other. After a few days, the queen was in the nest with them and they all looked happy. Amazingly, this queen then started laying lots of eggs, and now the colony is continuing to grow larger.

 

Right now the colony sizes are 8, 18, 20, and 22 workers.

[Kalidas]

Update 12-5-2018
 
I have four of these colonies left, all living in starter formicariums. About two months ago, the largest colony's queen died, so I took what I thought was a dud queen (she wasn't laying any eggs) from one of the test tubes, and added her to the colony. I turned the temperature up in my fridge, and put them in there to cool them off. I left them in there for an hour or so, then took them out. As they warmed up, they started fighting with the queen, so I put them back in again. I don't remember exactly how much longer I left them in, but eventually they were not as aggressive. The queen and the workers did not seem to get a long very well, but they were not trying to kill each other. After a few days, the queen was in the nest with them and they all looked happy. Amazingly, this queen then started laying lots of eggs, and now the colony is continuing to grow larger.
 
Right now the colony sizes are 8, 18, 20, and 22 workers.

That's soooo cool! Awesome work man

[Kalidas]

Oh and BTW in the title you put the year as 2017.

[Rstheant]

I have a colony. What do you feed yours?

[dspdrew]

Oh and BTW in the title you put the year as 2017.

 

Fixed. Thanks. It's because I copy the previous update to get the same formatting.

 

 

I have a colony. What do you feed yours?

 

Insects or other meats and sometimes seeds or fruit.