20 replies to this topic

[Ants101]

Hello.

 

I have always wanted to have a pheidole colony but I never could find them or even thought they existed where I live.

 

Suddenly, on July (2022) at 5am in the morning, I looked out the window of the door where the outdoor night lamp was and saw some alates.

 

At first I thought they were pavement ant alates but then realized they were pheidole.

 

I got many males and only 2 females and put them in this particular setup (below) with the hope they may mate because I really wanted to be sure there will be a mated queen ant!

 

 

After a few days, I removed the males and left the 2 females and noticed they were huddled together tending eggs!

 

I have decided to put them in their own separate test tube setup and split the eggs between the two and see if both were still laying eggs or just 1.

 

Overtime, I noticed that only one of the queen was laying eggs (left test tube) while the other queen manage to raise the few eggs she had into adults (right test tube).

 

 

I made the decision to place the suspected infertile queen into a walnut so that I can take it outside somewhere.

 

 

While the other Pheidole Queen in the test tube, was placed into a DIY formicarium.

 

 

As of August 2022, the Pheidole queen and her brood has moved into the formicarium nest and is now currently growing in numbers. Around 15 adults ants.

 

 

If it is not too much to ask. What type of pheidole species are these? The workers are tiny (2-3mm long).

Edited by Ants101, September 2 2022 - 4:53 AM.

[OiledOlives]

Tysoni possibly, but it is impossible to identify past pheidole or maybe flavens-group without location.

Sent from my IN2015 using Tapatalk

[Ants101]

Tysoni possibly, but it is impossible to identify past pheidole or maybe flavens-group without location.
Sent from my IN2015 using Tapatalk

Thanks for your response. They were found around Maryland, USA.

Edited by Ants101, October 3 2022 - 3:30 PM.

[ANTdrew]

You made that nest? It’s very nice.

[OiledOlives]

Tysoni possibly, but it is impossible to identify past pheidole or maybe flavens-group without location.
Sent from my IN2015 using Tapatalk

Thanks for your response. They were found around Maryland, USA.

Tysoni then.

Sent from my IN2015 using Tapatalk

[Ants101]

You made that nest? It’s very nice.

I can’t take credit for this homemade nest. Someone else help me make it out of hydrostone/gypsum cement.

[Ants101]

Tysoni possibly, but it is impossible to identify past pheidole or maybe flavens-group without location.
Sent from my IN2015 using Tapatalk

Thanks for your response. They were found around Maryland, USA.

Tysoni then.
Sent from my IN2015 using Tapatalk

I looked it up in google and it definitely got be the tiny Tysoni.

[Ants101]

Just a small update for the month of September 2022.
The colony have their first major ant. Can you spot her?

[antsriondel]

Wow! Keep up the good work!

[ugo]

i have a pheidole Tysoni colony as well, same stage as your too but no magers yet.  

[Ants101]

i have a pheidole Tysoni colony as well, same stage as your too but no magers yet.  

 

That is cool. I hope you will be successful. I been feeding them fruit flies and sugar water so far. 

[Ants101]

As of late October 2022, the colony has possibly grown to 100 workers ants, including 10 or so majors. 

 

 

 

 

The majors (large head ants) are shy ants that hardly ever leave the nest.

 

They mostly stay inside the nest with their enlarged abdomens full of sugar water as if they were honey pot ants.  

 

 

(Left Picture Below)- Notice the majors surrounding the queen while workers groom the queen.

 

 

 

 

(Left Picture Below) - Inside the Nest

 

(Right Picture Below)- Outside the nest, there is only 1 major (the oldest) that does go out to help the small workers bring in the solid food 

 

 

 

 

They are growing fast in numbers and will eventually be moved to another DIY nest which will more likely be next year.

 

The DIY nest has already been made. It wasn't easy but it was accomplished with a lot of help.

 

 

Edited by Ants101, October 31 2022 - 4:07 AM.

[Flu1d]

These pheidole are adorable!

[TennesseeAnts]

Always loved the tiny P. flavens-group species. Great looking colony! Last year I had a large colony of Pheidole tysoni and they really liked to collect and eat certain grass seeds. Now that your colony has majors you should give them a try. Plus, if you go on vacation, you can leave them with a feeder full of sugar water and throw them some seeds!

[Ants101]

Always loved the tiny P. flavens-group species. Great looking colony! Last year I had a large colony of Pheidole tysoni and they really liked to collect and eat certain grass seeds. Now that your colony has majors you should give them a try. Plus, if you go on vacation, you can leave them with a feeder full of sugar water and throw them some seeds!

 

I was not aware of this. Thanks for sharing. 

[Ant-nig321]

How are they now?

Sent from my TECNO BD4h using Tapatalk

[Ants101]

As of now, the Pheidole colony are currently in diapause (hibernation) since December within a wine cooler fridge specifically

 

purchased for the ant hobby. They are currently in a 52°F temperature with no fatalities. The 50°F temperature will be the final temperature

 

for the whole diapause period. 

 

 

 

 

I put them in an unsealed zip lock bag to prevent any direct cold draft from the fridge and check them weekly to give them fresh sugar water.

 

I will take them out of diapause around March or April 2023.

Edited by Ants101, December 28 2022 - 2:34 PM.

[Ants101]

As of early March 2023 the Pheidole are now out of diapause.

 

They all have survived, including the many large larvae.

 

 

 

(Left Picture) - I noticed a pile of eggs already after 2 weeks since ending their diapause. 

 

(Right Picture) - The majors are on standby, and the queen still have her one wing. 

 

 

 

 

Surely, they will grow quicker in numbers. Maybe up to 200- 400 in two months.

 

 

 

[ANTdrew]

This is a great colony!

[antsriondel]

This is a great colony!

Agreed! Very impressive, most impressive.