106 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

It can take a while. Really cool colony there.

[AntsCali098]

Thanks! Myrmecocystus is a truly awesome species

Edited by AntsCali098, May 30 2023 - 6:40 PM.

[AntsCali098]

They have a lot more repletes then last time, I am in awe of how beautiful they are with their red gasters. There were more callows then usual when I checked today, confirming their growth. There are probably 4 full sized repletes and 5 mini repletes now. I wish I could get better shots, but they decided to hide the majority of them with sand. They also have an awesome amount of eggs and larvae, and I cleaned out maybe 10 discarded cocoons today. The majority of brood is also hidden, I'll have a better view when they are in the fortress.

I will add another mini hearth before moving them to the fortress, maybe I'll add it this week. This colony is simply amazing, especially at feeding time with their beautiful red gasters. The queen is in her usual spot, hanging upside down over the water tower (hidden by sand). Pictures of what I was able to get below.

Edited by AntsCali098, June 6 2023 - 7:37 AM.

[AntsCali098]

Caught them having trophallaxis (you can even see the nectar drop)!
https://youtube.com/...?feature=share4

[Ernteameise]

Very cool.

[AntsCali098]

How many Myrmecocystus mexicanus workers will the tha fortress be fit to?

[AntsCali098]

I added the extra mini hearth, which they seem to appreciate so far. They immediately started exploring. I'll post an update here later to show how they will use the extra space.

[Ernteameise]

I am jealous, such a cool colony.
Sad that they are very rare and hard to get over here, and if they are on offer, they cost an arm and a leg.

[AntsCali098]

They haven't really used the nest space much yet, no brood, but seem to like the new outworld space.

[AntsCali098]

So far, they are using the extra nest as a sort of resting area, as a lot of workers are chilling in there. They already started to pile sand/soil on the glass of the new nest.

[AntsCali098]

They started storing brood in the new nest! They really like it, most ants stay in there, I'd say about 60% of the colony.

The queen remains in the main nest in her usual spot, hanging upside down over the water tower.

All the repletes remain in the larger nest as well, but they have brought a batch of eggs, maybe 5-10 larvae, and 10-15 cocoons to the new one.

I was able to get the best shots in a while in the new nest, since the glass is much clearer.



Thanks for checking out this journal!

Edited by AntsCali098, June 12 2023 - 1:35 PM.

[Locness]

Nice colony! I had a massive die-off recently for some reason. The queen was producing like crazy leading up to it. Dozens of workers and a dozen large repletes were lost. The colony is stable now, but the queen has stopped laying. 

[AntsCali098]

Dang. Myrmecocystus is weird like that, hopefully your colony can get going again

Edited by AntsCali098, June 12 2023 - 2:41 PM.

[antsriondel]

They're activity is gradually getting larger and larger, making it hard to clean without sucking up workers with my hoover. Here's some footage I took:


Inside the nest (using handheld microscope)
https://youtube.com/...?feature=share4

They are doing great, and I ordered a fortress for them in April, which still hasn't arrived.

Is this normal for THA fortresses?

Thanks for checking out my journal!

This journal has made me want a Queen from the Myrmecocystus genus really badly. 

[Locness]

Dang. Myrmecocystus is weird like that, hopefully your colony can get going again

 

Thanks, I checked this morning and was very happy to see a clutch of eggs!

[AntsCali098]

The queen moved to the new nest! Because of this, I can finally see her and get footage.

From macro lens: (queen having trophallaxis)!


From handheld microscope:



The workers are such different sizes, even though they don't have majors.


I think this is because of their repletes, the larger workers could be future repletes.

Thanks for checking out my journal!

[Ernteameise]

Again, beautiful pictures!

[AntsCali098]

Thank you!

[AntsCali098]

Look at all that larvae!

I think all the eggs from last time turned to larvae.

The brood is looking like it did when I first got them, a whole lot of larvae.

In other news, almost every worker has migrated to the new nest except the repletes, they are treating it as their main nest, to my liking, as I can get much better pictures through the glass.


I managed to snap a picture of this beautiful replete in the old nest as well.


Thanks for checking out my journal!

[antsriondel]

Look at all that larvae!PXL_20230617_013025170.MP.jpg

I think all the eggs from last time turned to larvae.

The brood is looking like it did when I first got them, a whole lot of larvae.

In other news, almost every worker has migrated to the new nest except the repletes, they are treating it as their main nest, to my liking, as I can get much better pictures through the glass.
PXL_20230617_013034642.MP.jpgPXL_20230617_013017777.MP.jpg

I managed to snap a picture of this beautiful replete in the old nest as well.
PXL_20230617_012409924.MP.jpg

Thanks for checking out my journal!

That colony is incredible. 

Edited by antsriondel, June 16 2023 - 6:43 PM.