19 replies to this topic

[MinifigGaloreStore]

Introduction: I am a newbie based in South Dakota and the reason I created a profile on this forum was the relatively robust community from my same city also using this site. Since it's cold here and we just got 12"+ of snow...

 

I'm starting this journal to record my research and personal notes while waiting for the weather to get warm enough to hunt for my first queen.

 

I have been interested / obsessed with this hobby for only about a month. With a full time job, 3 kids, and a fairly time consuming hobby business, I'm not 100% sure I want to get into owning my own colony yet, but I am very interested in at least hunting for queens and seeing how it evolves from there.

 

Here goes:

 

Late Jan - 2023 was when my interest in this hobby truly started.

 

I was making my way through the ant video mini-documentaries posted by the youtube channel Kurzgesagt:

 

The key point for me was the polymorphism they mention in the Army Ant video saying that some species of leaf-cutters have soldiers that are 100 times the size of a minor worker. I found that so interesting that I started searching more about polymorphism.

 

Those searches are what eventually led me to find queen catching videos on youtube including antscanada and farther develop my interest in ant keeping, formicariums, etc.

[ColAnt735]

Welcome to the forum and hobby! if you have any questions you want to add we will gladly answer them.

[ANTdrew]

I hope you got in touch with the other SoDak members.

[MinifigGaloreStore]

Initially, I was trying not to buy any gear as I've noticed I tend to get very interested in something, buy stuff, and then my interest fades.

However, I was pretty sure I wanted to at least get a formicarium of some kind for my nephew so we could collect worker ants while on vacation and observe them for a week:

 

https://www.formicul...hread/?p=223567

 

One night, I randomly searched FB marketplace and someone was dumping a $179 “Solenopsis” “all you need” kit from AntsCanada for $50+shipping so I bought that since it seemed such a good deal.

Attached Images

• 
• 
• 

[MinifigGaloreStore]

I hope you got in touch with the other SoDak members.

I did! One was even nice enough to confirm for me that pogonomyrmex occidentalis only fly farther west in the state.

[antsriondel]

Welcome! 

[MinifigGaloreStore]

Do ants generally begin nuptial flights as soon as they get active? My interest peaked during the doldrum cold winter months, and just this past weekend I saw an ant crawling on the wood of the swingset / playset we were building in the backyard.

 

This has somewhat re-ignited my interest.

 

It's been raining a lot here too, but my thought was, just because ants are crawling around, doesn't mean that the queens started flying.

[ANTdrew]

It depends on species. You will certainly have nuptial flights in June at the latest.

[DakotaDubs]

I’m also from South Dakota and relatively new to the hobby, I have a few queens already and plan on catching more if I see any, if I have any extras I’d be more than willing to donate you some colonies if you’d like and are around the Sioux Falls area.

[DakotaDubs]

Flights are starting or jus about to start around our area if you’re still interested in the hobby now would be the time to start being on the lookout

[MinifigGaloreStore]

LOW BUDGET BLACK LIGHT TRAP. I bought the bulb for $5 and the 10” funnel for $10 shipped.
It’s very good at catching grass bugs so far. No queens. My yard might not be a good spot.
I need to add some mods.
-spray paint funnel white so I don’t rely on printer paper taped inside the funnel.
-find a way to thread the bottle to the funnel so it’s easier to remove.

Attached Images

• 

Edited by MinifigGaloreStore, May 29 2023 - 9:14 AM.

[ANTdrew]

It’s probably just too cool at night yet for blacklighting. A wider sheet might be more visible, too.

[Ants_Dakota]

Do ants generally begin nuptial flights as soon as they get active? My interest peaked during the doldrum cold winter months, and just this past weekend I saw an ant crawling on the wood of the swingset / playset we were building in the backyard.

 

This has somewhat re-ignited my interest.

 

It's been raining a lot here too, but my thought was, just because ants are crawling around, doesn't mean that the queens started flying.

your best shot is right now is to start looking for camponotus queens, as they are flying most likely in the next couple of weeks. I know me and AntsDakota are heading out multiple times this week to see if we can catch any.

Edited by Ants_Dakota, May 29 2023 - 11:40 AM.

[MinifigGaloreStore]

I found this girl at the end of my driveway last night.

Lasius is what I found out from discord.

 

Does anyone have recommendations during the founding stage?

 

I figure my basement is too cold, and the garage is probably too hot.

 

I have her in the dark on a shelf in the far corner of my closet.

 

I don't need to feed this species during founding, correct?

Attached Images

• 
• 

[Virginian_ants]

Yes just leave her in the dark and she'll have workers soon. Hope cold is your basement and how hot is your garage. The brood will develop fastest if at a temperature of 80-90.

[MinifigGaloreStore]

Yes just leave her in the dark and she'll have workers soon. Hope cold is your basement and how hot is your garage. The brood will develop fastest if at a temperature of 80-90.

 

Basement particularly the mech room is probably like 65°.
Garage last night was at 82°. It touched like 96° a few weeks back, but I don't think it will get that hot in there again. I was just worried about cooking her since in the wild, it's probably decently cool in their underground chambers.

I think I will move her to the garage.

[Virginian_ants]

I think she'll do best in there ants are very hardy especially Lasius. Even if it gets 96 for short periods of time she'll do okay. Her brood will develop very fast at the garage's temperature.

[MinifigGaloreStore]

I think she'll do best in there ants are very hardy especially Lasius. Even if it gets 96 for short periods of time she'll do okay. Her brood will develop very fast at the garage's temperature.

I think this was the right call. It was 86° in there last night. When I pulled the tube out of my closet probably around 70° she didn't seem overly active.
After a night under a towel in the garage, I peeked on her one more time and she seemed to be moving her antennae around more and less sluggish.

Want to just leave her be now for a few weeks, but if they are hardy, maybe it wouldn't hurt to check on her now and then?

 

Lastly, in my haste to get her in a test tube, I used softened water from the tap. Is that detrimental to the point it's worth disturbing her again to swap to a tube with filtered water from the fridge?

[Virginian_ants]

Maybe once every two weeks is good. I use tap water and I haven't had problems but filtered is better.

[MinifigGaloreStore]

Pictures taken 8/19/2023 with a cheap clip on macro lens.... better than the iPhone digital zoom at least.

We have an egg pile!

 

Also checked on her 8/27/2023 and there didn't seem to be much change.

 

Discord Identification help seemed to be more on the Americanus fence with a few saying Neoniger as well.

 

 

Attached Images

• 
•