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Best Species of Myrmecines

Started By bmb1bee , May 31 2023 9:22 PM

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6 replies to this topic

#1 Offline bmb1bee - Posted May 31 2023 - 9:22 PM

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LocationHayward, CA

This year I decided to explore keeping myrmecine ants, which I intend to collect a wide variety of. While doing research on a few species I intended to catch here in Cali, I started to question: which would be the best and most rewarding to keep? I'm wondering what species or genuses of myrmecines you guys would prefer to keep and why you took interest in them.

I personally like Pheidole, as I like to watch my colony of P. californica swarm their food and pick it apart with their epic, big-headed majors. They're also basically mini-sized Pogonomyrmex in a way because they also collect seeds, being facultative granivores.

"Float like a butterfly sting like a bee, his eyes can't hit what the eyes can't see."
- Muhammad Ali

Check out my shop and cryptic ant journal! Discord user is bmb1bee if you'd like to chat.

Also check out my YouTube channel: @bmb1bee

#2 Offline Ernteameise - Posted May 31 2023 - 11:48 PM

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LocationGermany

I am not from the US, but I keep two types of Myrmecines, Messor (harvester ants) and Temnothorax (acorn ants) and they both are rewarding and a joy to watch and keep.

Easy to feed, too.

Plus with both of them, you can also leave them for 1-2 weeks when going on a holiday.

So I would also recommend harvester ants if you can get them.

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#3 Offline ANTdrew - Posted June 1 2023 - 2:03 AM

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LocationAlexandria, VA

Every Myrmecine is amazing in my opinion. Crematogaster, Pheidole, Aphaenogaster, and Monomorium are my favorites.

bmb1bee and AntPerson76 like this

"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#4 Offline Amatty76 - Posted June 1 2023 - 4:58 AM

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LocationFort Atkinson, Wisconsin, USA

Are you guys forgetting attina are myrmicinae?

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#5 Offline Manitobant - Posted June 1 2023 - 5:28 AM

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LocationWinnipeg, Canada

Any of the parasites really. Strongylognathus, harpagoxenus, Tetramorium ferox group, crematogaster mutans etc are my favourites but I’ll admit i’m a little biased towards parasitic ants.

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My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#6 Offline bmb1bee - Posted June 1 2023 - 5:58 AM

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LocationHayward, CA

Are you guys forgetting attina are myrmicinae?

Nope, it's just that here we really only have Cyphomyrmex and Acromyrmex. I liked keeping my previous Acromyrmex colony, but haven't gotten enough experience with them.