131 replies to this topic

[Ant-nig321]

OMG.
These girls are basically exploding.
Look at this amount of brood!

Just fed them some more fruit jelly and a small cricket.

Amazing. Good job man


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[ANTdrew]

That is one thicc queen! Nice work.

[Ernteameise]

The hot weather does wonders for the brood development.

Checked on them today and look how much the larvae have grown.

You could basically watch them grow.

 

I have to say, I am very happy with this colony.

 

However, I hardly ever see them outside or forage, but that might be too much to ask with a small colony of only 7 workers.

At least they do not look as if they are starving.

 

[ANTdrew]

Camponotus’ favorite thing to do is lounging around with full gasters doing absolutely nothing.

[Jonathan5608]

Camponotus’ favorite thing to do is lounging around with full gasters doing absolutely nothing.

yes

[Ernteameise]

Weekly colony update-

I also can see steady growth. The larvae grow fast and I am pretty sure I have new workers soon.

One of the larvae also looks like another major.

I still hardly, if ever, see them outside their test tube, but they must be eating, since they are so fat.

 

 

[Jonathan5608]

Weekly colony update-
I also can see steady growth. The larvae grow fast and I am pretty sure I have new workers soon.
One of the larvae also looks like another major.
I still hardly, if ever, see them outside their test tube, but they must be eating, since they are so fat.

some chunky monkeys.

[Ernteameise]

Do you think I should feed them less?

But I had a look and I actually found a scientific paper saying being fat is actually good for ants.
https://www.sydney.e...e-for-ants.html

[Virginian_ants]

No it's good for them. I put a challenge to myself to see if I can get my Camponotus Castaneus colony to stay in the nest but they more than half their colony full of food but they still always have workers in the outworld. Is this odd for Camponotus?

[Ernteameise]

Right!

I got some more supplies for when these girls grow in number- a few more and bigger liquid feeders (3 and 5 ml) since I think my 1ml feeders won't cut it then.

And yes, I know that Camponotus piceus will have a small colony size of a maximum of 200, still, better be prepared.

 

 

I also have been thinking.

I have learned that Messor barbarus can be quite destructive and I have seen pictures on Facebook of a Messor colony trashing the nice decoration of a Tarheel Ants Formicarium and cutting down all the fake plants.

My XXL Mini Hearth is beautiful and precious.

I had originally planned it for my Rescue Messor colony.

But now I am thinking that it might be just the perfect nest for these Camponotus piceus girls.

The colony will stay small and they have not shown any larger activity spurts, and the size of the individual ants will stay relatively small compared to other Camponotus.

I also hope they are less destructive and leave the beautiful decorations in place.

I actually grow more and more fond of the idea of having this colony in there when they have grown a bit more (maybe start of next spring, after their winter rest period).

 

The brown byFormica liquid feeders also fit perfectly with the vermiculite colour of the XXL Mini Hearth.

 

 

Right now I am in communication with Mack from THA, and he will make me a custom bigger nest for my main Messor colony, so I could use their acrylic nest for the Rescue Ants when they have grown (I just need to replace the humidifer and I am all set). I know by now that Messor LOVE this acrylic nest.

[Ernteameise]

So two larvae have formed coccoons (that was quick) and I am going to have one more minor and one more major worker very soon.

These are a joy to watch growing.

Even if they are not doing much else.

 

[Ernteameise]

On today's check-up, the puppae still had not hatched, but some of the larvae had grown.

 

Edited by Ernteameise, July 21 2023 - 9:11 AM.

[Ernteameise]

And we have a third minor pupa.

Plus with the other two pupae,  it won't be long!

 

[BleepingBleepers]

Ooo damn look at all those eggs, you gonna be crowded soon!

[Ernteameise]

Ooo damn look at all those eggs, you gonna be crowded soon!

They already have a nice cozy XXL Mini Hearth waiting for them as soon as they have grown.

[BleepingBleepers]

 

Ooo damn look at all those eggs, you gonna be crowded soon!

They already have a nice cozy XXL Mini Hearth waiting for them as soon as they have grown.

 

OHHHH yeah I think you said this! You said you were going to give it to your harvester ants but didn't want them messing up the nice enclosure due their possible destructive habits so instead want to give it to these guys even though their colony is on the small side?

 

Nice, it was a nice hearth. I do think the groves designed on the bottom of your XXL was meant for seeds etc.

 

But neato! Can't wait.

 

Edit: You don't think the XXL is too big for these guys do you? 100-150 colony size is quite small, might start tossing their trash in it if it's too big me thinks...?

Edited by BleepingBleepers, July 28 2023 - 2:25 PM.

[Ernteameise]

 

 

Ooo damn look at all those eggs, you gonna be crowded soon!

They already have a nice cozy XXL Mini Hearth waiting for them as soon as they have grown.

 

OHHHH yeah I think you said this! You said you were going to give it to your harvester ants but didn't want them messing up the nice enclosure due their possible destructive habits so instead want to give it to these guys even though their colony is on the small side?

 

Nice, it was a nice hearth. I do think the groves designed on the bottom of your XXL was meant for seeds etc.

 

But neato! Can't wait.

 

Edit: You don't think the XXL is too big for these guys do you? 100-150 colony size is quite small, might start tossing their trash in it if it's too big me thinks...?

 

 

I actually asked in the TarHeel Ants group about what they recommend from when on you could use the XXL mini hearth for medium sized ants.

They said they would not do it below a colony size of 50, but then it should work.

Colony size will be small, I expect they might end up with 150- (maybe) 200 workers max. I actually think the nest will be ideal for them.

Size wise, I think it is around the same volume as my current acrylic nest has for the larger Messor colony, and that one I started out with 150 workers.

Also, Camponotus piceus are medium sized ants, not small, they are actually the same size as the minor and media workers of my Messors, they are twice the size of Lasius niger.

 

I have seen in one of my ant Facebook groups how Messor can destroy all the nice decorations, they will just clip off all the nice plastic plants if they think they do not like them. Since Camponotus piceus are more of a cryptic species, I expect them to be less destructive and less about announcing their presence.

 

At least this is the plan.

However, in the end, I will just have to try and see how I get along with this.

Of course I will share developments here.

[Ernteameise]

OMG, what a rare sight!

I actually managed to take a picture of a forager.

So here is proof- these girls do not only sit around looking fat, but on occasion, they also do a bit of work.

 

[Ernteameise]

Welcome to the world:

Worker number 8 !!

(that new major should also be pretty close!)

 

[Ernteameise]

Well, the major has still not hatched.

 

But there are two further minor cocoons.