8 replies to this topic

[nepenthes]

Its been a while since I've posted. I've been non-stop busy! Schools started up again, but what else is new. I can't wait for spring to roll around so I can collect more alates. My numbers have fallen for the winter, experimental designs in formicariums, and what not, so I have 2 main ant species, and the rest of what i have collected is at OSU. Good thing this semester I have a whole bug rack now.

Just thought Id see how you guys are doing, and wanted to share my new photo/blog thingy. Its a tumblr, but Its mainly going to be photos I took with my new macro lens. I'm still adjusting to this monitor, so some of the photos are way over saturated, and dark, and what have you. But there are a few decent ones in there!
http://nepenthesbaphomet.tumblr.com/

 

[Crystals]

It is pretty slow around here.

I haven't even seen anyone in chat the last week or so.  Other than an odd newcomer or two.

 

Neat pictures.  Do you have a captive wasp colony?

[dspdrew]

I haven't even seen anyone in chat the last week or so.  Other than an odd newcomer or two.

Yeah, I've been sick, and I noticed wook has vanished.

 

Just thought Id see how you guys are doing, and wanted to share my new photo/blog thingy. Its a tumblr, but Its mainly going to be photos I took with my new macro lens. I'm still adjusting to this monitor, so some of the photos are way over saturated, and dark, and what have you. But there are a few decent ones in there!
http://nepenthesbaphomet.tumblr.com/

Nice pictures. I'm hoping to have a large Formica colony too, and luckily mine looks like it's finally starting to grow bigger.

[Jake]

Its been a while since I've posted. I've been non-stop busy! Schools started up again, but what else is new. I can't wait for spring to roll around so I can collect more alates. My numbers have fallen for the winter, experimental designs in formicariums, and what not, so I have 2 main ant species, and the rest of what i have collected is at OSU. Good thing this semester I have a whole bug rack now.

Just thought Id see how you guys are doing, and wanted to share my new photo/blog thingy. Its a tumblr, but Its mainly going to be photos I took with my new macro lens. I'm still adjusting to this monitor, so some of the photos are way over saturated, and dark, and what have you. But there are a few decent ones in there!
http://nepenthesbaphomet.tumblr.com/

 

Good to see ya! I can't wait until spring either!

 

It is pretty slow around here.

I haven't even seen anyone in chat the last week or so.  Other than an odd newcomer or two.

 

Neat pictures.  Do you have a captive wasp colony?

Sorry, I don't have any ants, so I can't really post much

[nepenthes]

Thanks!

@crystals, I plan on having a captive wasp colony, one day. I have to locate a young queen/nest and I need to set up an enclosure for them, that would be the most difficult part. That last post was just me ranting about how the author of the post said worker castes are "slaves" in social insects. LOL

@dspdrew, the F. pallidefulva colony I took to OSU is doing GREAT, I wish I had kept her, LOL. very tentative little ant species. The Large Black Formica queen with one nanatic I have will hopefully produce. She ate allot of her larvae before that one worker made it. 

hopefully there will be more activity as this forum is around.

[dspdrew]

hopefully there will be more activity as this forum is around.

It actually hasn't been doing too bad for this time of the year.

[WeatherAnt]

I'm doing alright. After a nice, long, and relaxing winter break I returned to North Dakota about two weeks ago. I've been VERY busy with grad school and since it's winter I've also been pretty inactive in the ant keeping world. But, when warmer weather and ants return that will change.

 

It's been super cold here lately. We've been getting tons of snow and wind. There's been 3 blizzards this week alone! Here's some of the footage I shot this week while driving to school:

 

 

Winds were gusting well into the 40 - 50 mph range (64 - 80 km/h)! Temperatures have been ranging from -20 to -30 degrees F (-29 to -34 degrees C) with wind chills down to -40 degrees (F and C).

 

Needless to say there aren't any ants out here; and there won't be for a very long time. However, back hom in NJ I did see a couple colonies of Prenolepis imparis actively foraging. Even an odd colony of Stenamma brevicorne was out and about.

 

Hope everyone else is doing well!

Edited by WeatherAnt, January 23 2014 - 8:30 PM.

[Crystals]

I hope you had a safe drive.  I drive roads like that far too often in Alberta.  The wind just ice polishes the road.  There is a sinking sensation when you lightly push on the brakes and don't even slow down (even with snow tires).

[WeatherAnt]

I hope you had a safe drive.  I drive roads like that far too often in Alberta.  The wind just ice polishes the road.  There is a sinking sensation when you lightly push on the brakes and don't even slow down (even with snow tires).

Yeah I know the feeling. There's always a constant snow pack on the roads here. Though it rarely gets above freezing in the winter so it doesn't melt then refreeze, causing ice. It's pretty much always just packed snow. I haven't intvested in snow tires or a block engine heater yet. Hopefully the cold doesn't become too much for my car, haha.