69 replies to this topic

[Demoant]

kept this species before but they never ate seeds, only either ignoring them or bringing them back then throwing them out.

thank you for sharing the method of crushing the seeds! 

[Ernteameise]

Happy little colony

 

 

At night, I see them go out foraging, they were very happy about the cricket last night.

I also offered them some organic strawberry jam (from my mum) and a bit of egg yolk, will have to see if they like that.

On this picture, you can see the egg pile, and next to it, one of the majors who is in charge of it. So when I accidently cause a vibration, the major will pick up the pile of eggs and protect it with it's body.

There is also one normal worker who is the special attendant of the queen, and if she is in danger, this worker tackles her and wraps around her protectively.

Very fascinating species.

[Ernteameise]

Today was chicken day (I made chicken soup and also boiled some for all my girls).

Even the Acanthomyrmex came out in force and did enjoy their chicken!

They are normally very shy, but they were so into the chicken, that they reacted very slowly to me taking a picture.

 

[Ernteameise]

So yesterday, these ants have started to store seed in the nest again.

They have not done so for weeks, and the seed were sitting in the feeder dish for 2 weeks, untouched.

I also supply them with protein (chicken and dead crickets) and ant nectar.

So why storage of the seed now?

Well, as I have written, they have laid a pile of new eggs some time ago (see above) and I think the larvae have hatched.

So the new effort with the seed coincides with a new batch or mouths that need feeding.

And yes, I thought I had crushed most of these seed, but from the look of it, they must have selected mainly the UNCRUSHED seed and carried them to the nest.

There, they have placed them on the water tower, and obviously want them to sprout so they have an easier time of processing them.

 

Oh well.

Yes, this is a bit of a mess, but this appears to be what they do and I will just have to accept this.

Luckily, it is no problem.

As I have mentioned before, I can open up the nest no problem and the ants will form a defensive ball and nobody will run out.

So I have no trouble cleaning out the nest if things become moldy or if the seed sprout.

 

And actually, I find this behavior quite interesting and I am happy I am able to observe all of this.

 

[ANTdrew]

Perhaps you could flash boil seeds to prevent sprouting? That might soften them up, too.

[Ernteameise]

Perhaps you could flash boil seeds to prevent sprouting? That might soften them up, too.

Now that is also an idea.

I just gave them fresh crushed ones, but next time, I might try quick boiling.

[Ernteameise]

The colony definitely is in hungry mode at the moment

 

[Ernteameise]

The girls love their chicken.

The bring it to the nest, where they chew it up further with the help of the majors.

Then bits are placed on the "food basket" (it is called that in "the Ants") of the larvae- the "inbuilt food dish" under the chin of the larvae.

Then the larvae can dig in.

It is so cute to watch (using my magnifying glass and red light torch).

 

[Ernteameise]

Since I did some cleaning today, I decided it was also time to take another picture of this colony.

They are developing well.

Quite a bit of brood and several callow workers.

From looking at the larvae and pupae that are developing right now, I think they have cut down on producing majors, right now, only normal workers are "in the works".

I had wondered why they had so many majors, since they only use them for food processing and larval feeding, and the normal workers do the foraging.

However, I did read in a scientific article about this genus that the majors also have developed ovaries and are used as food storage "repletes" that then lay trophic eggs to feed the colony.

So they are basically like battery hens (chickens).

Pretty cool, I think!

 

 

Close-up of the queen (center) and the larvae:

 

[AsdinAnts]

that is really cool!
Dang, the queen looks beautiful

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

I love how the majors look!

[Ernteameise]

Some news about this colony-

they have now matured and I found the first boy in the colony.

Now I am unsure- some people on here say that alates suck the strength out of a colony.

Should I remove the boy?

 

The colony today

 

 

And here are close-ups of the boy they have produced:

 

 

 

I will definitely remove him if he leaves the nest, just wondering if I should leave him for the time being.

[TacticalHandleGaming]

Should be fine as long as you keep feeding them like you are. He will try to fly, or will be culled by the colony.

Edited by TacticalHandleGaming, June 15 2024 - 12:32 PM.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

I agree with THG they will just discard the male as it does not do anything and wastes energy.

[ANTdrew]

Males do not sap much energy from the colony, it’s queens that do so.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

I thought it was both...

Edited by GOCAMPONOTUS, June 15 2024 - 5:39 PM.

[Ernteameise]

Invasion of the boys!

There are now a few more boys on the scene.

Still debating with myself if I should remove them.

 

 

Otherwise, the colony is doing well. They enjoy their food

 

 

And some more eye-candy of the colony and these amazing majors

 

 

[Ernteameise]

These girls continue to do well.

Found a new egg parcel today.

 

 

[Locness]

Urge to pet a major lol

[Ernteameise]

Urge to pet a major lol

They are just that adorable, aren't they?

However, they are tiny. About 5-6 mm long. I have not picked any of them up out of fear that I might injure them.