42 replies to this topic

[NotAxo]

Try to dilute the honey with water. don't let it have a syrup consistency, it'll trap the ant like a glue trap. Other than that, for protein sources, I recommend cut up mealworms and crickets, but anything that has bulk of protein or muscles can be used. I give my ants crushed cricket hind legs, and they love to leave the exoskeleton for me to clean. Same as with the mealworms, but they waste a bit sometimes.

[ANTdrew]

Why keep Tapinoma sessile?

I had a colony before, but ended up having to release them, because they kept finding ways to escape the nest that I had them in. What about Tapinoma sessile makes you ask that?

My house is already full of them all the time. I consider them off-brand Argentine ants. They’re so annoying and probably one of the main reasons most people dislike ants in North America.

[TheAntKid]

I did a video update on Instagram about my nylanderia colinoes and forelius mccooki/pruinosus and posted some cool macro shots.

[Etnies]

they look so coooool. I'm really invested!

[TheAntKid]

Welp, after a colony move involving my Formica incerta 2 colony, 2 of her 3 first workers are dead, and my "Camponotus pennsylvanicus 1" colony is down to one worker after one got injured during me cleaning their outworld.
But lets get the good news: I fed the following colonies: Formica incerta 1 & 2, Brachymyrmex patagonicus, Nylanderia 1 and 3, Test tube Hypoponera queen, Campnotus pennsylvanicus. 1 & 2, Forelius sp., and Solenopsis invicta colony.
My Brachymyrmex patagonicus colony is still growing, and they have more brood, probably from the cat food I fed them recently. I also fed them some cricket and karo syrup.

My "Formica incerta 1" colony has about 7-8 workers, but that number should be increasing soon, because they have pupae and larvae.

My Solenopsis invicta colony is growing pretty slowly, which is weird considering what I have heard about this species. They still have 3 workers and 2 queens, as well as larvae and eggs.

My "Camponotus pennsylvanicus. 2" colony has 3 workers now (all of her pupae opened), and they recently ate.

My "Camponotus pennsylvanicus 3" colony has 1 worker, and some eggs.

My Forelius queen has allot of eggs, and 1 worker, and what I thought to be a pupa, might be a large larva.

My Nylanderia 1, 2, and 3 colonies all recently ate (they seem to love everything I have given them so far (crickets, cat food, and syrup)).

My Test tube Hypoponera queen was recently fed a bit of cricket, and she has made some pretty long tunnels in the substrate in her test tube.

In Terrarium 3, I will be replacing its inhabitants (the former ones died) with new ants, or I will be moving in my myrmecina americana queen/ colony, if she is still alive.

Speaking of, in terrarium 1, the myrmecina americana queen and hypoponera queen seem to have vanished, so this might just be a plain strumigenys terrarium now, but this is still good. BTW, the Strumigenys queens in terrarium 2 now have larvae.
Lastly, I noticed that crickets, cockroaches, and syrup/honey are like pancakes and steak to my ants, who else has some nice feeding experiences they would like to share?

Edited by TheAntKid, August 8 2024 - 4:50 PM.

[TheAntKid]

Here are some labeled pictures of the Colonies:
A strumigenys queen foraging
My "Nylanderia 3" colony

My 'Camponotus pennsylvanicus. 2" colony

My "Formica incerta 1" colony eating some syrup

[TheAntKid]

Just got some tapinoma sessile queens, workers, and brood during a colony move. There are about 6-10 queens, which I would say is a good number. Here are some photos:
The nest I have them in is definitely to large, but I will enjoy the constant escapees and ants crawling all around my shelf.

[ANTdrew]

Tapinoma sessile, my favorite ant species!

[RushmoreAnts]

For some reason the only Tapinoma colony I've ever seen in my area lives in my house's foundation. Quirky little things. What nest is that? I don't recognize it.

[TheAntKid]

Sadly, the formica incerta 2 colony is no more. After two stressful moves, the queen died.

[TheAntKid]

For some reason the only Tapinoma colony I've ever seen in my area lives in my house's foundation. Quirky little things. What nest is that? I don't recognize it.

I got it from Amazon, here's the link https://www.amazon.c...04036961&sr=8-4

[TheAntKid]

For some reason, my "Nylanderia 2" colony died, I guess from stress from me moving them, after the water in their test tube ran out.

[Stubyvast]

Whoops I was gonna say something, but then after the fact realized I was replying to the first page. My bad, please ignore.

Edited by Stubyvast, August 12 2024 - 4:50 PM.

[TheAntKid]

You're good.

Edited by TheAntKid, August 12 2024 - 6:03 PM.

[TheAntKid]

Just got some brood and workers to brood boost my colony of solenopsis carolinensis, that now has 2 workers.

[TheAntKid]

After some temporary changes, I had to release all of my colonies, but I was able to keep my "Formica incerta 2" colony, and recently caught part of a Lasius sp. colony, and a strumigenys colony with them. BTW, are there and socially parasitic strumigenys that nest with, or around lasuis?

[TheAntKid]

I caught some springtails yesterday, and I have an idea for a terrarium that contains 2 jars.

[TheAntKid]

Just finished the terrariums:

 

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[cooIboyJ]

That terrarium looks very nice!

[TheAntKid]

I caught a small colony of Brachymyrmex patagonicus under a brick and have recently moved them into a terrarium of mine. The colony has about 7-9 workers and 1 queen.