6 replies to this topic

[Izzy]

Hey all, the warmer weather here has me excited for the coming ant season. Someone last year made a post about ant keeping goals for the year and I really enjoyed seeing what everybody was doing and hoping for, so I thought I'd start another one and see what everyone is up to.

 

As for me:

 

1. Find Formica queens. For some reason the queens of this species continue to elude me. I found my first one last year, but it died within days (I think it was an early flier). I find colonies absolutely everywhere but for some reason I can never time finding the queens right.

 

2. Still looking for a Pogonomyrmex rugosus queen (the biggest species we have in Utah). I bought a few from UtahAnts before he moved, but really looking to find some of my own this year since I have located a few colonies. Though they do seem to be in the southern half of the state so I'll probably have to make a trip down if I'm serious about this one.

 

3. Still looking for Myrmecocystus queens. I found a few more colonies I have marked on my map, but missed the timing last year for flights as my summer ended up being quite busy with work during the days after their flights, which was a major bummer.

 

4. Still want to try and find either Manica or Myrmica queens. I did find a ton of Myrmica queens during a flight I came across while hiking last year but I couldn't stick around because a thunder storm was rolling in and those are bad news at 11,500 feet elevation.

 

5. I'd like to find a colony of some Myrmecocystus ants that aren't the mexicanus of navajo species. Those seem to be the main ones people find in Utah, but the historical data shows there are more. I've got some desert hikes in historic territory of these species I'm planning this year so hopefully I'll come across them.

 

6. Still looking for a cryptic species. Maybe once I get some glasses that will help. Darn you astigmatism.

 

7. Continue to grow my existing colonies. I managed to get one major from my Camponotus sansabeanus colonies before diapause, so hoping to see some big growth from them in year three.

 

Things I'm excited about:
I got permission from the BLM to go out to an isolated mountain range in the west desert of Utah where there is a wildlife preserve that is known for having a very unique ecosystem due to its isolation and collect a few queens and document what ant species exist out there.

 

Reflection on last years goals:
I only completed 4/7 I listed, but I think what I was most proud of was that I found all the species I found last year, and without any help from other ant keepers telling me the general location to go. I found and timed the nuptial flights correctly on my own and it was incredibly rewarding to see them all crawling around in mass instead of having to dig up founding chambers a day or two later.

 

I also managed to catch some queens of new species I hadn't been able to find previously including:

Aphaenogaster occidentalis*

Camponotus modoc*

Formica fusca-group

Lasius latipes

Lasius neoniger*

Myrmica species

 

*mated

 

Excited to be starting my third year. Here's to an amazing 2025!

[Stubyvast]

Thanks Izzy, I'll just follow your formatting here:

 

My goals:

 

1. Hit 2-3k ants for my Tetramorium immigrans colony.

 

2. Catch and sell some local ant species with my friend CoffeBlock, who is also 3d printing nests

 

3. Catch some mountainous Camponotus sp. 

 

4. Catch some Formica. I've never actually successfully raised these.

 

5. Raise some Citronella ants

 

6. Design and build a new acrylic formicarium and get it manufactured.

 

7. Catalogue my ant species based on workers from under a microscope. I also want to mount some and get a nice, professional-looking mount board. That would be awesome.

 

Things I'm excited about: I'm going to California over the spring break (first time!), so I'm really excited to see some new species I've never found before. Also looking through Canadian laws to see if I can bring any across without getting tons of forms signed. Advice would be helpful here.

 

Reflection on past years' goals: Tbh I've mostly just kind of gone with the flow, as I've only started keeping ants about 2 years ago, so I still need to work on that basic ant keeping experience and gain some knowledge. 

 

New species I caught:

Manica invidia. I previously thought these were Myrmica, apparently a common mistake, but then I noticed the lack of a spine on their propodeum (or was it post petiole? I forget). 

Formica. Never caught 'em before, but they're super cool. 

 

2025, here we come!

[Izzy]

7. Catalogue my ant species based on workers from under a microscope. I also want to mount some and get a nice, professional-looking mount board. That would be awesome.

 

I've always thought this would be fun, but I'm a bit intimidated by it all. I'd love to hear more about how it goes for you and what you learn as you do it!

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

Here’s mine:

 

1: raise a colony to above 100 workers

 

2: get my Crematogaster to succeed and prove my doubts wrong 

 

3: raise a small or cryptic species

 

4: manage to get a Myrmica queen and not have the first thing happen to her to be dying   

 

5: find an ant species that I have not seen in my area   

 

6: get a parasitic lasius sp to get biological workers

 

7: design a good founding nest and 3d print it

 

Reflection on past years:

PLS STOP CATCHING LASIUS   I DON’T NEED THEM.

Other than that everything is fine.

Mistakes I will try not to do:

Will not forget to fill water reservoir and feeders, don’t break test tubes, and will not get into any more mistakes involving Formicines and formic acid   

[Ants_Dakota]

This summer will be my 10th year of antkeeping, but I am still trying and learning new things!
My Goals:

This spring's target is Camponotus species, including C. pennsylvanicus, C. modoc, C. novaeboracensis, and C. vicinus from the Black Hills. I have had luck with this in the past but this year is a lot more intentional.
This summer's target is the Formica genus. They are quite hard to catch in large quantities but I have high hopes that I can find some while out on anting adventures.
This fall's target is still unknown, but it may end up being Crematogaster.
I also hope to purchase a quality stereo microscope to help ID ants, especially Formica, to help this anting community.
 

Reflection on past years:

Last year was an excellent year in terms of my personal colonies and my shop here on Formiculture so I am looking forward to another great year!

Mistakes:

More frequent colony feeding is my number 1 goal this year. I can get busy and not prioritize this sometimes so creating a schedule is a must.
I look forward to everyone else's goals!

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

We have so much Formica over here, it’s not even funny, some areas will not have any other species because Formica dominates it, the only species that are able to keep up are species like Camponotus and Myrmica, the rest of the space not dominated by Formica belongs to lasius and tetramorium…

 

I would also happily sell Formica but here in Canada the demand is low and I can’t ship across the US border…

 

Anyways, good luck with your goals!

Edited by OwlThatLikesAnts, March 13 2025 - 12:41 PM.

[MyrmecologyMaven]

This is my first year of ant keeping after leaving the hobby in 2023.

 

My Goals: 

1. Go out anting more! I am very busy and haven't had the time.

2. Schedule ant feedings. I always just do it when I remember but when I'm busy sometimes I neglect them.

3. Getting myself a stereo microscope for insect related endeavors. I found it a fun coincidence how Ants_Dakota had the same goal.

4. Grow my personal colonies big. Some are exploding with brood right now. I need to update my journals soon.

5. Get another Acromyrmex Versicolor colony! I really want another colony but it seems the only people I can get a colony from won't have any until this September.

 

Reflection On Past Years:

None as I had left the hobby in 2023.

 

Mistakes To Avoid:

1. Underfeeding ants when I get busy.

2. Checking on founding queens too often.

3. Allowing ants water sources to dry before I notice.