15 replies to this topic

[cooIboyJ]

I have caught one of what I think is some sort of Pheidole :

 

1. Location (on a map) of collection:  I found it in west henderson nevada.
2. Date of collection: I found it on 9/26/24.
3. Habitat of collection: It was found at a small neighborhood park, with a lot of trees and a field with sprinklers. It also has a pool very close by.
4. Length (from head to gaster): around 5 millimeters.
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: It is a light brown.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: It is very small.
7. Distinguishing behavior: It has no distinguishing behavior from what I can see.
8. Nest description: It is in a test tube right now

9. Nuptial flight time and date: Same date as when I found it, I also found F. manni. along with it. And of course uncountable Brachymyrmex patagonicus. 

 

I think that this queen is some sort of Pogonomyrmex

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Henderson NV
2. Date of collection: 9/25/24
3. Habitat of collection: Same as last ant
4. Length (from head to gaster): around 10 millimeters
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Looks like Solenopsis invicta
6. Distinguishing characteristics: nothing really
7. Distinguishing behavior: nothing really
8. Nest description: Test tube

9. Nuptial flight time and date: Same as the other ID but without the F. Manni. and Brachymyrmex patagonicus

 

 

Edited by cooIboyJ, October 1 2024 - 2:51 PM.

[RushmoreAnts]

Better photos are required. If money is an issue, I'd recommend getting a clip-on macro lens off of Amazon, they are affordable. I would agree that it's probably Pheidole, but cannot get more specific than that without better photos.

[cooIboyJ]

Better photos are required. If money is an issue, I'd recommend getting a clip-on macro lens off of Amazon, they are affordable. I would agree that it's probably Pheidole, but cannot get more specific than that without better photos.

I accidently forgot to include a different ant in the main post, so I will edit it in, just so you know. Hopefully you can ID this queen better since it is bigger.

Edited by cooIboyJ, October 1 2024 - 2:50 PM.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

The second queen does not look like any sort of Pogonomyrmex. And I could see how the first one could be some sort of Pheidole.sp

[mbullock42086]

Dorymyrmex bicolor, IMO.

[cooIboyJ]

Dorymyrmex bicolor, IMO.

Are these easy to keep? Do they grow fast? What do you feed them? All the questions of an antkeeper  

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

use the search button tool to find all you info.

[mbullock42086]

v

 

 

Dorymyrmex bicolor, IMO.

Are these easy to keep? Do they grow fast? What do you feed them? All the questions of an antkeeper

 

very easy.

Grows super fast, needs heat, lots of protein and sugar.  note that these make enormous colonies rapidly.  can be difficult to move to new formicaria without spilling workers everywhere when the colony gets big.

 they like dry insects as protein. fully claustral.  

[cooIboyJ]

I forgot I to mention that the queen cannot climb the plastic test tube.

[RushmoreAnts]

I concur with D. bicolor. They are super hardy; I see large colonies of them everywhere you look in Phoenix. They're like the Lasius of the Southwest.

[cooIboyJ]

I concur with D. bicolor. They are super hardy; I see large colonies of them everywhere you look in Phoenix. They're like the Lasius of the Southwest.

can D. bicolor climb plastic? Because this queen cannot, so I gave her some substrate and she made her own founding chamber in the dirt.

[RushmoreAnts]

 

I concur with D. bicolor. They are super hardy; I see large colonies of them everywhere you look in Phoenix. They're like the Lasius of the Southwest.

can D. bicolor climb plastic? Because this queen cannot, so I gave her some substrate and she made her own founding chamber in the dirt.

I'm not sure, I've never kept them. Pogonomyrmex occidentalis can't, and they're considered hardy as well. The only thing that can be done is give her substrate, which you already did. Such species do have their perks, as you don't need a barrier in their outworld to prevent their escape.

[mbullock42086]

 

I concur with D. bicolor. They are super hardy; I see large colonies of them everywhere you look in Phoenix. They're like the Lasius of the Southwest.

can D. bicolor climb plastic? Because this queen cannot, so I gave her some substrate and she made her own founding chamber in the dirt.

 

yes, they definitely can, here are a pair of insanus clinging to the side

 

Edited by mbullock42086, October 2 2024 - 6:07 PM.

[cooIboyJ]

 

 

I concur with D. bicolor. They are super hardy; I see large colonies of them everywhere you look in Phoenix. They're like the Lasius of the Southwest.

can D. bicolor climb plastic? Because this queen cannot, so I gave her some substrate and she made her own founding chamber in the dirt.

 

yes, they definitely can, here are a pair of insanus clinging to the side

 

 

I assumed some sort of Pogonomyrmex because it cannot climb the plastic, so any other ant species that cannot climb test tube plastic? Also, she has not layed any eggs yet, and I assume this is because she is busy making a founding chamber in the dirt, but I am worried that I will need heat to get her to lay eggs. I have never needed heat to get any of the ants that I have kept in the past to lay eggs, but this is a new species and I don't know. Also I really want this queen to be successful, especially because she can't  climb the plastic, and it will be very easy to keep them.

[ReignofRage]

Dorymyrmex bicolor can indeed climb plastic and glass. If that is your determining factor on keeping them, release it.

[mbullock42086]

 

 

 

I concur with D. bicolor. They are super hardy; I see large colonies of them everywhere you look in Phoenix. They're like the Lasius of the Southwest.

can D. bicolor climb plastic? Because this queen cannot, so I gave her some substrate and she made her own founding chamber in the dirt.

 

yes, they definitely can, here are a pair of insanus clinging to the side

 

 

I assumed some sort of Pogonomyrmex because it cannot climb the plastic, so any other ant species that cannot climb test tube plastic? Also, she has not layed any eggs yet, and I assume this is because she is busy making a founding chamber in the dirt, but I am worried that I will need heat to get her to lay eggs. I have never needed heat to get any of the ants that I have kept in the past to lay eggs, but this is a new species and I don't know. Also I really want this queen to be successful, especially because she can't  climb the plastic, and it will be very easy to keep them.

 

they do not require high heat but it speeds their development up significantly and lets them be alot more active- if kept at room temp, they still develop, just slower.  

  they are very strongly diurnal which makes them good display ants.  the mature workers are nice looking too, they get a nice blood red sometimes.