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(I'm a beginner) my Solenopsis Invicta Journal

Started By AntThingGG , Oct 8 2024 11:45 AM
journal solenopsis invicta solenopsis invicta beginner aw shit here we go again

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Poll: (I'm a beginner) my Solenopsis Invicta Journal (7 member(s) have cast votes)

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  1. yes (4 votes [57.14%])

    Percentage of vote: 57.14%

  2. no (2 votes [28.57%])

    Percentage of vote: 28.57%

  3. depends (1 votes [14.29%])

    Percentage of vote: 14.29%

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#1 Offline AntThingGG - Posted October 8 2024 - 11:45 AM

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On September 30th I found 3 Invicta queens in my local garden. I put them in a test tube setup and I had them in there for about 2 weeks now at room temperature in the dark. I am a beginner ant keeper and I have never kept ants before. I will make polls a couple days a week about how they are doing and asking how tf do I diy [censored]. So far queen 3 has a small batch of eggs and 2 also. Queen 1 has eggs scattered around so I think she is a lost cause. Please follow this as I am a beginner and I need your input!


  • 1tsm3jack likes this

Keeping:

 

 

3 Separate Solenopsis Invicta queens + Brood please come check it out

 

 

 

VERY BEGINNER ANT KEEPER 

#2 Offline AntThingGG - Posted October 8 2024 - 11:48 AM

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If I add a unfertilized queen to a polygamous colony will they accept it for extra male production?


Keeping:

 

 

3 Separate Solenopsis Invicta queens + Brood please come check it out

 

 

 

VERY BEGINNER ANT KEEPER 

#3 Offline 1tsm3jack - Posted October 8 2024 - 1:02 PM

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If I add a unfertilized queen to a polygamous colony will they accept it for extra male production?

Maybe, but most likely if the queen is infertile she will just end up dying, also at this super early stage a queen that only produces males is way to many resources for a colony that doesn't even have any workers.


#4 Offline AntsTx - Posted October 8 2024 - 1:29 PM

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You're in for a long ride. Solenopsis invicta is a pain to keep contained, especially in DIY setups.


  • 1tsm3jack likes this

Currently Keeping:

Camponotus texanus x2                                             Pheidole obtusospinosa - Pupae

Camponotus vicinus - 15-20 workers                         Solenopsis xyloni x7 - Batch of eggs

Camponotus pennsylvanicus - 75-85 workers           Pheidole lamia - Batch of eggs

Crematogaster lineolata x4 - 40-50 workers

Dorymyrmex bureni - 3 workers

Solenopsis invicta - 10000-15000 workers

Formica spp. - 5 workers

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis x2

 

#5 Offline cooIboyJ - Posted October 8 2024 - 2:07 PM

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I am currently keeping Solenopsis invicta right now, and you can see how I have kept them in my journal. You can find my journal in my signature.


  • AntThingGG likes this

“You’ll survive” -wise man.
Currently keeping:
Brachymyrmex patagonicus

Solenopsis invicta

Crematogaster sp.

#6 Offline ANTdrew - Posted October 8 2024 - 2:35 PM

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You should do a simple tub and tubes setup. Hobby Lobby display cases make great containers. Line the bottom with a thin layer of dry sand and put as many test tubes as you need in the tub. Paint the top with talc mixed with rubbing alcohol as a barrier. Better yet, cut a donut hole out of the lid and and paint talc on the bottom of the lid as a rim. That’s all the diy you need for a very successful setup.

Edited by ANTdrew, October 8 2024 - 2:35 PM.

  • RushmoreAnts and rptraut like this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#7 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted October 8 2024 - 2:51 PM

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If I add a unfertilized queen to a polygamous colony will they accept it for extra male production?

Why would you need extra male production? All workers are female, and males serve absolutely no purpose besides mating with queens (which only happens during nuptial flight, not in the nest with a few exceptions). They drain a colony's resources while doing no work, so your colony would be better off without them. If a colony does accept an unfertilized queen, it will either die or behave like a large worker. There really isn't any benefit to it.


  • rptraut likes this

"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis

#8 Offline AntsGodzilla - Posted October 8 2024 - 4:02 PM

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See, but I think having extra large workers are awesome lol


  • AntThingGG likes this

 

And many Carnivorous plants such as: Dionea muscipula (fly trap), Sarracenia x 'Fiona' ( American Pitcher plant), Nepenthese ventrata (Tropical Pitcher plant), and Pinguicula agnata x emarginata (Butterwort) (show off your plants here)

Godzilla thread

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores it's provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6: 6-8

 

Myrmecocystus depilis

 

#9 Offline AntThingGG - Posted October 8 2024 - 4:03 PM

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If I add a unfertilized queen to a polygamous colony will they accept it for extra male production?

Maybe, but most likely if the queen is infertile she will just end up dying, also at this super early stage a queen that only produces males is way to many resources for a colony that doesn't even have any workers.

 

Not yet but when the two colonies have about 60 workers each


 

If I add a unfertilized queen to a polygamous colony will they accept it for extra male production?

Why would you need extra male production? All workers are female, and males serve absolutely no purpose besides mating with queens (which only happens during nuptial flight, not in the nest with a few exceptions). They drain a colony's resources while doing no work, so your colony would be better off without them. If a colony does accept an unfertilized queen, it will either die or behave like a large worker. There really isn't any benefit to it.

 

I just really don't want to kill her :(


Keeping:

 

 

3 Separate Solenopsis Invicta queens + Brood please come check it out

 

 

 

VERY BEGINNER ANT KEEPER 

#10 Offline ANTdrew - Posted October 8 2024 - 4:14 PM

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Ants don’t practice polygamy.
  • mbullock42086 and RushmoreAnts like this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#11 Offline AntThingGG - Posted October 15 2024 - 9:55 AM

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UPDATE OCT 15 2024: Checked up on all ants. all look fertilized and should have nanitecs in about 1-2 weeks :) (I'm so excited lol)


  • cooIboyJ likes this

Keeping:

 

 

3 Separate Solenopsis Invicta queens + Brood please come check it out

 

 

 

VERY BEGINNER ANT KEEPER 

#12 Offline AntThingGG - Posted October 25 2024 - 4:41 PM

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Can solenopsis invicta chew through this?

Keeping:

 

 

3 Separate Solenopsis Invicta queens + Brood please come check it out

 

 

 

VERY BEGINNER ANT KEEPER 

#13 Offline ANTdrew - Posted October 25 2024 - 4:56 PM

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Chew through what?
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#14 Offline AntsGodzilla - Posted October 25 2024 - 5:11 PM

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I think he tried to copy and past the image instead of uploading it to postimages.org


 

And many Carnivorous plants such as: Dionea muscipula (fly trap), Sarracenia x 'Fiona' ( American Pitcher plant), Nepenthese ventrata (Tropical Pitcher plant), and Pinguicula agnata x emarginata (Butterwort) (show off your plants here)

Godzilla thread

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores it's provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6: 6-8

 

Myrmecocystus depilis

 

#15 Offline AntThingGG - Posted October 26 2024 - 8:41 AM

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lol my bad I didn't realize it didn't go through. Can solenopsis invicta chew though gorilla glue and/or gorilla wood glue? 


Keeping:

 

 

3 Separate Solenopsis Invicta queens + Brood please come check it out

 

 

 

VERY BEGINNER ANT KEEPER 

#16 Offline AntsGodzilla - Posted October 26 2024 - 9:23 AM

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I don't know if it would be safe for the ants, hot glue or 100% silicone would be way better.


 

And many Carnivorous plants such as: Dionea muscipula (fly trap), Sarracenia x 'Fiona' ( American Pitcher plant), Nepenthese ventrata (Tropical Pitcher plant), and Pinguicula agnata x emarginata (Butterwort) (show off your plants here)

Godzilla thread

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores it's provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6: 6-8

 

Myrmecocystus depilis

 

#17 Offline ANTdrew - Posted October 26 2024 - 11:21 AM

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I don't know if it would be safe for the ants, hot glue or 100% silicone would be way better.

Most ants can easily chew through hot glue. Use 100% silicone for sealing gaps.
  • rptraut likes this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#18 Offline AntThingGG - Posted October 27 2024 - 8:54 AM

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I don't know if it would be safe for the ants, hot glue or 100% silicone would be way better.

Most ants can easily chew through hot glue. Use 100% silicone for sealing gaps.

Can I use this as a diy outworld with fluon at the top as a barrier?8c48eb75661b3ed5af17e0bb7bb0afb7.jpg

I don't know if it would be safe for the ants, hot glue or 100% silicone would be way better.


What do you think

Keeping:

 

 

3 Separate Solenopsis Invicta queens + Brood please come check it out

 

 

 

VERY BEGINNER ANT KEEPER 

#19 Offline ANTdrew - Posted October 27 2024 - 9:55 AM

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Yeah, I guess so.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#20 Offline AntThingGG - Posted October 30 2024 - 6:32 AM

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Bought a All you need solenopsis pack from ants canada, I also bought a hybrid nest mini. arrives in 2 weeks so excited to check on them tmr! I'll give y'all pictures!


  • AntsGodzilla likes this

Keeping:

 

 

3 Separate Solenopsis Invicta queens + Brood please come check it out

 

 

 

VERY BEGINNER ANT KEEPER 

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