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Owl’s Crematogaster journal

Started By OwlThatLikesAnts , Oct 30 2024 6:57 AM
#crematogaster #divas #crematogaster cerasi #small ants #escape artists #canada

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8 replies to this topic

#1 Offline OwlThatLikesAnts - Posted October 30 2024 - 6:57 AM

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MY CREMATOGASTERS HAVE ARRIVED WHOHOOOO!

 

I came home from school yesterday only to find out that my Crematogaster cerasi colony that I have ordered from Canada Ant Colony has arrived, they are so cute and small and I am really impressed with the quality of the package he did. The queen is doing good and I have actually 6 workers instead of 5, which is nice. I am guessing that there was a pupa that enclosed recently because one of the workers were more of a brownish colour than the black workers, I have also noticed that the queen is wearing a larva!. I want to officially start this journal after diapause ends

 

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the colony :)

 

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Beautiful queen  :lol:

 

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The queen is not a horse  :facepalm:


  • Karma, rptraut, AntsGodzilla and 1 other like this

Currently keeping:

 

1x Formica subsericea, (used to be polygynous) 15+ workers with 4 pupa (Idk why they still have)

1x Lasius umbratus, (Workers accepted) 5+ workers with host brood

1x Ponera pennsylvanica, just queen

 

As you watch your ants march, remember: every journey begins with a single step (or queen)-not just towards you, but towards a future woven by diligence and shared dreams - Me

 

 

(I lost braincells just to make this quote)

#2 Offline Artisan_Ants - Posted November 1 2024 - 5:05 PM

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It's always nice to obtain a new colony! This reminds me of last year when I caught my two C. cerasi at aroud this time of the year. I miss them and their extremely fast workers (they died due to thirst cause I diapaused them last year, they laid eggs in March, raised workers until around June, and I went on vacation, and sadly, they were all dead due to test tube mold which means ad water and thirst). But yeah, it's definitley a good thing to hibernate them (it's far more stressful with founding queens though, as you never know what might happen to them at cold temps...). And when hibernating, make sure to keep them anywhere around the 40 degree range. Hope this colony does well! Looking forward to see an empire of these guys!


  • rptraut and 1tsm3jack like this

Keeping:

3x - S. molesta (colonies and single queen)                1x - C. nearcticus (founding but no eggs)   (y) New!

1x - C. chromaiodes (colony)                                       1x - C. subbarbatus (founding)  

1x - F. subsericea (founding)                                        1x - T. sessile (mega colony)

3x - P. imparis (colonies)  

2x - L. neoniger (founding)

 

Check out my C. nearcticus journal here: https://www.formicul...cticus-journal/

Check out my C. chromaiodes journal here: https://www.formicul...aiodes-journal/

#3 Offline OwlThatLikesAnts - Posted November 2 2024 - 4:56 AM

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It's always nice to obtain a new colony! This reminds me of last year when I caught my two C. cerasi at aroud this time of the year. I miss them and their extremely fast workers (they died due to thirst cause I diapaused them last year, they laid eggs in March, raised workers until around June, and I went on vacation, and sadly, they were all dead due to test tube mold which means ad water and thirst). But yeah, it's definitley a good thing to hibernate them (it's far more stressful with founding queens though, as you never know what might happen to them at cold temps...). And when hibernating, make sure to keep them anywhere around the 40 degree range. Hope this colony does well! Looking forward to see an empire of these guys!

Me too! I love the fact that the workers are guarding the entrance like they are supposed to, and how they explore with their gasters up.

 

I also know that they ae able to live in dry nests, but they at least need drinking water to keep the larva moist.


  • Artisan_Ants and 1tsm3jack like this

Currently keeping:

 

1x Formica subsericea, (used to be polygynous) 15+ workers with 4 pupa (Idk why they still have)

1x Lasius umbratus, (Workers accepted) 5+ workers with host brood

1x Ponera pennsylvanica, just queen

 

As you watch your ants march, remember: every journey begins with a single step (or queen)-not just towards you, but towards a future woven by diligence and shared dreams - Me

 

 

(I lost braincells just to make this quote)

#4 Offline ANTdrew - Posted November 2 2024 - 6:37 AM

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This colony has very little workers for this late in the season. I’d actually recommend letting them grow longer on heat. Hibernation is not strictly needed for these ants.
  • rptraut, Artisan_Ants and 1tsm3jack 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.

#5 Offline OwlThatLikesAnts - Posted November 3 2024 - 7:02 AM

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This colony has very little workers for this late in the season. I’d actually recommend letting them grow longer on heat. Hibernation is not strictly needed for these ants.

Ohhhhh, no wonder they are so active, my Formica and my Lasius parasite have slowed down and have stopped growth, meanwhile, my Cremas are laying eggs and I thought that something is wrong

 

how long should I put them on heat because they have a small hibernation, should I put them in hibernation during December / Late November?


Currently keeping:

 

1x Formica subsericea, (used to be polygynous) 15+ workers with 4 pupa (Idk why they still have)

1x Lasius umbratus, (Workers accepted) 5+ workers with host brood

1x Ponera pennsylvanica, just queen

 

As you watch your ants march, remember: every journey begins with a single step (or queen)-not just towards you, but towards a future woven by diligence and shared dreams - Me

 

 

(I lost braincells just to make this quote)

#6 Offline ANTdrew - Posted November 3 2024 - 7:33 AM

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It’s entirely up to you. You could keep them going all winter if you want. Do a proper hibernation next season once they have a solid population.
  • Artisan_Ants 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.

#7 Offline OwlThatLikesAnts - Posted November 3 2024 - 8:50 AM

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It’s entirely up to you. You could keep them going all winter if you want. Do a proper hibernation next season once they have a solid population.

Ok, because I really think that they don't need one right now because of how they are very active


Currently keeping:

 

1x Formica subsericea, (used to be polygynous) 15+ workers with 4 pupa (Idk why they still have)

1x Lasius umbratus, (Workers accepted) 5+ workers with host brood

1x Ponera pennsylvanica, just queen

 

As you watch your ants march, remember: every journey begins with a single step (or queen)-not just towards you, but towards a future woven by diligence and shared dreams - Me

 

 

(I lost braincells just to make this quote)

#8 Offline ANTdrew - Posted November 3 2024 - 9:04 AM

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Crematogaster colonies I raise usually have several hundred workers by this point in the year. They hit six workers in the first week after nanitics arrive. This colony seems like it has been severely neglected. It will need a lot of TLC to get back to where it should be.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#9 Offline OwlThatLikesAnts - Posted November 3 2024 - 3:14 PM

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Crematogaster colonies I raise usually have several hundred workers by this point in the year. They hit six workers in the first week after nanitics arrive. This colony seems like it has been severely neglected. It will need a lot of TLC to get back to where it should be.

Hmmm, ok, I guess extra attention for them! ( I was going to give them extra attention but I was scared that they would not eat all of the food I give)

They are not hungry right now because they have only one larva and a few eggs


  • AntsGodzilla and 1tsm3jack like this

Currently keeping:

 

1x Formica subsericea, (used to be polygynous) 15+ workers with 4 pupa (Idk why they still have)

1x Lasius umbratus, (Workers accepted) 5+ workers with host brood

1x Ponera pennsylvanica, just queen

 

As you watch your ants march, remember: every journey begins with a single step (or queen)-not just towards you, but towards a future woven by diligence and shared dreams - Me

 

 

(I lost braincells just to make this quote)

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