8 replies to this topic

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

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

 

the colony

 

Beautiful queen 

 

The queen is not a horse 

[Artisan_Ants]

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!

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

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.

[ANTdrew]

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.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

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?

[ANTdrew]

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.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

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

[ANTdrew]

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.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

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