25 replies to this topic

[bmb1bee]

They can get well into the thousands, so I would say 2-3 20mm test tubes. Their queens also breed in the nest, so theoretically they don't have a size limit except how much you feed them.

It probably depends in the species and population, as here in CA we don't have true S. molesta, just similar undescribed species. That being said, true S. molesta are probably more entertaining to keep as their colonies probably get larger than most species around here and also mate intranidally, which is pretty cool. Reminds me of Monomorium ergatogyna, which are another inbreeding species I've kept before.

[RushmoreAnts]

 

They can get well into the thousands, so I would say 2-3 20mm test tubes. Their queens also breed in the nest, so theoretically they don't have a size limit except how much you feed them.

It probably depends in the species and population, as here in CA we don't have true S. molesta, just similar undescribed species. That being said, true S. molesta are probably more entertaining to keep as their colonies probably get larger than most species around here and also mate intranidally, which is pretty cool. Reminds me of Monomorium ergatogyna, which are another inbreeding species I've kept before.

 

Owl lives within the range of true S. molesta, though I wasn't at all clear about the undescribed species. Regardless, I love the aesthetics of your colonies, especially the darker queens. I believe here in South Dakota we have true molesta, though since I'm sitting on the continental divide of ant species (in some places you can find both Camponoutus pennsylvanicus and modoc colonies side by side) I wouldn't be surprised if there's undescribed species as well. At the very least I've seen some fascinating color morphs in the hundreds of queens I've collected. Definitely an understudied and underrated species complex. Excellent journal!

Edited by RushmoreAnts, December 16 2024 - 8:08 PM.

[bmb1bee]

Owl lives within the range of true S. molesta, though I wasn't at all clear about the undescribed species. Regardless, I love the aesthetics of your colonies, especially the darker queens. I believe here in South Dakota we have true molesta, though since I'm sitting on the continental divide of ant species (in some places you can find both Camponoutus pennsylvanicus and modoc colonies side by side) I wouldn't be surprised if there's undescribed species as well. At the very least I've seen some fascinating color morphs in the hundreds of queens I've collected. Definitely an understudied and underrated species complex. Excellent journal!

Thanks! I've always been interested in cryptic ants, so it was great putting this journal together. Wishing you the best in finding more color morphs, since individuals in this complex can vary quite a bit even within their own species. They are indeed pretty underrated ants, considering that they're super easy to keep and are fairly hardy.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

 

Do you know how big solenopsis molesta colonys can get, not numbers I mean like 1 tube big or smt like that?

They can get well into the thousands, so I would say 2-3 20mm test tubes. Their queens also breed in the nest, so theoretically they don't have a size limit except how much you feed them.

 

Alright, thanks for the reply, I’m going to catch some queens this September (cuz that is when they fly in masses for me)

[bmb1bee]

Pseudo-update:

 

The molesta-group Solenopsis sp. 1 and Solenopsis sp. 3 will no longer be featured. The former colony lost its queen for some reason, possibly old age or some other natural causes, and now just has a number of workers and brood. The latter turned out to be infertile, so I decided to preserve it as a specimen.

 

On another note, tomorrow morning I'll be posting updates for both Stenamma species and the Hypoponera queens, which I now have together in a test tube merged with some workers of the same species.

[MyrmecologyMaven]

Pseudo-update:

 

The molesta-group Solenopsis sp. 1 and Solenopsis sp. 3 will no longer be featured. The former colony lost its queen for some reason, possibly old age or some other natural causes, and now just has a number of workers and brood. The latter turned out to be infertile, so I decided to preserve it as a specimen.

 

On another note, tomorrow morning I'll be posting updates for both Stenamma species and the Hypoponera queens, which I now have together in a test tube merged with some workers of the same species.

Did you forget to update? I'd love to see the stenamma sp. and Hypoponera updates!