35 replies to this topic

[iXvXi]

Hello, this thread will be for my Camponotus colonies.

Colony 1:
Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

Update 7-7-2016
My pavement ant colony found their way into this colonies nest and they killed about 15 worker, only the queen managed to live. I now have her in a test tube and small outworld setup in hopes she lays again.



In the picture below they started to close off the entrance. They are chewing the cork that was used to connect the tubing to the haven. Sign they're entering/in diapause I believe.



They aren't forging much if at all. They took to a drop of honey, but other than that haven't had much resources other than water during their diapause.

As for the brood; I haven't seen any development other than the immature larvae they're overwintering.


Colony 2:
Camponotus sp.

Currently updating/pictures

Colony 3:
Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

Approximately 200 workers.
Currently updating/pictures


Thanks, I will post updates when any news comes up.

Edited by iXvXi, July 7 2016 - 2:21 PM.

[Crystals]

Their gasters look distended, so they are likely getting ready for hibernation.  Camponotus often overwinter larvae, especially northern species.  Come "spring" they will stuff them full of food and you will see the quickest growth you will ever encounter with Camponotus, especially if you heat a corner of the haven. They will put the brood at the best temperature.

 

They will unplug the tubing if they want more food.  3-4 months is average for a northern Camponotus species for their first year, for subsequent years they seem to want 4 months hibernation.

 

I use a Sony Cybershot DSC-H10 or a USB microscope.

[antmaniac]

Lighting or flash light gives better photo results.

[iXvXi]

Thanks crystals! I really enjoy your videos; you are very intellectual, I've learned quite a bit from you. I'm hoping they do explode since they certainly have the room!


I'm going to look into the camera and a microscope as suggested.

Thanks antmaniac I'll give that a try! Trying to not to disturb them too much.

[Crystals]

There are much better cameras out there.  That is just the one I happen to have.  Even a cheap USB microscope can do a fair bit.  I use this cheap one.  A bit clunky, but for the price I have no worries about breaking it.

Even cheap macro lenses can make a huge difference.

 

There are a few threads around about macro photography and good cameras.

[iXvXi]

I'll certainly shop around.

This weekend I went looking for a wild colony. I looked for about 2 hours at least and couldn't find anything. They are good at hiding I see! I would of liked to brood boost this colony but I seems unlikely I'll find something before spring.

[dermy]

Nice looking colony! I doubt you'd need to boost them, they look like they are off to a great start!

 

 

For most people in North America most Camponotus colonies will be hibernating now and will be very deep inside the nest.

[iXvXi]

Thanks! Yeah I figured I wouldn't find anything; I mostly went to let my dog run around in the woods.

I wanted to boost them so they can take use of the space they have come to spring. I'm sure they will either way, so it isn't a huge deal.


I will Take a small video of their setup later down the road. I setup them with a nice home on my computer desk. The tubing connects the out world, their current test tube, a haven and a sperate satellite nest. It takes up some desk space but I can watch them when ever I'd like.

[iXvXi]

Just an update.

I found another Camponotus queen and a few workers. Not 100% sure if it's the same species (queen has lot's of red compared to my other queen)

I'll change the title until I can confirm they're both the same species.

She and her 3 nanitics and a small pile of brood were found in a log. My buddy was splitting firewood and stumbled upon them and gave me a call.

I made a hole in a small piece of firewood, and put them in an outworld. Since I don't have a home for them just yet.

They have access to water outside the nest, but I'm pretty sure they're not going to leave. Should I be keeping the back half of the wood wet?

[Ants4fun]

That might induce mold. I suggest keeping them in anything clean and containable. Perhaps for now you can use a cotton ball and an empty jar or something similar, until you get a proper setup.

[iXvXi]

That might induce mold. I suggest keeping them in anything clean and containable. Perhaps for now you can use a cotton ball and an empty jar or something similar, until you get a proper setup.

Yeah, I completely agree. Luckily they will be out tomorrow I believe. I get my byformica grow tube and outworld tomorrow, and I'm grateful they're including a bonus test tube holder prototype with 13 mm test tubes (which these Camponotus's will be going into)

[iXvXi]

Colony 1 update. Camponotus Pennsylvanicus






Got my byformica grow tube and outworld today. I must say, these are a work of art. It's very appealing to look at!

I put this colonies test tube in the outworld. I'm hoping they make the switch on their own soon. I need the test tube they're in and the water isn't exactly clear.

I modified an extra byformica ant feeder. Works great for what I need it for. As you can see a few workers went to it immediately; which is great, because they've been in diapause for a while.

I still need to pull colony two out of the piece of wood they're in also.

[Ants4fun]

I suggest you start hibernating them soon. They usually won't produce anything until you do, and mine actually had a small die off as the result of me not hibernating them.

[iXvXi]

They've been in diapause for about 3.5 months now. They were only active for about 2 hours, while they stocked up on ant nectar.


The only colony I have active is my pheidole, because they don't need to enter a diapause state their first year.

[Ants4fun]

Oh, I was under the impression that they haven't been hibernated yet.

[iXvXi]

Colony 1 is out of hibernation and seems to be doing well. All workers made it and took in a bunch of ant nectar. They didn't take to a mealworm, but that was probably my fault for leaving it alive.


Colony 2 is also out of hibernation. I lost 1 worker ant and am down to 2 workers and the queen. Not sure how it died.

Last night colony 2's queen came out of the piece of wood she was in after getting a taste of the ant nectar from the worker. I immediately took the piece of wood from the outworld and replaced it with a fresh test tube. The only problem is she is hiding by a rock instead of settling in the test tube which is the only form of housing in the outworld. She's been there for over 10 hours now, should I be worried? The workers seem to be huddling up with her.

[iXvXi]

Here is a temporary live cam!

 

http://www.youtube.c...Q_Ia0wLdMw/live

 

 

quality, positioning, encoding, and a home for the feed will come shortly.

[Mdrogun]

How big is the colony?

[iXvXi]

Queen and 12 workers, with a good amount of brood.

[drtrmiller]

They get very hungry when they have larvae to feed. Nice little stream so far. Wonder if there is any way to adjust the depth of field.