173 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

Update 8-31-2014
 
The colony is still growing like crazy. It is now up to around 200 workers. There is easily a pile of at least 50 new eggs in there at all times.

 

 

 

[Gregory2455]

What do you feed them?

[dspdrew]

Lots of different types of seeds, insects, chicken, hummingbird nectar, and ByFormica's blue food.

[Gregory2455]

Also, why did it change from Messor to Veromessor?

[dspdrew]

New DNA testing confirmed that the "Messor" here in North America, even though very similar, is not the same genus as the Messor overseas. Therefor, it's now a genus of its own called Veromessor.

[Gregory2455]

So Veromessor pergandei, and Veromessor andrei ect. are the new terms?

[DesertAntz]

New DNA testing confirmed that the "Messor" here in North America, even though very similar, is not the same genus as the Messor overseas. Therefor, it's now a genus of its own called Veromessor.

Interesting 

[Alza]

good info

[Gregory2455]

Fully Clausteral or no?

[dspdrew]

As far as I know, they are.

[dspdrew]

Update 9-25-2014
 
This colony is producing extremely fast. The colony is now up to about 600 workers. That means it tripled in one month!
 

 

 

 

[DesertAntz]

600 ants in that little box? 

 

I'm aware you're pressed for space in your apartment but when, if ever, do you move them into a bigger set up? Especially if they keep growing so fast! 

[dspdrew]

As soon as I get some of my formicariums built. I'm actually drawing them up on the computer right now.

[dspdrew]

Update 10-12-2014
 
The colony is still exploding in size. Now they have over 700 workers.
 

 

 
 
They have moved into their new test tube, but are still occupying the old one. The old one went dry, and they have actually pulled the entire cotton ball out piece by piece through the small hole in the cork stopper.
 

 

 
 
They piled all the cotton shreds in the corner along with all their other trash.
 

 
 
They still have giant piles of freshly laid eggs every time I look in there. Right now there are two piles just like this one.
 

 
 
Even though the colony has tons of larger sized workers, they've now gotten their first much larger major. You can see how much larger it is than the rest of the workers here.
 

 

[Myrmicinae]

Nice!  Are you thinking about transferring them into a more permanent formicarium?

[DesertAntz]

This colony looks like it's doing amazing. That's a lot of mouths to feed. 

[Gregory2455]

Do you see the queen? I think this species is going to go into my big panel formicarium.

[Alza]

you have them ?

[Gregory2455]

No, but soon.

[Alza]

as in next year