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Posted April 16 2014 - 4:55 PM
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Okay sooo this previous weekend I acquired a queen some workers and a small amount of brood.
They're apparently Aphaenogaster carolinensis and I'm really worried because I haven't had the best of luck with keeping colonies so far.
I was wondering if you guys had any advice that I wouldn't already know.
I also have two successful colonies of the lame species Tapinoma Sessile btw.
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Posted April 16 2014 - 5:50 PM
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If you have read the pinned beginner's guide, then you already have a good basis - http://forum.formicu...-for-beginners/
Don't knock those Tapinoma sessile. I have been looking for some of those for quite some time for a teacher with no success. 
Everyone needs a good beginner/testing colony to learn from.
My best advice, if they are in a test tube, let them remain in it for at least a week or so. Just place the test tube in an outworld for easy feeding.
The biggest cause I have seen for the death of a young colony is for them to be moved into a huge nest. The nanatics tend to get lost and they starve.
When the colony is small, try to ensure that the colony fills about 1/4 of the nest. If the species of ant doesn't seem to mind a test tube, the longer they remain in it, and the larger the colony gets, the better.
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens
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Posted April 16 2014 - 6:12 PM
If you have read the pinned beginner's guide, then you already have a good basis - http://forum.formicu...-for-beginners/
Don't knock those Tapinoma sessile. I have been looking for some of those for quite some time for a teacher with no success.
Everyone needs a good beginner/testing colony to learn from.
My best advice, if they are in a test tube, let them remain in it for at least a week or so. Just place the test tube in an outworld for easy feeding.
The biggest cause I have seen for the death of a young colony is for them to be moved into a huge nest. The nanatics tend to get lost and they starve.
When the colony is small, try to ensure that the colony fills about 1/4 of the nest. If the species of ant doesn't seem to mind a test tube, the longer they remain in it, and the larger the colony gets, the better.
Haha, I knew Crystal would come to the ol' Odorous House Ant's defense.
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Posted April 16 2014 - 7:19 PM
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Haha, I knew Crystal would come to the ol' Odorous House Ant's defense.
Whoever labelled this species as a pest has clearly never been to northern Alberta. I do know that they are around - I saw them once.
Either way, whether you like them or not, any "pest" species is an excellent beginner ant, also handy when it comes to testing out new formicariums.
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens
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Posted April 16 2014 - 7:27 PM
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Really? If I don't go into the middle of the woods the only thing I can find here is Tapinoma Sessile. I can literally go into my yard and find like 6 colonies under some rocks.
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Posted April 16 2014 - 7:32 PM
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Oh I observed my Aphaenogaster carolinensis queen out of the nest by herself walking about the outerworld, why?
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Posted April 16 2014 - 11:00 PM
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That is not really a problem, it happens sometime. The queen can feed her by herself, don't worry about it for the moment.
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Posted April 17 2014 - 6:12 AM
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Really? If I don't go into the middle of the woods the only thing I can find here is Tapinoma Sessile. I can literally go into my yard and find like 6 colonies under some rocks.
In more southern locations they can be really invasive and form massive super colonies. This ant has appeared in a few locations where it is not native and it just creeps in and forms huge colonies along side all of the other ants. In Hawaii there is a colony that spans 42 acres, and they don't even know where to begin to try and control it.
The farther north you go, the harder the winters get and this species really seems to thrive in the heat.
"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens
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Posted April 17 2014 - 7:33 AM
Oh I observed my Aphaenogaster carolinensis queen out of the nest by herself walking about the outerworld, why?
Not a problem unless it's in the wild. It's taking a big chance of being made into some animal's breakfast if it is.
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Posted July 20 2014 - 1:51 PM
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Many people (including myself) actually have a lot of trouble getting T. sessile to grow in captivity. I would very much enjoy keeping a colony. Here in Colorado, they are actually mostly restricted to undisturbed natural habitat. I have never seen them in urban areas.
Edited by Myrmicinae, July 20 2014 - 2:17 PM.
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Posted August 24 2014 - 2:13 PM
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I am new to this Forum. I just started a Tapinoma Sessile colony. She has 12 eggs right now and is doing fine in my garage where the heat is at it's highest. Hopefully I can get the colony to last a long time.
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Posted August 24 2014 - 3:55 PM
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I am new to this Forum. I just started a Tapinoma Sessile colony. She has 12 eggs right now and is doing fine in my garage where the heat is at it's highest. Hopefully I can get the colony to last a long time.
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