63 replies to this topic

[Kevin]

I like that little thing at the end, how is it hydrated?

[Loops117]

What does cordyceps taste like?

 

It was a different that's for sure. It's not as earthy as you would expect a mushroom tea to be.

I like that little thing at the end, how is it hydrated?

Has a hydration port in the front leading to a large reservoir in the back which hydrates the nest.

 

Also, more eggs this morning.

 

Camponotus noveboracensis

 

Tapinoma sessile. sorry for picture quality.

Edited by Loops117, February 11 2017 - 7:24 AM.

[Loops117]

Couple of my Temnothorax. Woke them up to change there test tubes. Kept a single Temnothorax ambiguus out of hibernation.

 

Temnothorax ambiguus?

Temnothorax longispinosus?

[Alabama Anter]

So jealous and cool!

[Leo]

umm

[Loops117]

umm

?

 

So jealous and cool!

Lol, thank you.

[Leo]

my formicariums kill anything inside them 

[Loops117]

my formicariums kill anything inside them 

 

What are you using? I based mine heavily off of proven methods by known and trusted ant keepers. I don't mind giving a helping hand.

[T.C.]

my formicariums kill anything inside them 

Haha, mine used to as well. I just bought them, and I actually still do although I am pretty good at making them  now.

[Loops117]

Hey guys. Just a small update. Was given these 3 colonies from another hobbyist. Was told they’re Formica pallidefulva but I’m skeptical since all 3 of the formica colonies have different queens.  This is two of the three formica colonies, and 1 Aphaenogaster colony. Not sure of which species any of these are but I’ll put my guess at the top of the picture sets.

 

Sorry ahead of time for picture quality.

 

Formica Podzolica

Size: Roughly 10mm

 

Formica pallidefulva

Size: Roughly 8mm

 

Aphaenogaster fulva

Size: Roughly 5~6mm

 

Thank you guys.

Loops

Edited by Loops117, February 28 2017 - 9:14 AM.

[Leo]

 

my formicariums kill anything inside them 

 

What are you using? I based mine heavily off of proven methods by known and trusted ant keepers. I don't mind giving a helping hand.

 

mostly plaster

[Loops117]

Post Hibernation Updates

First off, what happens to the brood after hibernation? I was told that brood won't survive hibernation and will be eaten after they wake up. Well, all my ants that hibernated with brood are now caring for, and adding more to the pile. Did the brood not die?...????

 

Also, here’s some more pics. I’ll be posting more and more of all my colonies as I get the time since there’s too many to picture all at once. All of these pictures were taken the day before this post.

 

Here’s a picture of the 3^rd Formica colony I got that was said to be F.pallidefulva (I'm not complaining though). She’s larger and more matte then my F.subsericea queens.

 

Formica pallidefulva. I LOVE the color of this queen.

 

Crematogaster cerasi. This girl is really showing off. She’s creating a lot of eggs, and now some larvae.

 

Lasius sp. prolly neoniger. This girl took a couple weeks to start laying.

 

Temnothorax sp. Caught a bunch of these girls last august. None laid, and only a couple survived through hibernation.

 

Camponotus noveboracensis. This girl is really taking off.

 

Lasius alienus. This is one of the many piles they’ve created. Here’s roughly a quarter of the colony. This colony has really grown, wow.

 

Many more to come.

Thank You.

Loops.

[Alabama Anter]

Love the pics Loops!!

[Leo]

hey loops, how long does it take to get crematogaster cerasi to get nantinics?

btw GREAT PICS

[Loops117]

My Aphaenogaster picea colony.

 

[Loops117]

Short update.

Traded some product for a decent amount of queens.

Came out to

(7) C.cerasi

(6) Lasius sp

(2) unknown. ID needed

(18) Parasitic Lasius sp. (interjectus/claviger)

All non-parasitic queens already have a large batch of eggs as well.

 

Here’s some images of the queens I need an ID of.

Size: 2~3mm

 

Here’s some pics of C.pennsylvanicus in their side view nest.

 

Here's an image of my T.sessile super colony. Lots of queens.

 

And then my Crematogaster cerasi queen (Edit: After looking closer, she may be Crematogaster lineolata. Anyone know how to tell the difference between the two?)

Thank you

Loops

Edited by Loops117, March 20 2017 - 7:59 AM.

[Canadian anter]

the unknown ants look like Solenopsis molesta

[Loops117]

the unknown ants look like Solenopsis molesta

That's exactly what i was thinking, just wasnt sure we had them in michigan?

[Loops117]

And it happened. My girls first worker came today.

Crematogaster cerasi

[Loops117]

Here's a quick view of my heating chamber. This is most of my ant collection minus a few displays with colonies in them.