Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Dspdrew's Aphaenogaster occidentalis Journal [193] (Discontinued)

aphaenogaster occidentalis dspdrew journal

  • Please log in to reply
39 replies to this topic

#1 Offline dspdrew - Posted June 19 2016 - 11:08 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA
6-20-2016
 
1. Location of collection:  Crystal Lake, Azusa, California
2. Date of collection: 6-18-2016
3. Habitat of collection:  Pine/Oak Forest.
4. Length (from head to gaster):  7mm
 
I found this Aphaenogaster occidentalis queen in a founding chamber under a rock on 6-18-2016 near Crystal Lake in Azusa, California. She had a small amount of brood with her and was sharing the space with a colony of Tapinoma sessile. Since she has some young pupae, I would say she probably flew about a month ago.
 
I decided to put her in one of my new founding nests.
 
med_gallery_2_558_382854.jpg
 
med_gallery_2_558_361017.jpg
  • LC3 likes this

#2 Offline Tpro4 - Posted June 20 2016 - 12:10 PM

Tpro4

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 304 posts
  • LocationNorth Hills, CA
you are so lucky
Remember Dragon Warrior, anything is possible when you have inner peace. - Master Shifu

Current Queens:
1 Unknown Pogomyemex
1 Solenopsis Xyloni

#3 Offline Foogoo - Posted June 20 2016 - 8:13 PM

Foogoo

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,161 posts
  • LocationLos Angeles, CA
Is there anything special about this species or just that it's uncommon?

Camponotus vicinus, Crematogaster 1, Crematogaster 2, Formica francoeuri, *, *, Myrmecocystus testaceus, Novomessor cockerelli, Pheidole hyatti, Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Solenopsis invicta


#4 Offline dspdrew - Posted June 20 2016 - 8:30 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

I just haven't been able to find them.



#5 Offline camtheecologist - Posted June 20 2016 - 9:06 PM

camtheecologist

    Newbie

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 5 posts

Aphaenogaster occidentalis is common in short grass prairies in Washington, Oregon, and I'm sure northern California. They're abundant in all my western Oregon field sites, as well as my backyard in Washington.



#6 Offline dspdrew - Posted June 20 2016 - 10:36 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

I find them in the higher elevations pretty often, but I just hadn't ever found any queens, or had any idea when they flew around there.



#7 Offline Foogoo - Posted June 21 2016 - 7:03 AM

Foogoo

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,161 posts
  • LocationLos Angeles, CA

Lucky you went when you did. That area is probably a wall of flames by now  :(


Camponotus vicinus, Crematogaster 1, Crematogaster 2, Formica francoeuri, *, *, Myrmecocystus testaceus, Novomessor cockerelli, Pheidole hyatti, Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Solenopsis invicta


#8 Offline dspdrew - Posted June 21 2016 - 2:07 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Haha yeah I know.



#9 Offline NightsWebs - Posted June 21 2016 - 7:42 PM

NightsWebs

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 217 posts
  • LocationSo Cal

Ok Drew you better take good care of her!  I want to see this species in action!


Current Colonies;

Acromyrmex Versicolor

Dorymyrmex Bicolor

Pogonomyrmex Californicus
Pogonomyrmex Rugosus

Pogonomyrmex Tenuispinus
Novomessor Cockerelli
Myrmecocystus Mexicanus

 

Last Update: 08 Jul 2016

 

 


#10 Offline nurbs - Posted June 21 2016 - 11:19 PM

nurbs

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,630 posts
  • LocationLos Angeles

Lucky you went when you did. That area is probably a wall of flames by now  :(

 

I was with Drew when he went. Showed him around the area. That place is my local stomping grounds for anting. 

 

I've been able to see the fire from my apartment and should be OK. It hit most of the mountains up Duarte but the road up to Crystal Lake should be OK.


Instagram:
nurbsants
 
YouTube
 
California Ants for Sale

 

Unidentified Myrmecocystus

https://www.formicul...ls-near-desert/

 

Undescribed "Modoc"

https://www.formicul...mp-ca-5-4-2017/

 

Camponotus or Colobopsis yogi:

https://www.formicul...a-ca-1-28-2018/

 
Camponotus us-ca02
https://www.formicul...onotus-us-ca02/

 

Unidentified Formica

https://www.formicul...l-ca-6-27-2020/

 
Pencil Case and Test Tube Formicariums
https://www.formicul...m-and-outworld/
 
Bloodworm Soup
https://www.formicul...bloodworm-soup/


#11 Offline dspdrew - Posted June 21 2016 - 11:34 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

 

Lucky you went when you did. That area is probably a wall of flames by now  :(

 
I was with Drew when he went. Showed him around the area. That place is my local stomping grounds for anting. 
 
I've been able to see the fire from my apartment and should be OK. It hit most of the mountains up Duarte but the road up to Crystal Lake should be OK.

 

That's good.



#12 Offline dspdrew - Posted June 28 2016 - 11:18 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA
Update 6-29-2016
 
This queen just got her first worker a couple days ago.
 
med_gallery_2_558_64102.jpg

#13 Offline Loops117 - Posted June 29 2016 - 5:20 AM

Loops117

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 802 posts
  • LocationSouth Lyon, Michigan

Congrats on the first worker! My Aphaens just had a huge hatching in the last couple of days. My worker count had triple when i checked them this morning.


Edited by Loops117, June 29 2016 - 5:21 AM.


#14 Offline Saftron - Posted November 18 2016 - 3:19 PM

Saftron

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 153 posts
  • LocationFremont, California

Hey Drew what would you say is a more interesting species. Aphaenogaster Occidentalis or Tetramorium Caespitum?

 

Another question: How big are the regular sized workers?



#15 Offline Leo - Posted November 18 2016 - 4:10 PM

Leo

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,530 posts
  • LocationHong Kong

good luck man



#16 Offline dspdrew - Posted November 19 2016 - 10:21 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Hey Drew what would you say is a more interesting species. Aphaenogaster Occidentalis or Tetramorium Caespitum?
 
Another question: How big are the regular sized workers?

 
I've never even had a Tetramorium colony, let alone Tetramorium Caespitum. Based on everything I've seen online, Tetramorium Caespitum seem very boring to me.


  • dermy likes this

#17 Offline AnthonyP163 - Posted November 19 2016 - 11:49 AM

AnthonyP163

    Vendor

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 986 posts
  • LocationWaukesha, Wisconsin.
What happened?


Ant Keeping & Ethology Discord - 2000+ Members and growing

Statesideants.com - order live ants legally in the US

 


#18 Offline LC3 - Posted November 19 2016 - 12:12 PM

LC3

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,323 posts
  • LocationBC, Canada

Hey Drew what would you say is a more interesting species. Aphaenogaster Occidentalis or Tetramorium Caespitum?

 

Another question: How big are the regular sized workers?

Tetramorium are the epitome of stereotypical ants.

Full grown workers average 3mm to 3.5mm

A.occidentalis average around at 4mm I think.



#19 Offline dspdrew - Posted November 19 2016 - 2:18 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

I think mature A. occidentalis are more like 4mm to 5mm.



#20 Offline Goldsystem - Posted November 19 2016 - 7:26 PM

Goldsystem

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 356 posts
  • LocationWichita Kansas
I keep a very wide variety of ants (but not Aphaenogaster) and I really do like them. they are fast growing and fun to watch, even though they may be stereotypical





Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: aphaenogaster occidentalis, dspdrew, journal

1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users