153 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

Update 10-30-2016
 
I found another two of these queens in Palm Desert, September 19th 2016, after a rain storm finally went through the area. i caught both of these while they were in the process of mating.
 
One of them died a couple weeks later. The other one laid a decent-sized pile of eggs, and just got her first workers about a week ago. She now has five workers.
 

[Alabama Anter]

Cool!

[Vendayn]

Those workers sure look really cool, with their super long legs.

[Leo]

what happened

[dspdrew]

Update 11-25-2016
 
Well I realized a couple days ago when I moved this colony, I put their formicarium on a water tank without a sponge. I was probably half asleep at the time. Needless to say, the formicarium dried out and everything died but the queen. She doesn't seem to want to move much, so I hope she's okay.

[AntsBrazil]

I started reading the journal today and as I'm new to ant keeping I'm wondering what may have caused the death of the workers and then of the colony. 

[dspdrew]

They dehydrated.

[AntsBrazil]

Yes, this time, but what about the other times with the other colonies that happened the same?

[dspdrew]

I have no idea why the previous colonies died.

[AntsBrazil]

Sad, that's why I'm taking as many queens as I can.

[dspdrew]

Update 11-27-2016
 
The queen died.

[dspdrew]

Update 8-9-2017
 

Well, like every year, I found a few more of these in Trabuco Canyon. As always, they are never found on my black light, but found wandering around in areas where a lot of their nests can be found. These latest queens were found on 8-2-2017, around 9:00 PM.

 

So far one has died, one isn't doing much and still has its wings, and the third looks to be doing quite well with a big pile of eggs.

[MegaMyrmex]

These queens look a lot like acromyrmex...how are they?

[dspdrew]

Update 10-30-2017
 

I am down to one of these now, and as always, all the workers have died off.

[dspdrew]

Update 11-30-2017
 

The queen finally died.

[Enderz]

Drew, do you think the ones we got were vistana or desertorum? Also it seems that one of mine is super energetic while my other 3 are less energetic. I wonder if this signifies health or infertility...

[dspdrew]

Update 7-17-2018
 

I found another 12 of these queens in Trabuco Canyon again on 7-6-2018. Within a week, all but six were dead.

 

After checking two days ago, another dead one was found, leaving only five.

 

Four of the five remaining have a huge pile of eggs.

Edited by dspdrew, July 20 2018 - 6:35 AM.

[Enderz]

My 3 queens also have huge piles of eggs, I wonder why you had such a high mortality rate. Good luck with the remaining 2 queens.

[dspdrew]

Update 7-20-2018
 

I just realized I had three others that I put in starter formicariums.

[Zeiss]

Update 7-20-2018
 

I just realized I had three others that I put in starter formicariums.

How many do you have in total?  I though you said 2 queens, so now it should be 5?  

 

Mine already have a good amount of larvae.