Jump to content

  • Gallery
  • Members
  • Member Map
  • 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 Pheidole vistana Journal [85] (Updated 2-4-2024)

Started By dspdrew , Sep 16 2013 10:25 PM
Pheidole vistana Dspdrew journal

  • Please log in to reply
153 replies to this topic

#121 Offline MegaMyrmex - Posted February 29 2020 - 7:31 PM

MegaMyrmex

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 637 posts
  • LocationEllicott City, Maryland

The queens look almost exactly like acromyrmex queens, minus a more granulated exoskeleton. Also crazy how leggy the workers are, they almost look lke an aphaenogaster


Proverbs 6:6-8 New International Version (NIV)

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;
    consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
    and gathers its food at harvest.

 

#122 Offline dspdrew - Posted February 29 2020 - 8:28 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

The queens look almost exactly like acromyrmex queens, minus a more granulated exoskeleton. Also crazy how leggy the workers are, they almost look lke an aphaenogaster

 

Yeah, I've always thought the same.


My Ant Colonies | My Projects | Ants for Sale | Ant Keeping Products | Southern California Ant Map

#123 Offline dspdrew - Posted May 10 2020 - 7:53 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 5-10-2020
 

I sold the smaller colony to my friend. The larger one had a little die off, but has since started growing fast again, and is now up to about 600 workers.

 

gallery_2_93_248423.jpg


  • FeedTheAnts, TennesseeAnts, ANTdrew and 1 other like this

My Ant Colonies | My Projects | Ants for Sale | Ant Keeping Products | Southern California Ant Map

#124 Offline Antkid12 - Posted May 11 2020 - 6:19 AM

Antkid12

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,009 posts
  • LocationFairfax, Virginia

Awesome! really want to find a Pheidole morrisii queen.


Edited by Antkid12, May 11 2020 - 9:05 AM.

  • ANTdrew likes this

Ants I have: Tapinoma sessile(2 queen colony). RED MORPH Camponotus neacticus(now has pupae!), Tetramorium immigrans (x3), Aphaenogaster sp, Temnothorax sp, Brachymyrmex sp.   possibly infertile   :(,  Ponera pennsylvanica, and Pheidole morrisi!  :yahoo: 

 

Other insects: Polistes sp. Queen

                    

Ants I need: Pheidole sp., Trachymyrmex sp., Crematogaster cerasi , Dorymyrmex sp. Most wanted: Pheidole morrisii

 

                    

                   

 

 

#125 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted May 11 2020 - 6:37 AM

RushmoreAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 4,246 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota

I want any Pheidole.  :lol:


  • ANTdrew likes this

"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis

#126 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 11 2020 - 7:36 AM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,948 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA

Awesome! (y)really want to find a Pheidole morrisii queen.

If you find any Pheidole in VA, let me know!
  • FeedTheAnts likes this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#127 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted May 11 2020 - 7:46 AM

FeedTheAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,238 posts
  • LocationVirginia

 

Awesome! (y)really want to find a Pheidole morrisii queen.

If you find any Pheidole in VA, let me know!

 

I've found some smedium Pheidole ants local to my area since moving across town. I'll catch some workers and set up an ID thread for them.


  • ANTdrew and Antkid12 like this

I accidentally froze all my ants 

#128 Offline Antkid12 - Posted May 11 2020 - 9:10 AM

Antkid12

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,009 posts
  • LocationFairfax, Virginia

 

Awesome! (y)really want to find a Pheidole morrisii queen.

If you find any Pheidole in VA, let me know!

 

I have no Pheidole in my area except Pheidole tysoni, but Pheidole seem to be abundant in the more southern part of Virginia. I found lots of Pheidole colonies near Virginia beach.


Edited by Antkid12, May 11 2020 - 9:16 AM.

Ants I have: Tapinoma sessile(2 queen colony). RED MORPH Camponotus neacticus(now has pupae!), Tetramorium immigrans (x3), Aphaenogaster sp, Temnothorax sp, Brachymyrmex sp.   possibly infertile   :(,  Ponera pennsylvanica, and Pheidole morrisi!  :yahoo: 

 

Other insects: Polistes sp. Queen

                    

Ants I need: Pheidole sp., Trachymyrmex sp., Crematogaster cerasi , Dorymyrmex sp. Most wanted: Pheidole morrisii

 

                    

                   

 

 

#129 Offline dspdrew - Posted January 17 2021 - 6:01 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 1-17-2021
 

Well due to some problem with the water tank in this colony's formicarium that causes the water to leak out all the time, this nest dried out and the entire colony almost died off. Luckily the queen is still alive, along with about 15 majors. We'll see if they can make a come-back.


  • Lazarus likes this

My Ant Colonies | My Projects | Ants for Sale | Ant Keeping Products | Southern California Ant Map

#130 Offline Spazmops - Posted January 17 2021 - 7:57 PM

Spazmops

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 558 posts
  • LocationDenver, Colorado

It's cool to see success with these after so many dead queens! I love their coloration. 


Co-owner and founder of Mountain Myrmeculture and The Menagerie Discord Server. 

Ants I have:

1 Formica fusca group- 0 workers

1 Tetramorium immigrans colony-20 workers

1 Dorymyrmex insanus- 1 queen, used to have workers

 

1 large P. occidentalis colony- around 50 workers, plenty of brood

 

 

#131 Offline dspdrew - Posted January 31 2021 - 1:43 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 1-31-2021
 

Well this formicarium problem has finally resulted in the death of all the workers. Luckily the queen is still alive, and she seems to be a really healthy queen, so hopefully she'll recover. I moved her into a test tube for now.


My Ant Colonies | My Projects | Ants for Sale | Ant Keeping Products | Southern California Ant Map

#132 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted January 31 2021 - 2:19 PM

Antkeeper01

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,392 posts
  • LocationA random state in the US

oh noooo get her some brood


1X Pogonomyrmex occidentalis 40-50 Workers

1X Solenopsis molesta 10 Workers (mono)

Ants I Want: Crematogaster sp, Camponotus Sp., Ponera Pennsylvanica, Mymercocystus sp.

 

My Youtube channel: https://www.youtube....kUjx-dPFMyVqOLw

 

 Join Our Fledgling Discord Server https://discord.com/...089056687423489

#133 Offline dspdrew - Posted May 4 2021 - 6:09 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 5-4-2021
 

This queen died months ago.


My Ant Colonies | My Projects | Ants for Sale | Ant Keeping Products | Southern California Ant Map

#134 Offline dspdrew - Posted September 29 2023 - 7:34 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 9-29-2023
 
I found another one of these queens wandering around in the morning of 8-3-2023 near Baker, CA.

 

She got her first workers a little over 3 weeks later.

 

They now have over 200 workers, including five majors. It's amazing how fast this colony is growing. I might need to get an actual formicarium for them soon.

 

gallery_2_216_1224859.jpg

 

gallery_2_216_369548.jpg

 

gallery_2_216_490762.jpg

 

 

Dragging some live fruit flies into their nest.

 

gallery_2_216_968364.jpg


  • B_rad0806, ANTdrew, Somethinghmm and 4 others like this

My Ant Colonies | My Projects | Ants for Sale | Ant Keeping Products | Southern California Ant Map

#135 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 30 2023 - 2:04 AM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,948 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
Awesome!
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#136 Offline 100lols - Posted September 30 2023 - 10:21 AM

100lols

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 422 posts
  • LocationSan Diego, CA
Awesome! Glad you’re getting a go at this beautiful non-shining queen species. Does that still matter to you? :)

I’m working on using your findings to identify the Pheidole queen I found in Anza Borrego after Hilary. She’s either vistana* or desertorum. Haven’t been able to get good shots of the colony yet as I don’t like disturbing them much.

Thanks for the update!

Edited by 100lols, September 30 2023 - 8:26 PM.

#137 Offline bmb1bee - Posted September 30 2023 - 6:45 PM

bmb1bee

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 978 posts
  • LocationHayward, CA

For some reason, I like to binge-read journals of large Pheidole colonies. This is no exception...


"Float like a butterfly sting like a bee, his eyes can't hit what the eyes can't see."
- Muhammad Ali

Check out my shop and parasitic Lasius journal! Discord user is bmb1bee if you'd like to chat.

Also check out my YouTube channel: @bmb1bee

#138 Offline ReignofRage - Posted September 30 2023 - 6:51 PM

ReignofRage

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 779 posts
  • LocationCalif.

Interestingly, it looks like P. vistana moreso than P. desertorum due to the scapes of the gyne appearing to be close to surpassing the occipital corners, minors with very long scapes, and the posterior margin of the head of minors being tapered. Could just be the pictures though.


Edited by ReignofRage, September 30 2023 - 6:59 PM.

  • 100lols likes this

Ant Shop | Journals | Scanned Literature

#139 Offline dspdrew - Posted September 30 2023 - 7:20 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Interestingly, it looks like P. vistana moreso than P. desertorum due to the scapes of the gyne appearing to be close to surpassing the occipital corners, minors with very long scapes, and the posterior margin of the head of minors being tapered. Could just be the pictures though.

 

I initially thought it was P. vistana, but then I thought the appendages weren't quite long enough. I love P. vistana, and have had them before, but I just felt like their appendages were a little longer. Other than the length of the appendages, I don't remember ever being able to easily tell them apart.


  • 100lols likes this

My Ant Colonies | My Projects | Ants for Sale | Ant Keeping Products | Southern California Ant Map

#140 Offline ReignofRage - Posted September 30 2023 - 7:53 PM

ReignofRage

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 779 posts
  • LocationCalif.

I used to base distinguishing them on appaendages too, but found the two species to be a bit variable (shocker). So, I started relying on stuff like the "neck" as Roy called it and rugae/striae. They are quite similar and thankfully very similar ecology-wise. Great journal on them (y).


  • 100lols likes this

Ant Shop | Journals | Scanned Literature

Back to Ant Keeping Journals · Next Unread Topic →



Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: Pheidole vistana, Dspdrew, journal

1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users