70 replies to this topic

[antsinmypants]

What does the Acromyrmex trap look like? Do you have an image you could post and some instructions on how to make one?

[dspdrew]

[dspdrew]

I will be posting pictures of everything.

[Mercutia]

Hahaha, that Lowe's bucket. Nothing special. xD

[dspdrew]

I will be modifying it a little bit, but as always, I'll be posting pictures of everything.

[Gregory2455]

You guys are so lucky to have such interesting ants in your region.

Remember Acromyrmex is still not as interesting as Atta. I want an Atta Texana sooooo bad. Wonder how to get a permit...

[Mercutia]

The most interesting ants around here are aphid tender. Our ants are so boring xD. Any species that farms is pretty darn cool in my books.

[dspdrew]

These are basically made the same way I made the jars for three of my Pogonomyrmex californicus colonies. The big holes and Hydrostone in the bottom are going to be used for hydrating later when I get them home. The smaller holes in the sides with the steel mesh are to allow the water to drain when it rains. The three holes grouped together on each side of the top are for my fingers when I need to pull them out of the ground. These bottoms will slide into the tops that were cut off of them, and will then be duct taped. Since the tops and bottoms are the same diameter at the cut line, the bottom stops about a little over an inch before falling all the way through. This allows the top to hold the bottom in fairly well. The reason for putting the tops back on is because the surface of the dirt is going to be all the way up to the brim of the bottoms, so the ants will need to be contained.

 

 

 

[Gregory2455]

I think I am just going to try to carefully dissect a founding chamber until I see an orange speck. I don't have the "resources" to go out there and lay traps. 

[Gregory2455]

Gonna resurrect this thread now.

[Anhzor]

I think I am just going to try to carefully dissect a founding chamber until I see an orange speck. I don't have the "resources" to go out there and lay traps. 

that's impossible, trust me.

[dspdrew]

Haha well... it is possible, but it would be VERY hard. I guess if you dug up an entire founding chamber and brought it home and laid it all out on something, you might be able to pick through it for hours and hours 'till you find the fungus, but I'm sure by then it would be dead. Maybe you could do it all in a sauna. :hmm:

[dspdrew]

50 percent chance of rain forcasted for the Acromyrmex spot Saturday and Sunday. The higher the percentage I notice usually means larger storms covering more area raising the probability.

[Gregory2455]

Ok then, I am going to try to go a few hours after the storm passes, or should I go the next day?

[dspdrew]

You would usually want to go the next day. Last year, the Acromyrmex actually flew about a week after the big storm came through, so it's a little hard to guess exactly when they will fly. I know Pheidole flew the evening of the day after the rain.

 

Edit: They flew the morning after the rain this time, and probably last time too, because it seems they fly, or at least the males fly, every morning for quite a few days after the rain.

[Gregory2455]

I want a Pheidole too... They have amazing majors... I might have to try to go two times...

 

 

          Edit: Speaking about Pheidole, what do those eat?

Edited by Gregory2455, July 29 2014 - 2:34 PM.

[dspdrew]

Pheidole have the coolest colors. They eat the same thing most any ant eats, along with seeds too since they are a harvester.

[Gregory2455]

There is Atta mexicana in Arizona?

 

    http://www.antweb.org/images.do?subfamily=myrmicinae&genus=atta&rank=genus&project=arizonaants

[Gregory2455]

Looks like the Acromyrmex versicolor place is going to get some rain too. Think they are going to fly?

[Anhzor]

^^ the area where the Acromyrmex was has receive heavy rain last year and did not flew, it wasnt untill late august that they started flying.  I personaly believe they don't start flying untill the temperature is cool enough as well as it has to rain.  This is because even after a huge thunderstorm temperature are still above 100, but it cools down by late august and september.

Edited by Anhzor, August 2 2014 - 10:40 PM.