70 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

It was actually really cool yesterday after the storm went through. Even today it's only 95.

[Gregory2455]

ONLY 95? What is it usually? How much Acromyrmex queens did you get? I am not making it this year... 

At least not now, maybe try to go out in a month or so and dig something up if I can, something came up. Can't believe it.

[dspdrew]

Usually around 105 out there. Dig something up a month from now? You better bring a backhoe.

[Crystals]

... You better bring a backhoe.

This comment made me laugh. 

 

I have access to 2 backhoes.  Do we need the big cat or will one of the mini's suffice?  I shudder to think of the cost of getting those things to any somewhat remote location, diesel isn't that cheap anymore.

[Gregory2455]

After seeing Acromyrmex versicolor myself, I was not disappointing. Digging up that mature nest gave me a lot of information about the species that the internet weirdly couldn't provide. They are VERY polymorphic. The smallest minors I saw were about one fifth or less of thee size of the largest majors I saw. I was a little disappointed with the size of the queen, expecting larger... Their stridulation was cool, I found it very fascinating.

 

​ I wish I could keep this species successfully, but sadly, I failed at getting fungus... Though I decided to keep the four queens I caught, probably a bad idea...   

[Anhzor]

Hi greg I hope you didn't destroy the founding chambers because I'm planning to come get some foraging queen

[Anhzor]

As well as andrew traps

[Gregory2455]

I didn't see his traps, and I only dug up a few, there are still plenty where I was, however there was already someone there before me who dug up a lot of them - there were already a bunch of holes where I can imaging founding chambers existed... 

[Anhzor]

I wish people would stop trying to dig them up as me and Andrew stated many times that getting the fungus is impossible plus these queen forage at night so there's no point in digging.

[Gregory2455]

How long do they hold onto their fungal pellet? Why are you waiting for them to forage? Do they hold onto the fungus as they forage or something?

[Gregory2455]

I think I am going to try bucket traps next year... I was just very unprepared this year.

[Anhzor]

hi greg, they usually spit out the fungal pellets after they have dig their founding chamber.  The fungal pellets looks like a small brown turd the shape of a dandelion seed.

[Gregory2455]

Ok, say that two queens start a colony together, do they both spit out their fungal pellets? Cause one of the few founding chambers I dug up, yielded two queens.

[Anhzor]

They are known to be polygamous. .. at least when starting out

[Gregory2455]

But do you think they BOTH spit their fungal pellets out? 

[Anhzor]

They probably did by now..

[Gregory2455]

Yeah... I have seen them accepting sugar water before, do you think there is a way I could sneak in the other nutrients they need until I can get some of their fungus?

[dspdrew]

The reason you just get them at night while they forage is because it's a lot easier and less destructive than digging them up.

[Anhzor]

Greg me and andrew had them for more then 3 months without food as long as their kept moist

[Gregory2455]

Ok, this may sound stupid, it may not, I have seen 50-50 answers with this question, but this is the first time I was the one asking- Can one species of leaf cutter survive off/ accept another species of leaf cutter's fungus?