31 replies to this topic

[Myrmicinae]

I would put them in a large rubbermaid bin (or any container big enough to hold the nest) with an escape barrier at the top.  You can connect a tube leading to a new nest.  They will move as it dries out, or as you pick out larger pieces that fell off.

If possible, raise the nest on some dowels and take the glass off if it is that far gone.  They will swiftly move.

 

Thanks!  That's a good idea.  I hadn't thought of using dowels.

[dspdrew]

Yeah, I do the tub thing as well. I just set the entire formicarium in a large tub lined with fluon, drop a test tube or two in there and wait for the formicarium to dry out. They'll find the test tube.

[antmaniac]

Very nice colony. I should consider relocate mine indoor.

[Myrmicinae]

Thanks for the responses!  I think that I will try this method over the weekend.

[SMILEforAnts]

Nice colony and great pictures!

 

No doubt Pheidole is one of my favorite ant genus. I just love the heads of the majors.

 

Btw I was thinking of ordering Hydrostone, but you mentioned it started falling apart which scares me, so I'm kinda iffy about it now

[Gregory2455]

I do not think you will have to worry about hydrostone falling apart SMILEforAnts. I have a feeling the reason Myrmicinae's fell apart is because it was put in for hibernation. I think water expanded in it and weakened it. I doubt you need to worry about hibernating in Hawaii.

[SMILEforAnts]

I do not think you will have to worry about hydrostone falling apart SMILEforAnts. I have a feeling the reason Myrmicinae's fell apart is because it was put in for hibernation. I think water expanded in it and weakened it. I doubt you need to worry about hibernating in Hawaii.

 

Ohh thanks for clearing that up! Yeah no winter here for sure lol but it would be nice to take a break for a couple of months and not have to worry about caring for your ants.

[Myrmicinae]

Nice colony and great pictures!

 

No doubt Pheidole is one of my favorite ant genus. I just love the heads of the majors.

 

Btw I was thinking of ordering Hydrostone, but you mentioned it started falling apart which scares me, so I'm kinda iffy about it now

 

Thanks!  This is definitely one of my favorite colonies.  P. ceres majors don't leave the nest very often, in contrast to P. megacephala.  As far as I can tell, their sole task seems to be crushing seeds.  Otherwise, they are very good at being useless lumps. 

 

As Gregory mentioned, I think that the lower temperatures may have played a role.  In my experience, hydrostone has been much more durable than pure plaster of paris overall.

Edited by Myrmicinae, March 26 2015 - 10:20 AM.

[Myrmicinae]

This colony is doing quite well.  I brought them out of hibernation on April 5.  Below are some photos of them "waking up."  

 

 

 

They have suffered a number of worker losses (back down to about 80 minors and 7 majors).  However, they have also built up a huge pile of developing pupae, so I am expecting the population to explode soon.  

 

These ants somehow endured a full raid by my P. megacephala colony last week with no loss of brood, although many P. ceres majors were killed in defense of the nest.  This will not be happening again, as the P. megacephala colony unfortunately went to the freezer.  They managed to relocate their entire colony into my tropical vivarium and I had no choice but to dismantle it and freeze the substrate.

Edited by Myrmicinae, June 2 2015 - 12:07 PM.

[dspdrew]

How far did your P. megacephala travel to end up in your vivarium?

[Myrmicinae]

How far did your P. megacephala travel to end up in your vivarium?

 

About a foot.  It was quite impressive though, given that they managed to relocate the entire colony of thousands in a single night and had to traverse a few vertical surfaces.

[Myrmicinae]

Some photos that I just took of their largest brood pile.

 

 

 

Major vs. (presumably) minor larva.

 

Edited by Myrmicinae, June 2 2015 - 2:45 PM.