306 replies to this topic

[noebl1]

Been following this; thanks for posting!   Just pulled out my digital calipers and fully grasped that this queens is 35mm... Wow.

[Leo]

cooool hope dey mate

Edited by Leo, February 3 2017 - 3:38 PM.

[CrazyLegs]

Myrmecia don't actually have nuptial flights; the wings are just for dispersal. Instead the ants congregate on tall structures to mate.

Ah, that's good to know. I was imagining dodging a nightmare of flying brevinoda queens. So they just walk up to the top of say, a nearby tree. Do the business and just kinda glide back to the ground?

[Leo]

why don't you try hawaiant's breeding method?

[CrazyLegs]

I will look into it. This forum is quite big and I'm quite new.

[CrazyLegs]

I thought it would be interesting to see what was done with the queen alates empty cocoon.

This ant is going to give me a run down on how to properly prepare it for disposal.

First, grab the bag in a loving embrace and get yourself into position.

With your mandibles begin to snip down the side of the bag.

Push your head along the bag, snipping as you go.

When you get halfway, get down real low.

Umm?

Ahh?

Hmm?

Fail.

I think we've found our paint licker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by CrazyLegs, February 4 2017 - 10:50 PM.

[Leo]

http://www.formicult.../?hl=solenopsis

[drtrmiller]

I sense a high level of excitement over this thread.

 

You do an excellent job with these setups, CrazyLegs.  Nice attention to detail and general aesthetics.

[CrazyLegs]

Thanks drtrmiller, much appreciate it. I'm going to need all the help I can get with this and the forum has been a great help so far.

[dspdrew]

I sense a high level of excitement over this thread.

 

You do an excellent job with these setups, CrazyLegs.  Nice attention to detail and general aesthetics.

 

Yeah, you're definitely keeping people entertained, CrazyLegs. That's for sure.

[CrazyLegs]

I have to say, over the last couple of weeks I have been nothing short of enthralled over this small box of insects. Hopefully the joy can continue.

 

Here you can see the baby queen has had a little accident....... but don't worry the worker was quick to get on it and clean up the mess.

"Big Yella" can easily span the chasm down to the lower levels which at this stage is reserved for moss and empty cocoons.

Edited by CrazyLegs, February 4 2017 - 10:57 PM.

[antgenius123]

http://www.formicult.../?hl=solenopsis

Imagine that with a 35mm long queen with huge mandibles.

[CrazyLegs]

I can't imagine holding this girl up against another writhing male. I guess if I see the queen and the males out together I could try. Wouldn't I need a non related male ant?

I know you are probably keen to see what the queen is up to. I promise I will get a pic or two tonight.

I have still been getting "Gator Ridge" ready for my M.chrysogaster.

I've sealed the edges in and because I used a terracotta over the whole thing this time, the color is a match.

I still went with a tea stain as well, just squirting the tea on the top of the ridge and letting it run down naturally in all directions.

I used red oxide in the tunnels and gave it a few good rinses to remove any dust.

A fine red desert sand from central Australia (Yes, we quite literally sell the earth here) was used to fill all the gaps in the nest and around the front of the hebel. Make sure to wash and dry all sand before use. The last thing you want in your formicarium after you start adding moisture is mud.

Edited by CrazyLegs, February 4 2017 - 1:18 AM.

[antgenius123]

Yeah you should probably look for an unrelated male or female if there would be any chance of breeding.

Edited by antgenius123, February 4 2017 - 12:51 AM.

[CrazyLegs]

The queen is still yellow and hangs around with the other newbies who I can now tell are a shade or two darker.

The last remaining pupae ended up being tossed in a far chamber like a piece of trash. It's not on the moss pile but is being ignored.

The queen is realizing she can move to another room when I shine a light in her face.

Love that yellow armor and those teeth.

 

Edited by CrazyLegs, February 4 2017 - 8:38 PM.

[PTAntFan]

One of the best threads here.  Good luck!

[CrazyLegs]

Thanks PTAntFan, Glad your enjoying it.

 

It was another hot sunny Sunday here in south east Queensland, and I went out in search of a new Myrmecia brevinoda nest. I didn't have to go very far before I caught a glimpse of a familiar looking mound of dirt in the distance against a tree.

It was lit up by a ray of sunshine beaming in through the tree canopy directly onto the mound. As I got closer it looked more and more promising.

It was indeed a brevinoda nest and it was a perfect candidate to search for drones that are unrelated to my colony at home.

I will easily be able to knock a good 25cm off the top of this mound with my trusty field shovel and hopefully there will be some newly eclosed drones near the surface.

This time I prepared, making sure my thick socks were well bunched up. I donned a pair of demolition gloves and had my padded BBQ tongs at the ready.

I raised my shovel and prepared to make my surgical strike. I can tell you collecting these ants is adrenalin pumping stuff (A single sting would be enough to discourage most from pressing forward) but I came away with 3 drones and even caught a familiar looking yellow alate queen.

I have placed one of the drones into the crocodilian formicarium to see what would happen, he was violently attacked.

Despite looking like he took a couple of nasty stings, he is still alive and waiting in the outworld.

I apologize for the pics, I don't have access to a decent camera at the moment.

 

As far as what to do next I will await for some expert advice from this forum. Should I put them all together and risk losing both queens? Or wait and see if the drones or queen come out of the nest and attempt an artificial insemination?

 

 

 

 

Edited by CrazyLegs, February 4 2017 - 8:46 PM.

[Leo]

ouch what happened to the queen?

[CrazyLegs]

She is in a jar with two drones.

[CrazyLegs]

The first captive born to come out and have a look around.

She didn't even attempt to climb the glass.