23 replies to this topic

[Leo]

well both my colonies, too lazy to update 2 journals at the same time 

they seem to prefer live prey. LOTS LOTS LOTS MORE brood

 

H venator they were ordered with my odontomachus here some pics

Edited by Leo, August 17 2017 - 11:56 PM.

[Leo]

okey dokey, news time. Harpenthagos decided to kamikaze the odontomachus because i accidentally left their lid open. 3 workers survived   (of harpenthagos)

pheidole have lots of brood, a few major pupae and larvae also a MAYBE alate larvae   

[Alabama Anter]

Yeah, my Pheidole pallidula have hit alates as well.

[Leo]

pic of pheidole

 

[Leo]

not much to update

[Leo]

much more brood from the pheidole

[Barristan]

Nice colony and pictures makes me feel to want to start with a Pheidole colony again.

[Leo]

they just had a civil war where 20% of the colony died off 

[Leo]

why???

[Leo]

i moved them into a new formicarium, they have already filled 7/10 of it after all the recent brood enclosed 

[Leo]

Questions:

 

1. why do they seem to die off in large amounts every once in a while? They produce lots of brood though.

 

2. what should I name them?

[Kanye2020]

Is that a custom ant nest if so good job. A good name for them would be The Union. Since you say that they had a civil war

[Leo]

they have moved into a new acrylic nest, much better view

[Leo]

Update:

 

They have a lot of brood and quite a few larvae they enjoy crickets over mealworms, I also FINALLY got the chance to take pictures of them in their new nest.

 

[Leo]

29/10/17

 

The pheidole capellini just die off in batches every month or so, balancing themselves out. Not too sure if that is good or bad, still 300-400 workers and 4 queens.

 

During an anting trip with my BFF, I caught a 5-queen 100 worker colony of of forest pheidole, the refused to lay eggs but have finally settled down In a box of dirt and are now happily eating.

[Leo]

15/12/17

 

I gave the originals away for $400 because they weren't producing anything.

 

On the other hand, my forest pheidole are now "free range" they have a small hole in their lid, workers can pass, majors and queens can't. They clean up the dead crickets and drink leftover honey. One of my favorite colonies.

[Hunter]

females must love that big head

[MegaMyrmex]

I think the die-offs are normal since the workers all hatch in groups, it would make sense for them to die at the same time at once. Cool colony, always wanted to keep pheidole!

[Penguin]

females must love that big head

 

They are all females, and males have tiny heads and then they die after nuptial flight so they can't really be admired   

[Leo]

23/1/18

 

The forest pheidole and my harpegnathos are now my only remaining ant colonies, the forest pheidole are still foraging on their own, the colony has been more dormant lately from the cold weather, still alive though.