2124 replies to this topic

[ConcordAntman]

These are from a feeding session a few days ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m about to put my colonies down for diapause in a day or two. At my a feeding session last week, I decided to euthanize the last of my failed C. novaeboracensis colony. There were a few stunted larva and four workers. Sad to see them go but I still have 3 colonies, 2 C. penns, and a C. americanus. I washed out the nest with a warm water/vinegar mixture and had it air dry for a few days. I was toying with the idea of moving my May 2022 C. pennsylvanicus colony into it before diapause since they’re up to 15-20 workers but I’m undecided. Here’s to a restful fall to all of you and a robust 2023 anting season!

[ConcordAntman]

Well, here I am back at it almost 5 years on. My 3 colonies have been out of diapause perhaps 2-3 weeks and seem to be surviving so far. Two of my 3 queens were quite sluggish awakening but most seem active now. My largest colony is a 2018 C. pennsylvanicus. They’ll officially be 5 years old in May (I hope I’m not jinxing myself). 
 

 

As you can see, the queen is pretty active.

 

 

 

My next most populous colony is a 2022 C. pennsylvanicus with about 20 workers. The queens still seems a bit sluggish but the setup is busy with workers tending eggs and larvae. Time will tell. 
 

My C. americanus are still poking along. The colony has been around since 2017 but never more than 15-20. They are timid foragers though the queen is active. I can’t quite figure why for the past two season they’ve made 1-2 drones in spite of the small colony size. Could they be trophic eggs that manage to survive? Who knows…

 

 

 

[ConcordAntman]

Just about a month out of diapause and all my colonies are doing well. I didn’t have a significant die off in my 2018 C. pennsylvanicus colony. The queen is actively laying with eggs and larva but no pupa as yet. My 2022 C. penns are also quite active with a productive queen and a large brood pile of eggs, larva, and pupa. Even my sluggish C. americanus queen is laying. I’m not expecting any significant growth from them but just hoping the colony holds its own. 

[ANTdrew]

2023 needs to be the year you find some new genera of ants!

[ConcordAntman]

2023 needs to be the year you find some new genera of ants!

I kinda agree but I’ve got this whole other species to deal with and man are they labor intensive to start!

 

[ConcordAntman]

C. pennsylvanicus 2018 continues to be productive though no pupa yet. 

 

 

C. pennsylvanicus 2022 reached ~30 workers with all stages of brood so I transferred them from a test tube setup to a THA Phalanx. I’m anxious to see them continue to grow. 

 

 

My C. americanus 2017 are still the stragglers but the queen appears healthy. She lays a small clutch of eggs and lets a few trophic eggs develop only to eat the alate. I wish she’d save the protein and make more workers. 

 

 

[Ottercl]

Spotted some Formica Pallidefulva males under a rock today, hopefully they will be flying soon here.

[ConcordAntman]

I’m now down to 2 C. pennsylvanicus colonies and an egg eating C. americanus queen. The C. americanus colony founded in 2017 that I purchased in 2019 (thanks again Aakant!) has gone to that great formicarium in the sky  While my other colonies have generally prospered, this one just poked along over the years. 

 

[Aquaexploder]

Anyone still here?

[Doomchibi]

I haven't seen many people from the antkeeping community in MA posting much recently, but I see you're in RI so we might share some species ranges? I have been waiting for Prenolepis Imparis for the past couple months and I haven't seen a good day for it yet! I finally marked a couple days where it *might* be warm enough for them, but with how late in the year it's still been so cold, I wonder how long they will actually wait until they fly?

[noebl1]

I'm still around, but life has had me busy. I am down to just a couple favorite colonies and trying new things out. I was getting overloaded/burnt out I think with the Pokemon effect that cna happen when you start anting and have waaaaaaay too many colonies than you know what to do with.

[ConcordAntman]

I’m still here too! Real life got hectic and I was late getting my colonies out of hibernation. I put them down in early November but didn’t get them out until mid-March. The solitary C. americanus queen I had didn’t make it through. I’m concerned about my 2018 C. pennsylvanicus colony. The queen looked dead for several days after the colonies came out of the cooler but after a few days warming up, being fed Sunburst nectar and frozen, flash boiled crickets, I noticed new eggs and lost track of her so I’ll keep my fingers crossed. My 2022 C. pennsylvanicus colony hit the ground running and seem to be doing fine. I’m happy to still have colonies and to see familiar names in the forum. Here’s to a good season for all!

Edited by ConcordAntman, May 16 2024 - 11:14 AM.

[Aquaexploder]

I haven't seen many people from the antkeeping community in MA posting much recently, but I see you're in RI so we might share some species ranges? I have been waiting for Prenolepis Imparis for the past couple months and I haven't seen a good day for it yet! I finally marked a couple days where it *might* be warm enough for them, but with how late in the year it's still been so cold, I wonder how long they will actually wait until they fly?

I'm actually not in the area right now, but based on the forecast for the area over there I wouldn't be surprised if P. Imparis have already flown a couple of times. I remember finding quite a few around 55°- 60° sunny days 

[noebl1]

 

I haven't seen many people from the antkeeping community in MA posting much recently, but I see you're in RI so we might share some species ranges? I have been waiting for Prenolepis Imparis for the past couple months and I haven't seen a good day for it yet! I finally marked a couple days where it *might* be warm enough for them, but with how late in the year it's still been so cold, I wonder how long they will actually wait until they fly?

I'm actually not in the area right now, but based on the forecast for the area over there I wouldn't be surprised if P. Imparis have already flown a couple of times. I remember finding quite a few around 55°- 60° sunny days 

 

 

A couple of weeks ago on that first 70 degree day, we went to a local school and found 18+ P. imparis queens and all but one made it so far LOL  So. many. queens.  I've never seen them at my house, but suspected the school was a better habitat, and was right haha.  They aren't for me but for my son.

[ANTdrew]

Three Prenolepis queens I found in January(!) here in Virginia just got their first worker today.

[noebl1]

Three Prenolepis queens I found in January(!) here in Virginia just got their first worker today.

 

They are one of the slowest species I've ever raised LOL  Like frustratingly so.

[Nathant2131]

Hey guys, it amazes me to see this thread still active. I was just a middle schooler back then and now I'm an adult with a full time job and that's sort of crazy. I haven't kept ants in years but I've had a bit of a revival in looking for them outside. Hoped to find P. imparis flying today but my ant spotting skills have degraded it appears. Who knows, maybe I'll catch a queen or two this year. Think i'll start posting here from time to time again.

[Aquaexploder]

Agreed, only beat by my C. nearcticus queen that only had 3 nanitics, then kept eating her eggs.

[Aquaexploder]

Hey guys, it amazes me to see this thread still active. I was just a middle schooler back then and now I'm an adult with a full time job and that's sort of crazy. I haven't kept ants in years but I've had a bit of a revival in looking for them outside. Hoped to find P. imparis flying today but my ant spotting skills have degraded it appears. Who knows, maybe I'll catch a queen or two this year. Think i'll start posting here from time to time again.

Bet, practically exactly the same situation. Best of luck. Now some of the adult money can go towards ants lol.

[noebl1]

Hey guys, it amazes me to see this thread still active. I was just a middle schooler back then and now I'm an adult with a full time job and that's sort of crazy. I haven't kept ants in years but I've had a bit of a revival in looking for them outside. Hoped to find P. imparis flying today but my ant spotting skills have degraded it appears. Who knows, maybe I'll catch a queen or two this year. Think i'll start posting here from time to time again.

 

I feel so old, when did you grow up? LOL