Found a Pogonomyrmex californicus queen today out by Palm Springs. She is the wasp-like bi-color variety of Pogonomyrmex californicus. I find the Pogonomyrmex californicus out here in the desert are far easier to keep than the pansy coastal variety. I hope I get a good colony out of her, as they are an awesome species. She is bigger than the coastal Pogonomyrmex californicus queens I find by my apartment, by quite a substantial amount. I'd say two times the size of the local Pogonomyrmex queens.
I probably won't be able to boost her with same brood from here (too dry and hard of soil), but maybe when I get back to the coast I can "steal" some brood to give her, of the local Pogonomyrmex. I don't know if it will work though, as the Pogonomyrmex here are very aggressive and don't tend to be very accepting of even other colony (of the same species) brood from my previous attempts. Sometimes the queens accept brood, but not often. I do prefer boosting queens though, because it gives them a much higher chance of survival. Still, I don't come home for about a week so we'll see. I do have a termite colony, and termites seem to give a much higher chance of success too. Every queen I've given termites to, always (thus far) do far better than the queens I haven't given termites too. Maybe a coincidence, not sure.
Hope I get a good colony out of my single queen. 
Edited by Vendayn, April 17 2017 - 6:44 PM.
