9 replies to this topic

[Myrmidon]

Hey everyone!

 

Entry 5/21/17:

So, as a lucky bonus to my Camponotus hunting on 5.19.17 I was able to find a founding Formica sp. queen in a nearby forest trail. For me this is interesting because it probably means she hibernated under the rock from the nuptial flights last summer (unless we had a random localized flight) or she was ejected from another colony.

 

I brought her home and immediately transferred her into a test tube setup. She seemed a bit on the smaller side and all I know is if I've been sleeping for a couple months (or kicked out from my existing home) I'd be starving. So I fed her a pretty hefty drop of Sunburst Nectar - and she engorged herself on it. After she literally drank the whole thing, I put her into the same drawer as my Camponotus group; which is heated at 74F environment. Not even 2 days later she has begun laying her first batch of eggs and seems to be doing well:

 

 

The pics are a lot less clear than some of my other tubes - this particular plastic tube isn't as photogenic. But I think they do a pretty decent job for now.

 

Anyway, I hope she makes it!

Edited by Myrmidon, July 6 2017 - 6:43 PM.

[T.C.]

Haha, there isn't no way this is lasius alienus. Isn't this formica sp.?

[Nathant2131]

Haha, there isn't no way this is lasius alienus. Isn't this formica sp.?

I was about to say the same thing. I think this is Formica.

 

I would post an ID request.

Edited by Nathant2131, May 23 2017 - 10:27 AM.

[Martialis]

Yup, this is Formica.

[Myrmidon]

Yup, this is Formica.

Thanks for the clarification! I'll change it

[Myrmidon]

Entry 6/1/17: Larvae development

 

Did a quick check on this one, probably because I'm more concerned about her condition than the others. She had around 6 eggs from the last picture/update I put in this journal. When I checked today, it doesn't seem like many of them are still there but 2 very obvious larvae are being tended to. I'm guessing the other eggs were used to feed them and/or the queen. There are also no new eggs from what I can see. As a result, I figured it was time to help with some additional food. As she is tending to larvae, I knew there was a need for protein, so I gave her a pre-killed fruit fly dipped in Sunburst Nectar. She was a bit skiddish at first but then happily consumed most of it. I will leave the little "plate" of food in the tube for a day or two and check back.

 

Wasn't able to get pics but will do so when I check back!

[Myrmidon]

6/3/17: Larvae Picture, New Eggs!

 

So I'm definitely impressed at how fast the eggs are developing with this one. You can see the two pretty healthy larvae in this pic; one is on the feeding tin foil and the other is right underneath a bit of cotton. Also a random egg found itself on the "ceiling" of the tube and I saw another clinging to the larvae underneath the cotton. I noticed she generally prefers to put the brood under/nestled in cotton most of the time. Her gaster is a bit more pronounced this time around as well! Glad I fed her.

 

[Myrmidon]

Entry 6.9.17: Pupae!

 

Looks like my feeding paid off. The rapid development from larvae to pupae occurred! She's happily carrying it around at the moment. I did notice that there is a distinct lack of various brood development in this species. She either has eggs and pupae or just larvae. At the moment she just has eggs and a pupae and no larvae. It's intriguing for sure. The tube is a bit of a mess because I was feeding her fruit flies (which she totally consumed) so I need to clean out the dead bits. Also it's a bit cloudier than my other pics because the tube is plastic and isn't as clear.

 

My first time every getting to this point; excited to have my first worker!

 

[Myrmidon]

6.22.17 Entry: The Birth of an Ant!

 

This morning I was so happy to catch the cocoon hatching! Here's a couple pics to depict some really neat shots. I do have to say I'm excited for this queen because I wasn't sure of her status out in the wild and I hope this worker signals the start of her own colony. It looks like it was just around 30 days from egg to worker.

 

As an aside - I will probably move them to a clearer tube (I really dislike this plastic type - terrible for photos) once the nanitic worker gets settled!

 

Edited by Myrmidon, June 23 2017 - 10:45 AM.

[Myrmidon]

Entry 7/6/17: After a quick vacation....

 

The picture kind of speaks for itself. She has been busy as I left her alone for awhile.... I think the heating cable really does wonders for her brood. Her little helper is probably a huge relief too.

 

 

I think I may need to think about an outworld for this one. I didn't think I was going to need one so quickly!

Edited by Myrmidon, July 6 2017 - 6:45 PM.