18 replies to this topic

[Aaron567]

Yesterday, I found my first Pheidole dentata queen in the pool. I've always wanted to keep this species because I like the red color of their majors. I also like how this species is a decently sized Pheidole, unlike the tiny ones that are also very common here. This queen is 6 millimeters. I decided that it was worth starting a journal of this species because the workers aren't absolutely tiny and I can more easily photograph them.

 

This queen has already laid five eggs after one day of having her. I will update this journal when she has several larvae.

 

May 28, 2017

 

May 29, 2017

Edited by Aaron567, October 8 2017 - 12:10 PM.

[VoidElecent]

Good luck with this queen, I know Pheidole can be pretty fun to keep.

[Aaron567]

Good luck with this queen, I know Pheidole can be pretty fun to keep.

 

Thanks. A lot of the times, raising Pheidole queens is pretty easy too. However, some species can be more sensitive and difficult. I have a Pheidole obscurithorax queen that I caught a couple weeks ago and she has not laid eggs, yet this dentata queen laid eggs after having her for just a day.

[ctantkeeper]

I had this species. It does amazing in captivity, especially in polygynous colonies. Their colonies grow pretty fast and are pretty entertaining to watch. The only downside is that they are very sensitive to stress when moving their colonies into new enclosures. Simply allow them to grow to an appropriate size before upgrading their setups. Founding queens do not mind mini hearths though.

[123LordOfAnts123]

Probably one of the easiest species of ants to keep. Far from picky and they grow fast. I'm finding one or two queens but their main flights should start up in the next couple of weeks along with P. morrisi. Dozens of queens of both species can be found during a good morning after a rain.

[Aaron567]

Probably one of the easiest species of ants to keep. Far from picky and they grow fast. I'm finding one or two queens but their main flights should start up in the next couple of weeks along with P. morrisi. Dozens of queens of both species can be found during a good morning after a rain.

 

Nice! P. morrisii is a species that I've wanted badly for a while. I never found a queen of them last year, so hopefully I'll find one this year.

 

How early in the morning would you suggest finding them?

[Aaron567]

June 18, 2017

 

I guess I forgot I had this journal, but this same queen has just been getting her first pupae. She's looking great. It looks like this colony will start off pretty strong.

 

Edited by Aaron567, July 7 2017 - 11:41 AM.

[Aaron567]

Nanitics have been eclosing the past few days! She has five now. It looks like she will end up having 12-14 of them once they are done hatching.

 

It took 23 days from laying her eggs to the first nanitic.

 

Edited by Aaron567, July 7 2017 - 11:41 AM.

[VoidElecent]

Wow! So cool! They remind me of Aphaenogaster. Do you know how long it takes for queens to develop major brood?

Edited by VoidElecent, June 25 2017 - 7:49 PM.

[Aaron567]

Wow! So cool! They remind me of Aphaenogaster. Do you know how long it takes for queens to develop major brood?

 

My other Pheidole colonies have always gotten their majors when they have around 20 minors. So, pretty quickly.

Edited by Aaron567, June 25 2017 - 10:05 PM.

[Bracchymyrmex]

 

Lovely pictures, what setup do you use?

[Aaron567]

Lovely pictures, what setup do you use?

 

I put the test tube on a white pillow and use a DSLR camera for the picture.

Edited by Aaron567, July 7 2017 - 11:35 AM.

[MegaMyrmex]

I am so jealous I love pheidole but never had a single queen.

[Aaron567]

October 8, 2017

 

I really have not been feeding these a whole lot, since I've had all these other colonies that I've been putting my energy into. The colony does have around 50 workers now and I just moved them into their first formicarium. I am going to start feeding this colony a lot so they will grow fast. More updates on this colony should be coming as they grow and I move them into larger nests.

 

[YsTheAnt]

The queen reminds me of pogonomyrmex... They are really cool!

[Derpy]

Are pheidole species fairly easy to keep, I am about to get one colony of these girls.

[FeedTheAnts]

Yep, pretty basic. What species are you getting?

[T.C.]

Nice. Making good progress.

[Derpy]

The seller doesn't know exactly species. Just labled as pheidole spp.