5 replies to this topic

[mike.omeg]

I apologize in advance for the horrible photos.  This is my first queen I have ever caught and I only recently became interested in ant keeping.  I never expected to catch a queen and just happened upon this one today.  I tried my best with my cell phone as I have  no macro lens (ordered one today!).  I am interested in genus only so I can reference the proper care instructions.  Thank you!

 

1. Location (on a map) of collection:  The Dalles, Oregon, USA
2. Date of collection: July 22, 2017
3. Habitat of collection: Oak savanna
4. Length (from head to gaster): 8 to 9 mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: black shiny
6. Distinguishing characteristics: n/a
7. Distinguishing behavior: n/a
8. Nest description: n/a

 

Album: ID needed

6 images

2 comments

 

 

[Nathant2131]

Tetramorium caesiptum/sp. e. Congrats!

[MrWeather]

Nice tetramorium.

[WeatherAnt]

I agree with the others. She is a Tetramorium queen! Their care is rather straight-forward. Place her in a test tube set up and she'll give you workers in about a month. When they get workers, feed them fruit flies at first and occasional drops of honey (be careful because the workers will eventually fall into the honey, and drown, so maybe soak the end of a Qtip in honey and use that so they can't fall in). 

 

They grow fast, and are generally easy. Keep them fed but don't overfeed them and you'll do fine. They don't enjoy the light so keep them covered in darkness when not caring for them. 

[Connectimyrmex]

Beautiful Tetramorium queen! To speed up brood population, I would feed her a dead termite after she has a large cluster of eggs.

Edited by Connectimyrmex, July 22 2017 - 7:40 PM.

[mike.omeg]

Many thanks for the ID and the care suggestions.  The information and kind advice is much appreciated.  She is a happily living in a test tube and has a large clutch of eggs she is fussing over.  Cheers! Mike