18 replies to this topic

[FeedTheAnts]

While out searching for apaenogaster or maybe even C. subbarbatus, I came across this very young colony of C. castaneus. While trying to dig them out I ended up not getting all of the workers and knowing how long these colonies take to mature I decided to brood boost them. I lifted some rocks and after a couple happened to find a mature colony and grabbed a pile of pupae that was just sitting there. I'm pretty sure that this is the largest species in TN, so I'm so pumped about this colony!!!

There are six workers now but as you can see there will probably be about 60-75 in about 2 weeks!

 

Edited by TennesseeAnts, September 7 2017 - 5:30 PM.

[FeedTheAnts]

Update:

Two new workers have eclosed. One major and one minor.

I don't know if you can see but the queen is actually helping a worker eclose.

[FeedTheAnts]

update:

 

There are 10 workers now with about 2 workers eclosing everyday.

The queen has laid a very orange clutch of eggs that you can see in the pics.

[FeedTheAnts]

Update:

First Supermajor just eclosed, there are now 16 workers!

[FeedTheAnts]

update:

 Two more supermajors have eclosed and a lot more minors. I read that Camponotus don't get majors in the colony until they are up to about 60 or more workers, but looking back there was a major that I collected with the colony. So maybe my estimation of how many workers the colony originally had was off, maybe I missed a chamber in their nest. Please correct if I'm wrong, but that is just what I heard.

Here are some pics of the colony, growing at a steady rate due to the brood boost.

Edited by TennesseeAnts, August 16 2017 - 8:44 AM.

[MegaMyrmex]

Wow that is fast...I wish I still had my C. Castaneus queen...

[FeedTheAnts]

Update:

Nearly all of the pupae have eclosed and the tube is just bustling with activity

Just like the Abdo-lemons(my formica colony), I fed them some termites by throwing them into the outworld. They just went and picked everyone of them up and brought them into the nest. 

Edited by TennesseeAnts, August 20 2017 - 7:14 AM.

[MegaMyrmex]

Nice I caught a founding c. castaneus queen. I brood boosted her with a massive pile or brood and about 10 or so callow workers and they seem to be doing fine.

[FeedTheAnts]

Nice I caught a founding c. castaneus queen. I brood boosted her with a massive pile or brood and about 10 or so callow workers and they seem to be doing fine.

Sweet! You should start a journal.

[FeedTheAnts]

Update:

All of the boosted pupae have eclosed and now there are more pupae that have spun their cocoons. The queen's eggs have now turned into larvae.

[FeedTheAnts]

Update:

While out anting I happen to once again lift up a rock with a colony of these underneath and all they're pupae sitting right there, and since boosting already worked well with this queen...ya, they are going to need two tubes

It is about at least 50 pupae

Edited by TennesseeAnts, September 4 2017 - 12:59 PM.

[FeedTheAnts]

Update: 

I decided I could not keep more than three colonies at a time, so I had to release 2 of mine

It was just becoming to much, I wish I wasn't so over eager when it came to catching colonies since this is my first year. I'll leave the huge ant collection for next year when I know more and have more supplies.

[Pleming]

These ants were beautiful! You should have kept them.

[T.C.]

That'll be the day, when three colonies is too much. Try having 38 at once. Course drew could probably show us all up!

[FeedTheAnts]

These ants were beautiful! You should have kept them.

Ya, they were. I released them out of necessity, I just could not keep them

[FeedTheAnts]

That'll be the day, when three colonies is too much. Try having 38 at once. Course drew could probably show us all up!

I think I would die if I were Drew.

[Bracchymyrmex]

That'll be the day, when three colonies is too much. Try having 38 at once. Course drew could probably show us all up!

 

Once you get past 40 you stop counting.... I think we're at 119 or something.

[T.C.]

That'll be the day, when three colonies is too much. Try having 38 at once. Course drew could probably show us all up!

 
Once you get past 40 you stop counting.... I think we're at 119 or something.

Yeah, I couldn't do that. They would die. I just don't have time for it. I maxed out at 38 and managed to sell quite a bit. But it was too much. With all my other bugs, just wasn't enjoyable.

[FeedTheAnts]

 

Yeah, I couldn't do that. They would die. I just don't have time for it. I maxed out at 38 and managed to sell quite a bit. But it was too much. With all my other bugs, just wasn't enjoyable.

 

Ya, that was the main issue for me, I couldn't enjoy each individual colony.