8 replies to this topic

[Zegorzalek]

Ok, so ended up with several Pogonomyrmex rugosus and Myrm mexicanus from this last desert rain. Put them all in test tubes and into a shoebox, keeping at about 85-88 degrees. I did my first check today after a week and find several of each have a nice pile of eggs, some only have a few, but ok.

 

What I find interesting is the Myrmecocystus especially seem to be attempting to deconstruct the cottonballs. Two have stuffing pulled almost an inch out! Should I be concerned? Does these gals need some dirt? Any recommendations?? Thanks! ;]

[Pleming]

Myrmecocystus Mexicanus do better in a dirt setup. If you don't have one, I suggest putting sand/dirt in the test-tube.

[Zegorzalek]

Ok, most of these gals already have eggs... should I pull the cotton stopper out and gently put in a teaspoon of local soil? (sifted and baked at 400 for 30 min?)

[Pleming]

I would if I were you but that's totally up to you. Those ants are very hard to get going during the founding stage. I would also suggest freezing the dirt because baking it sometimes releases harmful chemicals. For my Myrmecocystus Mexicanus I just grabbed some dirt where I found them then froze it overnight and added it in later. In my experience the egg to larvae stage is very quick with the pupae stage lasting the longest. Once the worker arrived for half my queens I fed them  honey water including the queens that didn't have workers. The all doubled in size after. It took 42 days from egg to worker for half queens. I also kept them heated during the day around 85F. Hope this info helps.

[StopSpazzing]

I would if I were you but that's totally up to you. Those ants are very hard to get going during the founding stage. I would also suggest freezing the dirt because baking it sometimes releases harmful chemicals. For my Myrmecocystus Mexicanus I just grabbed some dirt where I found them then froze it overnight and added it in later. In my experience the egg to larvae stage is very quick with the pupae stage lasting the longest. Once the worker arrived for half my queens I fed them  honey water including the queens that didn't have workers. The all doubled in size after. It took 42 days from egg to worker for half queens. I also kept them heated during the day around 85F. Hope this info helps.

Freezing will not kill off all organism in the soil. You run the risk of contaminating everything. Freezing is great for killing mites and various parasites from insect food, but soil is different. Anything you bake can release toxic chemicals, and unless you are standing over it inhaling all the gas emitted, you are fine cause there is more fresh air in your house than there is toxic chemicals in your soil (if that were the case). There is a reason veterans suggest baking it.

Edited by StopSpazzing, September 20 2017 - 6:29 PM.

[Pleming]

 

I would if I were you but that's totally up to you. Those ants are very hard to get going during the founding stage. I would also suggest freezing the dirt because baking it sometimes releases harmful chemicals. For my Myrmecocystus Mexicanus I just grabbed some dirt where I found them then froze it overnight and added it in later. In my experience the egg to larvae stage is very quick with the pupae stage lasting the longest. Once the worker arrived for half my queens I fed them  honey water including the queens that didn't have workers. The all doubled in size after. It took 42 days from egg to worker for half queens. I also kept them heated during the day around 85F. Hope this info helps.

Freezing will not kill off all organism in the soil. You run the risk of contaminating everything. Freezing is great for killing mites and various parasites from insect food, but soil is different. Anything you bake can release toxic chemicals, and unless you are standing over it inhaling all the gas emitted, you are fine cause there is more fresh air in your house than there is toxic chemicals in your soil (if that were the case). There is a reason veterans suggest baking it.

 

 

When using the same oven as I eat in I don't want to release any chemicals. Call me paranoid but that's just my opinion. 

[JasonD]

I would if I were you but that's totally up to you. Those ants are very hard to get going during the founding stage. I would also suggest freezing the dirt because baking it sometimes releases harmful chemicals. For my Myrmecocystus Mexicanus I just grabbed some dirt where I found them then froze it overnight and added it in later. In my experience the egg to larvae stage is very quick with the pupae stage lasting the longest. Once the worker arrived for half my queens I fed them  honey water including the queens that didn't have workers. The all doubled in size after. It took 42 days from egg to worker for half queens. I also kept them heated during the day around 85F. Hope this info helps.

 

Where are you getting this info? I guess if the rocks had contaminates like from pesticides on them this could happen, but clean rocks aren't going to release anything. Seconded on that Myrmecocystus takes forever to get going. I don't exactly remember how long it took for the first eggs of M. mimicus but it was at least 40 days. 

[Pleming]

 

I would if I were you but that's totally up to you. Those ants are very hard to get going during the founding stage. I would also suggest freezing the dirt because baking it sometimes releases harmful chemicals. For my Myrmecocystus Mexicanus I just grabbed some dirt where I found them then froze it overnight and added it in later. In my experience the egg to larvae stage is very quick with the pupae stage lasting the longest. Once the worker arrived for half my queens I fed them  honey water including the queens that didn't have workers. The all doubled in size after. It took 42 days from egg to worker for half queens. I also kept them heated during the day around 85F. Hope this info helps.

 

Where are you getting this info? I guess if the rocks had contaminates like from pesticides on them this could happen, but clean rocks aren't going to release anything. Seconded on that Myrmecocystus takes forever to get going. I don't exactly remember how long it took for the first eggs of M. mimicus but it was at least 40 days. 

 

 

As for baking dirt/sand I'm not fully certain on the harmful chemical but when baking soil this is something that has been stated. 

 

I never said "Myrmecocystus take forever to get going". I said that they can be hard to get going in the founding stage. If you read any article or journals that has been posted they are more complicated then the standard queen. 

 

I also stated it took 42 days from egg to worker for my queens,

[Zegorzalek]

Awesome, thanks for all the input. I will drive back out to where I picked them up this Saturday and grab some native dirt. Cook it up and will take the risk of putting a bit of in the tubes with the gals.. when I did my week check, a couple had egg piles the size of their thorax, but most had only a couple, or a few.

 

These are SUCH beautiful ants.

 

I picked these up with a bunch of P. rugosa.... any thoughts on hibernation? (planning to keep the rugosa at 85ish though the winter.