34 replies to this topic

[AntsCalifornia]

Can't springtails just eat that?

[dspdrew]

Can't springtails just eat that?

 

Probably.

[YsTheAnt]

Update?

[dspdrew]

Update 6-9-2019
 
This colony is getting huge. I did a rough count and it looks like they have over 800 workers now. They are very active and have dug a pretty large nest by now. I had to remove a lot of dirt from the surface once already.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Zeiss]

When are you going to stick your hand in it?

[Acutus]

That setup is cool!! Looks like a Giant Uncle Miltons Ant Farm!  

Is it a problem keeping the soil hydrated enough so the tunnels don't collapse? 

[TennesseeAnts]

That setup is cool!! Looks like a Giant Uncle Miltons Ant Farm!  
Is it a problem keeping the soil hydrated enough so the tunnels don't collapse?

These are desert ants, so they probably don't need much.

[dspdrew]

That setup is cool!! Looks like a Giant Uncle Miltons Ant Farm!
Is it a problem keeping the soil hydrated enough so the tunnels don't collapse?

 
Soil dries pretty hard when it contains clay. There is also a plastic divider across the entire thing. It would take an awful lot to make these tunnels collapse.
 

[Acutus]

That setup is cool!! Looks like a Giant Uncle Miltons Ant Farm!
Is it a problem keeping the soil hydrated enough so the tunnels don't collapse?

 
Soil dries pretty hard when it contains clay. There is also a plastic divider across the entire thing. It would take an awful lot to make these tunnels collapse.
 

Now that's cool!

[dspdrew]

Update 10-12-2019

 

I sold this large colony a while back. I never found any new queens this year either.

[dspdrew]

Update 11-18-2020

 

On 8-23-2020 when I was in Nipton after one of the only few rainstorms we got this summer, I actually found a single P. maricopa queen. I don't know why I couldn't find any more of them.

 

Amazingly this one queen has done pretty good and now has about 30 workers.

 

 

[Antkeeper01]

When are you going to stick your hand in it?

they are one of the few ants that can kill a human

[Kaelwizard]

When are you going to stick your hand in it?

they are one of the few ants that can kill a human

This is from last year...
Also, pretty much any Pogonomyrmex can kill you if you are stung enough times.

[KitsAntVa]

yes every Pogonomyrmex can, i also figured out pogonomyrmex's favorite food is roaches chia seeds and termites. who knew except me. you should try some of those drew because they love them a lot and if you try them they will probably double in size within a month.

[dspdrew]

Update 8-4-2021

 

Queen died. The colony was about twice the size it was in the last update.