13 replies to this topic

[Darkchieftain]

This is a journal about my Camponotus Nova Colony that T.C. sent me. I got it September 15th, 2017 with 4 majors and 8 workers due to T.C.'s brood boost. Sadly, one of the majors randomly died a few days after i got them, but the rest are healthy. Here are some pictures from September 17th of them in their brand new setup.

 

 

[Darkchieftain]

Update from October 8th(yes, i know i'm doing all these posts on one day):

They are doing well, accepting all food vigorously. Flies, spiders, meal worms, grasshoppers, crickets. Everything i give them they are more than willing to eat. At this points they had 18 pupae, 4 larvae(that i saw), and 20ish eggs. For anyone wondering how i got them, TC and I both live in Wisconsin so it was LEGAL.

 

[Darkchieftain]

Alright, final update for today. 10 of the pupae have eclosed, bringing the total population up to 21 ants They still have a good amount of pupae left, along with tons of larvae and eggs. They seem to be laying more eggs the closer we get to hibernation. Once the current pupae all eclose I will stop heating them and let them slow down for hibernation.

 

[Darkchieftain]

Well, my goal is to update this journal once a week, every Monday.

Today they have reached 34 workers with another 10 or 11 pupae, 12(ish) larvae, and 20-30 eggs. I removed the heating cable from direct contact with the nest, but it is still inside their outworld so the general temperature will still be around 70 degrees F. Once we get to November I will stop heating them and let em hibernate at their own pace.

 

[T.C.]

Man, these just shot ahead of my other colony. I will have to get them a heating cable after hibernation.

[Darkchieftain]

Yeah, the heating alongside the fact that i feed them as much protein as they are willing to eat means that they are growing at an alarming rate. Gonna have to move them to a bigger setup after winter most likely.

[Pleming]

A heating cable and tons of food got my first year Camponotus colony to 100+ workers and still growing. They might reach 150 before hibernation. She has tons of brood.

[Darkchieftain]

Update on October 30,2017:

They have one new worker from last time, bringing the total to 35 members. They also now have 19 pupae, 20ish larvae, and 10-20 eggs. I will remove the cable completely on Wednesday and let them hibernate when they are ready.

 

[T.C.]

You aren't going to put them in the fridge or anything?

[Hunter]

i like there red, my 20 workers are just starting to get it

[Darkchieftain]

TC, I keep them in my basement which is around 50 degrees in the winter. Besides, I have literally zero fridge space for em. Can't afford a new one.

[T.C.]

I'm going to hibernate all mine in the garage.

[Darkchieftain]

Yeah, I thought about that but my garage will get well below freezing later in winter. Don't want to freeze any of them on accident. I might put them in the garage when it's above freezing, then put them in the basement at night and hope they don't wake back up right away.

They don't seem interested in hibernation, judging by the enormous amount of brood. 10-15 pupae, same again for larvae, and probably 30-40 eggs. No pictures this week.

[T.C.]

Camponotus sp. here can actually hibernate in freezing temps. The garage I use isn't heated. It is important you don't put them out in freezing temperatures right away though. I put them out on a warm day, so they slowly adjust to the temperature. Fridge is no doubt a better option because it it is less risky.