84 replies to this topic

[dean_k]

March 17, 2015

 

They are doing well. Actually, they are doing too well. I have a 2nd THA Nucleus coming and, while I am debating which colony of mine would get to use it, this Lasius colony is becoming a good contender. But to be honest, I have a problem with their tiny size. It's not that easy to observe these and personally I want bigger ants to use the Nucleus. But we will see.

 

30ish cocoons
10ish larvae
30ish eggs

 

The substrates by eggs is what they use for mature larvae to spin their cocoons.

 

Edited by dean_k, March 17 2015 - 4:28 PM.

[dean_k]

March 24, 2015

 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the colony and they are doing extremely well. So far, only one ant died ever since nanitics were born.

 

The queen is promptly laying eggs as soon as larvae go below a certain number. Therefore, there is like a continuous production line of ants.

 

It's hard to count eggs at this point, but the colony is healthy.

 

 

 

Edited by dean_k, March 23 2015 - 9:08 PM.

[Ra3MaN]

Wow, that colony is really doing good. It would be nice to see their population explode as those workers start enclosing... *grabs popcorn

[dean_k]

March 29, 2015

 

Pop count : 34 + Queen

 

The population is on a steady, non-explosive, increase.

 

From the picture alone, I counted 30+ workers.

 

I am going to need to get them a proper permanent home soon before it becomes too much work to relocate them. I had a hellish time relocating Myrmica sp colony with 30ish workers already.

 

Edited by dean_k, March 29 2015 - 7:28 AM.

[dean_k]

April 1, 2015

 

Current pop : 37 + Queen

 

The workers seem to be well fed.

 

[Gregory2455]

I am impressed with this colony's growth! Are you keeping them above any heat source?

[dean_k]

Nope, not at all.

[dean_k]

April 6, 2015

 

The population is now 50+.

 

The queen keeps laying eggs nonstop and I reckon their number will exceed a hundred in few months of time.

 

 

Edited by dean_k, April 6 2015 - 5:42 PM.

[AntsAreUs]

Hey dean that is one nice looking set of brood you got there and also looking at your caption "Prenolepis imparis AKA the winter ant. I want them."

I just wanted to make you jealous that they are about to fly over where I'm at!

[Gregory2455]

Hey dean that is one nice looking set of brood you got there and also looking at your caption "Prenolepis imparis AKA the winter ant. I want them."

I just wanted to make you jealous that they are about to fly over where I'm at!

You are all lucky. You can tell easily by the temperature when they will fly. Here in Southern California, there is no telling what early January day they fly.

[dean_k]

April 12, 2015

 

The population is now well over 60+. It is probably over 70 now.

 

I haven't taken a video of this colony for a long time now, so I decided to take a video.

 

I also took a shot of their garbage site where they dump cocoon scraps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dean_k]

April 16, 2015

 

I stopped counting them. They are probably well over 70+ by now. I see a huge file of eggs and lots of pupae. I swear the queen is laying eggs daily.

 

There is a slight behavior change since their number is nearing 3 digits. When there is food, only few workers used to get out of the nest. Now, when I place a piece of mealworm or fly, a bunch comes out of hiding and grab the food.

 

I feel it's also important to mention that there has been only one death ever since nanitics were born. They may be small but they are proving to be remarkably strong. I've ordered their permanent formicarum.

 

 

 

 

Edited by dean_k, April 16 2015 - 4:27 AM.

[Crystals]

This is quite interesting.

I have kept Lasius Neoniger before and the queens that I had had very slow growth no matter what I tried temperature, humidity, and setups.

[drtrmiller]

Mine are slow-growing, too.  But at least they're growing.  Another thing I discovered is microscopic mites on mine—that may have something to do with the growth rate.

[Myrmicinae]

I have noticed that growth rate can vary immensely between colonies of the same species.  It is probably genetic but could also have to do with hidden parasite load or small differences in formicarium quality.

Edited by Myrmicinae, April 16 2015 - 7:16 AM.

[dean_k]

April 18, 2015

 

I counted them. They are at 85 (+queen) now.

 

 

 

[dean_k]

April 22, 2015

 

I didn't count them this time, but they are surely over 85 now and close to 100.

 

Whatever steroid the queen is taking, I'd love to give it to other queens.

 

I always see a big file of eggs, always. There hasn't been a day I have seen little to no eggs. A big file (or files) of eggs are always present. At this rate, by time the colony needs to hibernate, their population will be at somewhere between 300 ~ 500.

 

[dean_k]

April 25, 2015

 

I did a pop count: approximately 95 workers and you can see a lot of pupae and eggs. Larvae are kind of hard to see from the photo but they are there, some of which are often buried in substrate to spin cocoon.

 

I am still amazed that there has been only a single death so far. And tracing back the thread, I can see the first nanitic was born on Jan 28, so in 3 months, the colony has grown from 1 worker to approx. 95 workers.

 

They will have their permanent home in few weeks. Hopefully they will adapt to their new home well.

 

 

Edited by dean_k, April 25 2015 - 4:17 PM.

[Miles]

What an amazing journal to spend a few minutes reading through. I'm so jealous of your success with this colony. Congratulations Dean! I wouldn't be surprised if your population continues to grow rapidly throughout the summer.

[dean_k]

May 3, 2015

 

There are now 107 workers. A lot of pupae, a lot of eggs, moderate amount of larvae. If you compare with the photo from April 25, you can see that they've decided to fortify their nest entrance once more. Their last fortification was destroyed when they were dragging a fly into their nest.

 

I am amazed (still) that their death count is only 1 so far.

 

 

 

Edited by dean_k, May 3 2015 - 5:59 PM.