53 replies to this topic

[AnthonyP163]

4/16/20

 

The Formica subsericea had all their workers eclose, and have been living in a mini hearth. The dulotic Formica slowly lost workers and the queen died a few days ago, which was really disappointing. I identified them as probably Formica creightoni, which would explain why they weren't interested in my subsericea cocoons, as a product of exclusively enslaving neogagates group species. It was interesting, though, that she had fusca group workers during founding. 

 

I was also given a small Formica pallidefulva colony a week or two ago, with about 30 workers and two queens. I put them in my fallen fortress and they have laid at least 100 eggs since then, which should be larvae soon. I fed all my colonies egg yolk today and the pallidefulva and subsericea both had some. 

 

Here's some pictures of the Formica pallidefulva, and a video. There's a little less than 10 workers who just carry around batches of eggs like the ones seen below. 

 

 

[ForestDragon]

have you noticed how formica go through food so slowly, I havent fed my pallidefulva in 2 weeks now and they are STILL full even the queen has a full gaster, they have 5 workers now and some eggs/L1/2 larvae along with a couple pupae

[TennesseeAnts]

have you noticed how formica go through food so slowly, I havent fed my pallidefulva in 2 weeks now and they are STILL full even the queen has a full gaster, they have 5 workers now and some eggs/L1/2 larvae along with a couple pupae

Just wait til they get mature.....

[ForestDragon]

 

have you noticed how formica go through food so slowly, I havent fed my pallidefulva in 2 weeks now and they are STILL full even the queen has a full gaster, they have 5 workers now and some eggs/L1/2 larvae along with a couple pupae

Just wait til they get mature.....

 

Oh I'm just waiting now, they are one of my most boring colonies atm but when they get 10+ workers I'm hoping it changes, i love their coloration

[AnthonyP163]

5/12/20

 

These colonies have been growing nicely. The Formica subsericea colony had a small die-off when I moved them, but now they are approaching about 30 workers and have a decent pile of pupae/larvae. The queen just laid eggs, too.

 

The Formica pallidefulva had their first worker eclose since I got them, it's been a little over 30 days since eggs were laid. They have a ton of pupae, a small batch of larvae left and the queens have just laid more eggs. I've been feeding both of these colonies a steady supply of crickets and sunburst. 

 

Here's some pictures and videos.

 

The Formica subsericea shove all their brood in this corner.

 

Here's the Formica pallidefulva 

 

[TheRealAntMan]

Interesting, your Formica pallidefulva pupae have cocoons. Mine do not.

[CheetoLord02]

Interesting, your Formica pallidefulva pupae have cocoons. Mine do not.

I have a Formica pallidefulva-group colony (F. dolosa, specifically) and their pupae normally are about 50/50 cocooned/naked. I noticed that when I had them in a TarheelAnts setup they'd use the sand to create their cocoons, but in setups without any substrate their pupae are more likely to be naked. I have since moved them into a ytong nest and they are having more and more naked pupae, and even though there is sand in the outworld they seem to hardly use it for their pupae.

[AnthonyP163]

5/24/20

 

The Formica pallidefulva have had a ton more callows eclose, and now have much more larvae and eggs. The colony is nearing 100 workers. The Formica subsericea are at least 30 workers and still have more pupae. I caught part of a Formica montana colony, which is one of my dream species. The colony has 2 queens and ~150 workers. They have about half a dozen alate brood that must've been collected while I caught them, and the queens have laid hundreds of eggs over the past week or two. 

 

I'll have pictures next update.

[AnthonyP163]

6/3/20

 

The Formica subsericea have had all of their pupae eclose, and have no more brood. The queen hasn't laid eggs in over a month, despite being well fed and heated. 

 

The F. montana are doing amazing, which concerns me because I currently don't have anything to put them in. Their larvae are growing, and there's still large batches of hundreds of eggs. The larvae are always on the floor of the nest, often moving their heads when hungry. The colony has been voraciously eating any protein I give them.

 

The F. pallidefulva are over 100 workers, and have lots more pupae. The queens have also laid more eggs. 

 

Pictures:

 

 

Formica montana alate brood. It's difficult to get photos in this nest for multiple reasons, one of them being that they covered up an entire side of the glass.

 

 

Here's some videos of the pallidefulva and montana. The montana have been foraging in huge numbers since they got larvae so of course I feed them a lot. 

https://www.youtube....h?v=XPn_1zYGU9U

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=BS61GX-eyO8

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=cpKW1stBUBc

[TennesseeAnts]

What's the Formica montana in, and how many workers do you estimate?

Edit: Nvm, don't mind me. I shoulda read the last posts...

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, June 3 2020 - 11:55 AM.

[RushmoreAnts]

Caught a queen of these last summer. (But she didn’t make it) Also had a colony in my yard once.

[AnthonyP163]

6/15/20

 

The Formica pallidefulva are steadily growing. 

 

The Formica montana have so much pupae that they're just stacking them in the outworld now. I'm waiting on a Fallen Fortress from TarHeelAnts. 

 

The Formica subsericea have decided it's time to hibernate, and hasn't been laying eggs. I gave them some F. montana pupae for the sake of curiosity. 

 

 

 

[RushmoreAnts]

Hibernate?

[Kaelwizard]

Hibernate?

He might hibernate these in the summer. Some people do that so they have active colonies in the winter. I might have to do this eventually.