161 replies to this topic

[Jadeninja9]

Update: (Sep 1, 2017)

 

I'm pretty sure that one more worker has hatched making 23 workers in total

Edited by Jadeninja9, February 14 2018 - 10:04 PM.

[Jadeninja9]

Update: (Sep 1, 2017)

 

I'm so glad to have finally removed their old moldy setup that I first got them in. This is a big milestone for me lol. 

Edited by Jadeninja9, February 14 2018 - 10:03 PM.

[Jadeninja9]

Update: (Sep 2, 2017)

 

My colony has 23 workers now confirmed. 

Edited by Jadeninja9, February 14 2018 - 10:05 PM.

[Jadeninja9]

Update: (Sep 4, 2017)

 

My colony is now at 25 workers. I think I'll move them into a hybrid nest when they reach maybe over 50 workers. Maybe I'll wait even later than that.

Edited by Jadeninja9, February 14 2018 - 10:13 PM.

[Jadeninja9]

Update: (Sep 4, 2017)

 

26 now

 

Another Update: (Sep 4, 2017)

They're at 27 workers now. There are two more pupae left so all I have to do is count how many pupae are left to see how many workers are left lol. There is a giant pupa and a smaller grayish one. I bet the bigger one will be a major.

Edited by Jadeninja9, February 15 2018 - 10:29 PM.

[Jadeninja9]

Update: (Sep 11, 2017)

 

They're still at 27 workers. The last two pupae haven't hatched. They've got a bunch of larvae and eggs though.

[Jadeninja9]

Update: (Sep 14, 2017)

 

Those 2 pupae hatched now. One of them turned into the second biggest major of the colony. So now my colony is at 29 workers. I see another larva in the process of making a cocoon, but I doubt it will be able to hatch before hibernation, which I'll start mid October. 

Update: (Sep 26, 2017)

 

30 workers
1 pupa
Tons of larvae and brood

 

[Jadeninja9]

Update: (Oct 9, 2017)

 

This colony isn't slowing down at all. In a week a total of 6 pupae have popped up.

[Jadeninja9]

Update: (Oct 12, 2017)

 

Ok so a nanitic passed away somehow. It's antenna was stuck to tinfoil, and a 1 leg was squirming while the other legs were curled up. I put it in my hand and after awhile it just stopped moving.

I also believe around 3 new workers/majors have hatched because 3 pupae are gone, and I saw new ants that I don't recognize being there before. But it's really weird because whenever I counted them all up I got around 26 workers, when it should be 32 or 33. It's like they just disappeared, or I'm just bad at counting lol. 
I can't upload anymore pictures cause I barely have any more storage left lol. I need a new phone lol.

Update: (Oct 15, 2017)

 

Now my largest major has disappeared. I think they may be chewing through the cotton and exiting through one of the ports in the ac adapter. I'm putting thicker cotton in there from now on.

[Jadeninja9]

Update: (Nov 11, 2017)

 

I put my ants into hibernation last week. They're doing fine so far. I'm keeping them in a wine cooler set to a 45F temp. I'll place a mealworm and sugar liquid drop in their test tube portal twice a month.

Alright, that is all of it. When I take my colony out of hibernation, which will probably be next week, I'll continue to update the journal. 

[Jadeninja9]

Current Day Update: (Feb 17, 2017)

 

After about 3 months, I finally took my Camponotus hyatti colony out of hibernation. I counted and they have about 31 workers. They have a very large amount of larvae, so I'm excited to see their growth this year. I gave them a drop of honey in their foraging area but none have ventured outside yet. As I write this, I notice that a major and minor have died. Maybe I should get them acclimated to the new temps first? I can see a worker tending the major who appears lifeless. It's weird because all the ants were acting like normal just a few minutes ago so I don't know what's going on. I'll give more updates in a few minutes.

[Jadeninja9]

Update: (Feb 17, 2017):

 

Okay, so I put my colony in the garage where it's a lot cooler, but not too cold. All of the ants including the major and minor now back to life and are acting as if nothing happened. I think because my room is the hottest in the house (76F), it was too hot for them coming right out of hibernation. For a second there, I was really worried that those two ants had died. Over the course of the day, I'll start moving them between rooms to get them acclimated to warmer temps. 

[YsTheAnt]

Nice! How big are these workers, 4mm?

[Jadeninja9]

Nice! How big are these workers, 4mm?

I have no clue lol. But they're not as big as you may think. They're a species of small Camponotus.

[YsTheAnt]

Yeah, I know, myrmentoma subgenus. I want one so bad!! Could you possibly take a pic with a quarter or something next to their tube?

[Jadeninja9]

Yeah, I know, myrmentoma subgenus. I want one so bad!! Could you possibly take a pic with a quarter or something next to their tube?

Yeah, I'll try that

[Jadeninja9]

The quarter is distorted 

Edited by Jadeninja9, February 18 2018 - 9:48 AM.

[YsTheAnt]

So tiny!!! Thanks for the pics

Edited by YsTheAnt, February 18 2018 - 11:36 AM.

[Jadeninja9]

So tiny!!! Thanks for the pics

Yeah no problem

[Jonathan21700]

Well documented, great pictures, great journal! Keep it up!