27 replies to this topic

[Mettcollsuss]

I caught two Brachymyrmex depilis queens last fall. One died a week later of unknown causes. I took the remaining queen out of hibernation a few weeks ago, and as of two days ago, she had eggs. She is showing many signs of being fertile.

 

 

 

Edited by Mettcollsuss, December 4 2018 - 3:26 PM.

[TennesseeAnts]

How big is she?

[Mettcollsuss]

About 4-5mm. Why?

[TennesseeAnts]

I want to catch some this year.

[Mettcollsuss]

I caught this one on the sidewalk, and the other one in a school garden. The habitat was like this. 

[TennesseeAnts]

Perfect! Thanks!

[noebl1]

I want to catch some this year.

 

I've caught alates in the woods as well; flew early September here in New England last year.  I find they tend to fly the same time as Lasius, Myrmica, Ponera and Aphaenogaster with the big Fall flights, often the same day.

 

I pulled mine this week out of hibernation; amazing how tiny she is.

[Mettcollsuss]

3-3-18

She still has a large pile of eggs, and a single small larvae sitting next to them.

[Mettcollsuss]

2-5-18

Still mostly eggs, but now one large larvae and a couple small ones.

[VoidElecent]

Good luck with these gals. We caught a couple two years ago that failed to really develop any brood, they just kept eating their eggs. I have about 20 in hibernation right now so we'll see how it goes this year.

[Zmagz]

Good luck with these gals. We caught a couple two years ago that failed to really develop any brood, they just kept eating their eggs. I have about 20 in hibernation right now so we'll see how it goes this year.

 

I have two as well, but my friend also said they are really hard to get out of the founding stage. He had the same problem with them eating eggs and brood not developing to larvae. Last time I checked one queen had large larvae so I'm hoping all goes well!

[Canadian anter]

I have no clue how you guys raise these things. I've been more succesful with Stigmatomma and Lasius claviger. Mine always die within a month. 

[Mettcollsuss]

Good luck with these gals. We caught a couple two years ago that failed to really develop any brood, they just kept eating their eggs. I have about 20 in hibernation right now so we'll see how it goes this year.

 
I have two as well, but my friend also said they are really hard to get out of the founding stage. He had the same problem with them eating eggs and brood not developing to larvae. Last time I checked one queen had large larvae so I'm hoping all goes well!

I have no clue how you guys raise these things. I've been more succesful with Stigmatomma and Lasius claviger. Mine always die within a month.

I have her hooked up to a heating cable, so I think that's a part of it. She's also in a very small test tube so that the claustral cell doesn't feel too big.

[Mettcollsuss]

3-17-18

She now has about five large larvae and several smaller larvae/eggs. I can't tell if she has any pupae yet, as the brood is so small it's hard to differentiate between large larvae and pupae.

[Zmagz]

Nice! also my brachymyrmex just got their first pupae

[Mettcollsuss]

4-2-18

She has several eggs and larvae, but only one pupae. The pupae is getting darker and will most likely eclose soon.

 

Her test tube is almost out of water, but she's refusing to move. Hopefully, when the worker ecloses it will convince her to move.

[Mettcollsuss]

4-5-18

She has a pupae that's really close to eclosing. Her old test tube completely dried out so I moved her manually.

[Zmagz]

My brachymyrmex deplis got her first nanitic a few days ago, has your queen got her nanitics yet?

[Mettcollsuss]

not yet. soon, though

[noebl1]

How long did it take for yours to go from egg to pupae?  I took mine out end of Feb, she laid sometime early March, and looks to be a mix of eggs and small larvae.

 

They make my Temnothorax look large... not an easy fete.