64 replies to this topic

[Derpy]

At how many workers would you move a Camponotus Colony into a fortress?

Edited by Derpy, March 24 2018 - 3:57 PM.

[FeedTheAnts]

At how many workers would you move a Camponotus Colony into a fortress?

Probably around 25

[Derpy]

Oh ok. Thank you.

[Mettcollsuss]

Made a video to show the density of Veromessor pergandei in the Fortress.

 

I'm kinda jealous of this colony. I wish ants like these lived in my area (I'm also kinda jealous of the colony size. none of mine are that big yet).

Edited by Mettcollsuss, March 24 2018 - 5:10 PM.

[nurbs]

Decided to moved the 80+ Veromessor andrei into the Mini Hearth instead of a Fortress. Still room for growth. They love to hang on the ceiling, like most ants.

 

[CoolColJ]

I don't know how you get your videos close and clear, and with autofocus I presume?
Hand held, without that much camera shake at those magnifications either

 

Museum glass (?) also helps

Edited by CoolColJ, March 26 2018 - 1:54 PM.

[nurbs]

I don't know how you get your videos close and clear, and with autofocus I presume?
Hand held, without that much camera shake at those magnifications either

 

Museum glass (?) also helps

 

It's all manual focusing. AF at macro distances is useless. Just shift the phone back and forth. Use post image warp stabilization. Youtube has that built in, or any video editing program has that as well.

 

It's not museum glass AFAIK, key is positioning the lights so it does not reflect. 

 

EDIT: Use an app called "Pro Camera" on the iphone, which gives you full manual control. Want to stress again how important it is to PROPERLY LIGHT YOUR SUBJECT. I use two very bright LED pure white photography lamps. Everyone always asks about gear but they never pay much attention to lighting. I'm also a professional photographer, which helps.

Edited by nurbs, March 26 2018 - 2:08 PM.

[nurbs]

A video of the queens so far this Season. First 4 minute 20 seconds are three honeypots from Whitewater in a Tar Heel Ants "Triple".

 

[nurbs]

Put a heat source closer to the bottom right of the Fortress with V. pergandei last night, and they all crammed into that corner. Tons of them are hanging from the ceiling, all on top of each other. This is 1000+ ants. Crazy!

 

[YsTheAnt]

Wow nice! Hey by the way did any of your quercicola lay second year eggs?

[nurbs]

Wow nice! Hey by the way did any of your quercicola lay second year eggs?

 

I actually put them back into hibernation because they hadn't laid new eggs yet. Most of them were found near Mount Baldy, which is still really cold.

 

C. vicinus has all laid a new batch of eggs, though.

[CoolColJ]

Do any of these nests have the museum glass option? And if they do does it mitigate camera flash reflection?

[Mettcollsuss]

I moved my Aphaenogaster rudis, Formica cf. neorufibarbis, and Formica subsericea into type III formicaria, and no problems so far. I'm attempting to move my Tetramorium immigrans (but they're being stubborn) and there haven't been any deaths. This is good, since they had a die-off last time I tried to move them into a THA formicarium.

[nurbs]

Hey I was just wondering, on the mini hearth, how wide is the side entrance? Could it fit an F. subsericea queen?

 

You can specifiy when ordering, it asks the size of the ants are. But it is about 1/4 inch? Wide enough for large Camponotus, so Formica should be fine. Again, direct those kinds of questions to THA as they can answer them better than I could.

 

I do not work for them, just helping him test out nests because they do not have access to many species like we do in CA. 

 

 

Do any of these nests have the museum glass option? And if they do does it mitigate camera flash reflection?

 

As mentioned earlier, they do not. Email THA and ask them about the flash reflection.

 

When I make videos, the lights are positioned so they do not reflect off the glass.

 

 

I moved my Aphaenogaster rudis, Formica cf. neorufibarbis, and Formica subsericea into type III formicaria, and no problems so far. I'm attempting to move my Tetramorium immigrans (but they're being stubborn) and there haven't been any deaths. This is good, since they had a die-off last time I tried to move them into a THA formicarium.

 

Same. No deaths here with the type III and they are doing well. 

[nurbs]

M. mexicanus all moved in!

 

They were originally in a Mini Hearth which was connected via vinyl tubing to the Fortress. Their move was not forced. They gradually migrated to the Fortress, which took weeks. I let the water tower in the Mini Hearth dry out while keeping the Fortress hydrated.

 

Once most of the workers and brood were in, I manully moved the queen and the repletes using a qtip and dropping them on the opening on the top.

 

Were there any casualties? Yes, one replete. Should have taken a pic, but decided to spare you guys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nurbs]

Update. They all doing great. 

 

 

 

 

Here is a Type II Fortress from last year that apparently had the issues. It's been washed, and the colony has been doing well in it. I heated the outworld and they all went outside to enjoy the heat. Colony is from last year, queen found at Chaney. Check out the new batch of eggs. 

 

 

[CoolColJ]

Is that the queen in the outworld?

[nurbs]

Yeah, was so surprised she came out too.

 

Is that the queen in the outworld?

[CoolColJ]

They probably treat it as part of the nest and feel safe in there I guess

[CoolColJ]

Moved small Melophorus colony into my recently purchased Mini Hearth

They stayed wandered the outworld for quite a while.

Then the queen entered, explored and left the nest area twice.

And she didn't like it... she, a nanitic and a minor worker are still in the outworld hanging out behind a small fake plant.

 

I have made a red film cover for the front glass panel, so it should be "dark" to them.

 

The nest has a very strong chemical smell, even after a rinse and airing for a few days.

Much like when I first got my Type 2 Atom C nests.

 

I thought this nest was a Type 3 and didn't have these smells?

So she must notice the smell... or it's maybe too big for her liking inside.

Edited by CoolColJ, May 30 2018 - 2:28 PM.