12 replies to this topic

[rbarreto]

Hello all, 

 

I'm excited to finally create a profile after months of lurking  . I had the misfortune of stumbling upon this hobby in December so I've had a long time to hype myself up for the upcoming anting season. I know I could have purchased a colony but I like the idea of starting from scratch. Plus its probably a good thing that I got all this extra time to research and prepare myself.

 

My list of desired colonies:

Prenolepis imparis

Camponotus novaeboracensis

Tetramorium immigrans

Crematogaster cerasi

 

I look forward to being apart of this wonderful community and seeking the advice of you more experienced folk. 

[Canadian anter]

Welcome. Nice to see more Canadians.

[Penguin]

Welcome. I wish you luck finding your desired species! We have a couple Canadians on this site, including myself, it's nice to see more coming into the hobby.

[Lazarus]

Great to finally see someone else from Ottawa. Hope you find your Camponotus Noveaboracensis since they are certainly around here. Son and I only started looking for queens last summer (we too caught the anting bug over the winter) and he found 4 queens (and 2 Lasius Queens). Luckily they were all laying eggs as soon as we caught them. Aside from one Lasius Queen dying unexpectedly (which we used to "brood boost" the other) all are now in their second year having recently come out of hibernation. Even better is that they all have been laying eggs at a good rate and as of this just week some of the Camponotus new brood have eclosed. So we've already got 2nd generation ants.

 

It's going to be still a while before the weather warms up and we can start seeing nuptial flights, but we'll be ready.

 

Good luck and I hope to hear from you as you start your own colonies.

[Canadian anter]

Great to finally see someone else from Ottawa. Hope you find your Camponotus Noveaboracensis since they are certainly around here. Son and I only started looking for queens last summer (we too caught the anting bug over the winter) and he found 4 queens (and 2 Lasius Queens). Luckily they were all laying eggs as soon as we caught them. Aside from one Lasius Queen dying unexpectedly (which we used to "brood boost" the other) all are now in their second year having recently come out of hibernation. Even better is that they all have been laying eggs at a good rate and as of this just week some of the Camponotus new brood have eclosed. So we've already got 2nd generation ants.

 

It's going to be still a while before the weather warms up and we can start seeing nuptial flights, but we'll be ready.

 

Good luck and I hope to hear from you as you start your own colonies.

Realgar is from Ottawa

[rbarreto]

Great to finally see someone else from Ottawa. Hope you find your Camponotus Noveaboracensis since they are certainly around here. Son and I only started looking for queens last summer (we too caught the anting bug over the winter) and he found 4 queens (and 2 Lasius Queens). Luckily they were all laying eggs as soon as we caught them. Aside from one Lasius Queen dying unexpectedly (which we used to "brood boost" the other) all are now in their second year having recently come out of hibernation. Even better is that they all have been laying eggs at a good rate and as of this just week some of the Camponotus new brood have eclosed. So we've already got 2nd generation ants.

 

It's going to be still a while before the weather warms up and we can start seeing nuptial flights, but we'll be ready.

 

Good luck and I hope to hear from you as you start your own colonies.

Wow it looks like you certainly know what you are doing when it come to rearing colonies, that's a nice success rate.

 

Its going to be nice having someone around who also knows the area. Hopefully we can warn each other about nuptial flights!

[Lazarus]

Nuptial flight warnings would be cool. But I have to warn you that I was not even actively looking last year and left that to my son. He was the one with the 'eagle eye' and nabbed all the queens. But 'm hyped on doing some of that myself this year. The extended winter here is killing me. Can't believe that the forecast is for more snow again this weekend. I can't recall it being so cold this late... Grrrr.

 

PS: I'm in Kanata, but work in the East part of the city.

Edited by Lazarus, April 12 2018 - 6:39 PM.

[Roachant]

Welcome!
I haven’t been here in a while but weather is getting better...well, it should be.
But that time of year is approaching, so the itch to grab some queens has started again!

[Dnail]

welcome!!

[rbarreto]

Nuptial flight warnings would be cool. But I have to warn you that I was not even actively looking last year and left that to my son. He was the one with the 'eagle eye' and nabbed all the queens. But 'm hyped on doing some of that myself this year. The extended winter here is killing me. Can't believe that the forecast is for more snow again this weekend. I can't recall it being so cold this late... Grrrr.

 

PS: I'm in Kanata, but work in the East part of the city.

That's great I work in the East part of the city aswell! 

 

Welcome!
I haven’t been here in a while but weather is getting better...well, it should be.
But that time of year is approaching, so the itch to grab some queens has started again!

Tell me about it, I've had the itch for like four months now (sounds weird when I say it like that haha)

[Jerky93]

Hey glad to see another Ontarian here! hope we can keep in-touch with our first colonies!

[rbarreto]

For sure, I'm planning on starting some journals. Although I likely won't post until the nanitics arrive. 

[Lazarus]

There are more of us. Check out thread: http://www.formicult...oronto-ontario/