15 replies to this topic

[AntsAreUs]

I just caught a small colony of these tiny ants. They are about 1.5 mm, which in comparison Solenopsis molesta are about 1 mm. I fed them a dead silver springtail (Pogonognathellus sp.) which they did eat. I hope to find some queens after a nuptial flight later this year

 

Edited by AntsAreUs, June 26 2018 - 7:33 AM.

[Enderz]

Looks good! I hope that you can find a way to keep these little buggers. Looking forward to more updates

[LC3]

Obvious question, how many workers and how much brood

[AntsAreUs]

Obvious question, how many workers and how much brood

5 workers and I didn't find any brood when I caught them.

[Mettcollsuss]

Where did you catch them? what habitat? When are their flights?

[AntsAreUs]

Where did you catch them? what habitat? When are their flights?

I caught them underneath a stone the was on top on a slightly raised hill by approximately 2 or 3 feet. The soil was rather loose and somewhat dry to the point where I can pull on plants and pull them completely out. Rock was found around a bed of leaf litter. I didn't notice any other ants around them. This was in a deciduous forest by a river. Flights I do not know, as this is my first time seeing them.

[AntsAreUs]

Here is a little video of them, though nothing special about it.

 

[AnthonyP163]

 

Where did you catch them? what habitat? When are their flights?

I caught them underneath a stone the was on top on a slightly raised hill by approximately 2 or 3 feet. The soil was rather loose and somewhat dry to the point where I can pull on plants and pull them completely out. Rock was found around a bed of leaf litter. I didn't notice any other ants around them. This was in a deciduous forest by a river. Flights I do not know, as this is my first time seeing them.

 

This journal started the day that I found Strumigenys sp.  in wisconsin. I found a worker and it's the size of a Brachymyrmex depilis worker or smaller. Their small size truly perplexes me,

[Canadian anter]

You should probably give them a smaller setup or at least one with substrate

[AntsAreUs]

I did give them a piece of some rather soft wood with lots of cavities in it. I also shaped it myself a bit to hopefully get some decent viewing. Feeding them so far seems easy assuming they can live off springtails and I will feed them various kinds of springtails from my area.

[AntsAreUs]

5-24-18

 

Just a picture update now that I have petri dishes. I have not spotted any eggs and nothing important has happened lately.

 

Picture of their setup:

 

Queen and worker looking around:

 

 

Still haven't found them catching anything yet, though I will try to record it if I manage to.

Edited by AntsAreUs, May 24 2018 - 3:31 PM.

[AntsAreUs]

Here is my image that makes me believe they are S. pergandei:

 

[Martialis]

I love how odd these girls look. They seem to almost belong on an alien landscape, but I guess leaf litter is basically that when you compare our size to these ants'.

[Leo]

I had some but they died =C. Good luck

[AntsAreUs]

6/3/18

 

They have died off, which I expected mostly to happen. Pretty sure the cause was from lack of hydration. Things I have learned - They do eat and lot of springtails (counted up to 26 large springtails that were chewed up) and they requires a constant high humidity no exceptions. I do think they are quite possible to keep but are very tricky to setup.

Edited by AntsAreUs, June 3 2018 - 11:39 AM.

[ponerinecat]

Darn it.Strumigenys is, in my opinion, the coolest ant speicies.