39 replies to this topic

[Foogoo]

I caught 5 queens and a few of their workers a few days ago out of pure opportunity. I hate these things with a passion. A few have already lay eggs. If you have any species (pretty much any species) to trade, that would be even better.

 

Otherwise, they're going in the freezer.

[Gregory2455]

I would... But they have not made it to Simi Valley yet, and if one of them gets out, its basically my fault, etc, so I can't.

[Foogoo]

I would... But they have not made it to Simi Valley yet, and if one of them gets out, its basically my fault, etc, so I can't.

 

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, only if you're in an area where they already are. Despite these things making my entire life in Socal miserable, they seem to be a super easy colony to raise. But you can bet I'm not going to sustain them willingly if nobody takes them.

[Gregory2455]

You should try, or come up with something more creative than a freezer. Alza can point you in the right way.

[LAnt]

Find some solenopsis colony and dump them on there.

[Alza]

The solenopsis wouldn't kill them in my location. I usually just throw their test tubes in very hot liquids and watch it melt. there's many other methods but this one is entertaining...

[William. T]

Maybe you can freeze them and feed them your ants? Queens are full of nutritious content.

[Gregory2455]

The solenopsis wouldn't kill them in my location. I usually just throw their test tubes in very hot liquids and watch it melt. there's many other methods but this one is entertaining...

rofl Too funny!

[Alza]

Oh, Pheidole I've done a similar method, Live feedings. 

[Gregory2455]

Live feedings? Alza you should start breeding mosquito fish and train them to be hemolymph-thirsty for Linepithema humile queens & workers.

[Alza]

is that really possible ? that would be rather entertaining...

[Foogoo]

Oh, Pheidole I've done a similar method, Live feedings. 

 

Wait, you fed them to Pheidole or you executed Pheidole?

[Alza]

x.x i meant I've done something similar to feeding colonies frozen argentines 

[Tpro4]

Can I has?

[Alza]

yea, what are the prices. I might want to have some spare queens for tests....

[Foogoo]

yea, what are the prices. I might want to have some spare queens for tests....

 

No price! I can't fathom anyone paying cash money for these demons. It would be nice to get a queen, any (non-Linepithema) queen for trade though. Or at least 5 test tubes to replace these...

[Tpro4]

Put them all into one and give em to me, I pretty sure they will not kill each other

[William. T]

Maybe you can buy a pet desert horned lizard and feed the argentine ants to the reptile?
Or perhaps you can test out the new bottle of Raid you bought?

Edited by Pheidole, January 19 2015 - 6:16 AM.

[Vendayn]

The Horned lizard only eats Pogonomyrmex (and termites). They won't eat Argentine ants at all, which is why they've died off mostly in California.

 

As for these queens. They should be free I still wouldn't want them though. Anyone that has them in their area (and hopefully no one actually introduces them into their area if they aren't there)...could just as easily pour water on the nest and get free queens. They, along with Pheidole megacephala, have been the easiest two ant species to get. When my ex-roommate/friend got the Pheidole megacephala they must have been really really easy to get...as he sucks at catching things lol. Couldn't even use a HUGE bug net to catch butterflies (well actually, I think they are actually day-time moths. The small orange moths that get the flowers)...but anyway...yeah...xD

 

In any case, Argentine ants are so easy to get lol.

Edited by Vendayn, January 22 2015 - 1:56 AM.

[Foogoo]

Do you mean free in the wild or free of cost? If the latter, I agree, which is why I'm not taking $$ for them. But I won't object to a trade!

 

I caught another queen yesterday when I was only trying to catch workers. I coated a test tube with sugar water and set it in a planter with a known colony I haven't killed yet, they literally moved right in. I've yet to see any Pheidole where I am. Do you have them where you live or just out in open areas?