48 replies to this topic

[Alza]

I originally had one queen, and gave her 8 workers to start off with, then they got three other queens. The colonies production of eggs is crazy! they have huge balls that are at least  3mm long in the first day! I've been feeding them sugar water and nothing else. Also i need to name each one of the queens, any suggestions ?

[Gregory2455]

Nice, these grow insanely fast, like you see with all the eggs, and the brood develop fast as well, keep them off the heating cable to avoid being overrun by these things!

[Alza]

should i be feeding them protein ? and i think i now know how their are so many in my backyard...

[Gregory2455]

I give faster growing species such as my Solenopsis xyloni a water source, a sugar source, a very large source of protein, and a starch source.

[Alza]

Update - they have a new ball of eggs. nothing besides that has really happened 

[Crystals]

Are you currently housing them in a test tube?  Make plans on needing a second formicarium in a month or so, or you can simply put the test tube into an outworld and add several additional test tubes.

Like this:

https://encrypted-tb...f96OSVJDDGjXlZN

http://6legs2many.fi...haenogaster.jpg

 

I am working on another formicarium design that works well with smaller ants that multiply fast. It is very easy to make. I will post a how-to-build thread once I know it works well (My Tapinoma sessile seem impressed with it).

 

As for name suggestions, what about picking names that start with "L" for Linepithema.  Such as Luna, Laila, Lacey, Lilian, or Lassie.

I don't really give my queens actual names, they tend to get "descriptive names" such as "big red", "flighty fusca", or a 2-3 word description so I can keep them straight.  Although, how you are going to tell the 3 apart is beyond me, unless you mark them like the lab scientists do.

[Alza]

I actually didn't think about marking them...whoops 

and I'm liking the name ideas, ill make sure to take some 

Edited by Alza, September 26 2014 - 6:53 AM.

[Myrmicinae]

These should be interesting, if you can manage to keep them contained. Did the colony produce those other queens on its own or did you just add them later on?

[Alza]

i gave them the other queens 

[Gregory2455]

These should be interesting, if you can manage to keep them contained. Did the colony produce those other queens on its own or did you just add them later on?

Wait, if the colony would have produced them, they would be infertile. Linepithema mate in captivity?

[dspdrew]

Yes, Linepithema Humile mate inside the nest as far as I know.

[Alza]

like army ants. Also I've tested to see if other ants could co-exist with them in captivity. they were peaceful towards xyloni workers but attacked the majors. The xyloni worker seemed aggresive towards them. I also tried Liometopum Luctuosum, which seems to act as the argentine ants major. They are just about the same color and just as fast as each other. there's a different side to argentine ants in captivity vs the wild.

[Alza]

for some reason two workers fought to the death when i put them under light... also there's some larvae and pupae already. Believe me if i could count them i would but at this rate(Atleast-50EggsPerHour) i don't think i can keep up

[Crystals]

I am very curious to see how this colony does a year down the road.

[Gregory2455]

Take pictures.

[Alza]

The dead worker that was killed was covered in eggs 

[Gregory2455]

That is weird, maybe they are using it as an anchor or something, I see the same thing with my ants putting eggs onto remains or fruitflies. They use it to keep them from sliding off through the container.

[Alza]

They have eaten over half of there eggs... i didn't even know they could eat that much. Obviously something has gone wrong 

[Gregory2455]

More protein is needed.

[Alza]

they are denying any protein, but 3 new workers today so far.