150 replies to this topic

[rbarreto]

Crematogaster cerasi
I love watching the progress of the naked pupae. You can already see eyes on some of them.





Formica pallidefulva
These guys are finally starting to be more active now that their numbers have increased.



Camponotus novaeboracensis
This is just a cool picture that shows some of the size discrepancies. Still no majors but judging by the size of some of the larvae I think some small ones are on their way.

Edited by rbarreto, May 14 2019 - 8:48 PM.

[TennesseeAnts]

That middle ant is a submajor.

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, May 7 2019 - 4:27 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Everything about Crematogaster is fun to watch!

[ANTdrew]

How did you come across your Crematogaster queen? I couldn't find the story going through your journal.

[TennesseeAnts]

It hatched from his Camponotus noveaboracensis colony.

[rbarreto]

How did you come across your Crematogaster queen? I couldn't find the story going through your journal.

Found her along the side of the road, it was super random.

[Acutus]

Nice!!!!

I'm really starting to like my little Crematogaster colony. They are cool little ants!

 

I'm also very jealous of the C. novaboracensis colony. I need to find one of these queens but I think they are fairly uncommon here in Maryland.

[rbarreto]

So my initial hype towards ant keeping has died down a little bit. I have reduced the colonies I want to keep down to a more reasonable 3-4. As they continue to get bigger I assume that I'll keep selling them off until I have 1 or 2 large colonies. For now I will mostly focus on Crematogaster cerasi, Camponotus novaeboracensis, and Formica pallidefulva. I will only be adding rarer more interesting colonies to this journal from now on. Species I am looking forward to keep are:

 

Camponotus americanus

Camponotus castaneus

Camponotus subbarbatus

Parasitic Formica

Aphaenogaster tenneseensis

 

Crematogaster cerasi
Two pupae have eclosed (not sure what the correct terminology is for naked pupae). This queen is very responsive to heat, she immediately moved all brood towards it.

 

 

 

Here is a picture of one of the nanitics "waking up'". She Looked really weird when I took that picture. I was quite worried at the time but she's completely fine now.

 

 

Camponotus novaeboracensis
This colony continues to be super productive and maintains a mountain of brood.

 

 

This larvae is already bigger than all the other workers. Safe to say this is going to be the colony's first major worker.

 

Edited by rbarreto, May 14 2019 - 8:47 PM.

[ANTdrew]

I too only want to have a few well cared for and interesting species. A mature colony is a big responsibility, especially considering I have two toddlers.

A tip I had for your Crematogaster is to get them an out world and a liquid feeder ASAP. Feeding in their tube is problematic because they easily drown and the nectar can dry up too fast.

[rbarreto]

I too only want to have a few well cared for and interesting species. A mature colony is a big responsibility, especially considering I have two toddlers.
A tip I had for your Crematogaster is to get them an out world and a liquid feeder ASAP. Feeding in their tube is problematic because they easily drown and the nectar can dry up too fast.

Hopefully that won't be a problem. I've always fed my ants honey and only ever had one casualty. It's also possible that they just dumped a dead body in it.

[Lazarus]

Camponotus novaeboracensis
This is just a cool picture that shows some of the size discrepancies. Still no majors but judging by the size of some of the larvae I think some small ones are on their way.

 

 

 

That's a really nice, clear photo. (Wish I could take clear pics like that). As for polymorphism in C. Novae, some of the majors in my older colonies are huge compared to some of the smaller workers, easily twice the size. I'm curious to see if I get even bigger one in this, their 3rd year.

[Acutus]

 

Camponotus novaeboracensis
This is just a cool picture that shows some of the size discrepancies. Still no majors but judging by the size of some of the larvae I think some small ones are on their way.

 

 

 

That's a really nice, clear photo. (Wish I could take clear pics like that). As for polymorphism in C. Novae, some of the majors in my older colonies are huge compared to some of the smaller workers, easily twice the size. I'm curious to see if I get even bigger one in this, their 3rd year.

 

 

This is definitely a species I'd love to have. They're supposed to be native here in MD but I don't know where.   Still liking my C. chromaiodes and C. castaneus though.

[CatsnAnts]

I will only be adding rarer more interesting colonies to this journal from now on. Species I am looking forward to keep are:

Camponotus americanus
Camponotus castaneus
Camponotus subbarbatus
Parasitic Formica
Aphaenogaster tenneseensis

Wait, did you say Camponotus subbarbatus? I currently have three in test tube setups, and have found ALL three in twigs and sticks (literally go outside and pick up any rotting stick with holes and I can almost garuntee you’ll find one!) I also live in Indiana, so they may be flying at different times.

Edited by CatsnAnts, May 16 2019 - 3:08 PM.

[rbarreto]

 

I will only be adding rarer more interesting colonies to this journal from now on. Species I am looking forward to keep are:

Camponotus americanus
Camponotus castaneus
Camponotus subbarbatus
Parasitic Formica
Aphaenogaster tenneseensis

Wait, did you say Camponotus subbarbatus? I currently have three in test tube setups, and have found ALL three in twigs and sticks (literally go outside and pick up any rotting stick with holes and I can almost garuntee you’ll find one!) I also live in Indiana, so they may be flying at different times.

 

I've never seen any here in Ottawa and I can't find any reports of them this far north. Almost every species I mentioned are only confirmed present in southern Ontario.

Edited by rbarreto, May 22 2019 - 7:36 AM.

[rbarreto]

Lasius claviger

Big new batch of eggs some large larvae! 

 

 

Crematogaster cerasi
They have 13-14 workers so far but a few more are on the way. I think they might actually finish with 16-18 on the first batch. Here they are consuming their first protein, a cut up superworm.

 

 

Camponotus novaeboracensis

I just like posting pictures of these guys 

Edited by rbarreto, May 22 2019 - 8:05 AM.

[rbarreto]

Camponotus novaeboracensis
These guys are so clean! Most of my colonies don't care about mold so they just leave stuff wherever, even close to their brood, but this colony takes everything into the outworld where I can pick it up! There is a new batch eggs and some of the larvae are becoming major sized. Also one of the major pupae is going to eclose soon!

 

 

 

Edited by rbarreto, May 30 2019 - 9:10 PM.

[Acutus]

I so want this species! Too cool!!

[rbarreto]

I so want this species! Too cool!!

Says the guy with 5 Camponotus castaneus queens.

[ANTdrew]

 

[Acutus]

 

I so want this species! Too cool!!

Says the guy with 5 Camponotus castaneus queens.

 

 

Well I would definitely trade 1 for a Novaeboracensis! LOL and I actually have 6 if you count my colony!

I'm guessing that they are as common here as maybe C. novaeboracensis are there?