625 replies to this topic

[madbiologist]

I'm currently working on building other types of formicaria, good luck with yours!

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[CatsnAnts]

I'm currently working on building other types of formicaria, good luck with yours!
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Thanks! And to you as well!

[CatsnAnts]

I’ve been designing a lot more on the formicaria that I plan to build and sell, and I stayed up till midnight last night researching good materials and products (here’s the design if you wish to make this yourself):

But I plan on having two different sizes, as shown in the picture. Most of my materials are coming from Amazon, but I’ll be heading to Home Depot later today to pick up some white grout and other small things. Also, I’ve found a glass-cutting place here in my town that I can order custom sizing from (both 3”x4” and 4”x5” - I changed the size because 4”x6” seems too big for now). Overall, I may change some of the spacing of the magnets to allow for more tunnel room (the magnets are offset to allow for a better hold), and I’m still debating on how I am going to attach the sand whether I will include it when I pour the cast (by sprinkling some on the tunnels) or, the more likely option, using epoxy/a thin layer of wet grout to add some sand. The tubing size I chose is 1/4” inner diameter, which I feel should fit a large variety of species? There’s still a lot of planning to do, but so far so good!

Also, I had to take a dive back into my journal in order to figure out some of the dates that I caught certain queens in previous years, and wow, I was an awful ant keeper , I cringe at myself.

Edited by CatsnAnts, June 19 2020 - 6:45 AM.

[RushmoreAnts]

Wow, impressive! If you were to sell them, they would be big hits.

[Antkid12]

Very nice! 

[CatsnAnts]

Just a little update on my existing T. curvispinosus colony:
They’re doing really well in the inception chamber, and I almost want to see just how big I can grow a colony like this under proper conditions with only one queen. They currently occupy two chambers and are starting to spread into a third, have a look:





Now I just need to wait for Temnothorax flights so I can copy Antdude’s 15 queen Formica setup, but rather with Temnothorax ahaha.

Also, just an update on my formicarium-building progress:
So far, everything has an expected delivery date of around June 25, but I have already picked up some grout (Bone color - nice contrast to the sand), epoxy, and tubing. I’ve also added a connection port so that the nests are modular and can infinitely build on one-another, along with a few other changes to improve upon the design. Lots more planning has been done, and it’s basically all I’ve been thinking about lately.

Edited by CatsnAnts, June 21 2020 - 5:16 AM.

[RushmoreAnts]

Just wondering, Will Temnothorax accept new queens? They strike me as the kind of ants that would do that.

[CatsnAnts]

Just wondering, Will Temnothorax accept new queens? They strike me as the kind of ants that would do that.

Well, they are supposed to accept new queens as studies have found, but all of my attempts to introduce new queens to established colonies have failed. However, I have had success when founding more than one queen together as the workers are not present, and the queens are not aggressive. I still wish I had taken better care of my 5 queen T. ambiguus colony, they were my favorite - hopefully I’ll get more this year and make another multi-queen setup.

[CatsnAnts]

I’ve recently noticed something in my T. curvispinosus colony today (the one with a queen) that I have a question on. There are about 4 workers that are drastically darker in color than their nest mates, and I’m wondering whether or not these could possibly be dulotic temnothorax workers. These workers are constantly getting into fights with other workers, and it just now popped into my head that these gals might not be T. curvispinosus? Take a look:


I haven’t ever seen any other Temnothorax around here besides T. curvispinosus and T. ambiguus, so this would be rather exciting if I knew more Temnothorax sp. were present in my specific area.

Edit: also just pointing out that I found this colony in a hickory nut a few weeks ago.

Edited by CatsnAnts, June 21 2020 - 8:17 AM.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I’ve recently noticed something in my T. curvispinosus colony today (the one with a queen) that I have a question on. There are about 4 workers that are drastically darker in color than their nest mates, and I’m wondering whether or not these could possibly be dulotic temnothorax workers. These workers are constantly getting into fights with other workers, and it just now popped into my head that these gals might not be T. curvispinosus? Take a look:


I haven’t ever seen any other Temnothorax around here besides T. curvispinosus and T. ambiguus, so this would be rather exciting if I knew more Temnothorax sp. were present in my specific area.

Edit: also just pointing out that I found this colony in a hickory nut a few weeks ago.

I would ask AnthonyP163; he's seen all of the dulotic Temnothorax and would know if that looked like one of them. Otherwise, I would just observe the ants and see what happens. Temnothorax can be a weird genus.

[ponerinecat]

 

I’ve recently noticed something in my T. curvispinosus colony today (the one with a queen) that I have a question on. There are about 4 workers that are drastically darker in color than their nest mates, and I’m wondering whether or not these could possibly be dulotic temnothorax workers. These workers are constantly getting into fights with other workers, and it just now popped into my head that these gals might not be T. curvispinosus? Take a look:


I haven’t ever seen any other Temnothorax around here besides T. curvispinosus and T. ambiguus, so this would be rather exciting if I knew more Temnothorax sp. were present in my specific area.

Edit: also just pointing out that I found this colony in a hickory nut a few weeks ago.

I would ask AnthonyP163; he's seen all of the dulotic Temnothorax and would know if that looked like one of them. Otherwise, I would just observe the ants and see what happens. Temnothorax can be a weird genus.

 

just looks like a larger darker worker, I know Temnothorax do have potential to be polymorphic.

[RushmoreAnts]

I’ve recently noticed something in my T. curvispinosus colony today (the one with a queen) that I have a question on. There are about 4 workers that are drastically darker in color than their nest mates, and I’m wondering whether or not these could possibly be dulotic temnothorax workers. These workers are constantly getting into fights with other workers, and it just now popped into my head that these gals might not be T. curvispinosus? Take a look:


I haven’t ever seen any other Temnothorax around here besides T. curvispinosus and T. ambiguus, so this would be rather exciting if I knew more Temnothorax sp. were present in my specific area.
Edit: also just pointing out that I found this colony in a hickory nut a few weeks ago.

I would ask AnthonyP163; he's seen all of the dulotic Temnothorax and would know if that looked like one of them. Otherwise, I would just observe the ants and see what happens. Temnothorax can be a weird genus.

just looks like a larger darker worker, I know Temnothorax do have potential to be polymorphic.

Hmm..... never new that. Could you provide a reference? (I know, I’m such a hypocrite)

[CatsnAnts]

I’ve recently noticed something in my T. curvispinosus colony today (the one with a queen) that I have a question on. There are about 4 workers that are drastically darker in color than their nest mates, and I’m wondering whether or not these could possibly be dulotic temnothorax workers. These workers are constantly getting into fights with other workers, and it just now popped into my head that these gals might not be T. curvispinosus? Take a look:
I haven’t ever seen any other Temnothorax around here besides T. curvispinosus and T. ambiguus, so this would be rather exciting if I knew more Temnothorax sp. were present in my specific area.
Edit: also just pointing out that I found this colony in a hickory nut a few weeks ago.

I would ask AnthonyP163; he's seen all of the dulotic Temnothorax and would know if that looked like one of them. Otherwise, I would just observe the ants and see what happens. Temnothorax can be a weird genus.

just looks like a larger darker worker, I know Temnothorax do have potential to be polymorphic.

Hmm..... never new that. Could you provide a reference? (I know, I’m such a hypocrite)

No need, I have seen many polymorphic workers in all of my T. curvispinosus colonies. Their sizes can range quite considerably, and that’s probably what it is! I can always hope that I have some cool Temnothorax around here ;(

[CatsnAnts]

I need your opinions!

I have been working on a logo for the past few days that I can use for my Formicaria, and I’ve narrowed it down to two final designs. Each design is my original art, but one has printed text while the other’s text has been drawn by me. The one with printed text is a more “minimalistic” design while the other is a more “lively” design. As for the name “Temnogrid” - “Temnothorax” because temnothorax is my favorite genus and “grid” because of the modular design/tunnels of formicaria (no, these are not made specifically for Temnothorax lol). If you have another name suggestion, please share! None of these designs are set-in-stone and can easily be changed for another name. Don’t be afraid to share your opinions, because I’m way to indecisive and not even sure if I like the name myself.

Here’s the first one (the logo still has a transparent background on the actual copy):


And here’s the second one (I tried to add a “painted” style to the ant in both of these designs, so that’s why it’s not smooth):


And speaking of Formicaria, my materials are all arriving today, however, I have to work a double-shift tomorrow so I won’t have any free time to start on them

Edited by CatsnAnts, June 25 2020 - 7:23 AM.

[Kaelwizard]

The second design looks better in my opinion.

[RushmoreAnts]

The second design looks better in my opinion.

I concur.

[NickAnter]

I like the first design.

[Antkid12]

Both are great, but I like the second one a tiny bit better.

[RushmoreAnts]

Make a poll.

[TennesseeAnts]

I like the first design.

I also like the first design.