17 replies to this topic

[DaveJay]

How does this conversation go?

 

ME - So My Love, I just thought I'd better let you know that I'm expecting a package. I bought an ant for $60, I swear that was the cheapest one! 

HER - ???

 

[Zeiss]

My Love, but it's my bank account and I'm paying for college and an apartment.

[CoolColJ]

"buy me one too"


So what ants did you get?

[DaveJay]

"buy me one too"


So what ants did you get?

I ordered a Camponotus consobrinus queen with 4 to 6 workers for $45 plus $16 p&h which was the killer really. They do occur in my area according to Wikipedia, but I didn't want to wait till December or January for a flight. I thought they might be a good choice for a first real colony, hopefully they will prove to be.

[CoolColJ]

 

"buy me one too"


So what ants did you get?

I ordered a Camponotus consobrinus queen with 4 to 6 workers for $45 plus $16 p&h which was the killer really. They do occur in my area according to Wikipedia, but I didn't want to wait till December or January for a flight. I thought they might be a good choice for a first real colony, hopefully they will prove to be.

 

 

 

They won't lay more eggs till spring, like most of my ants, especially those not on a heat cable.

 

Decent for a first colony, but slow growing, and nocturnal, not an issue for large colonies, but when young you most likely won't see them forage until you dim the lights.

You can have a small lamp on and they might forage like one of my nocturnal colonies

 

But they are one of the largest ants outside of bull ants you can readily get.

Pretty gentle ants.

Tip - they do not like too much humidity or moisture

[DaveJay]

"buy me one too"


So what ants did you get?

I ordered a Camponotus consobrinus queen with 4 to 6 workers for $45 plus $16 p&h which was the killer really. They do occur in my area according to Wikipedia, but I didn't want to wait till December or January for a flight. I thought they might be a good choice for a first real colony, hopefully they will prove to be.

They won't lay more eggs till spring, like most of my ants, especially those not on a heat cable.

Decent for a first colony, but slow growing, and nocturnal, not an issue for large colonies, but when young you most likely won't see them forage until you dim the lights.
You can have a small lamp on and they might forage like one of my nocturnal colonies

But they are one of the largest ants outside of bull ants you can readily get.
Pretty gentle ants.
Tip - they do not like too much humidity or moisture

Thanks for the tip regarding humidity/moisture, I've been reading how they only occur in mesic habitats which would indicate a fair amount of moisture would be required.
I am going to provide moisture gradients both horizontal and vertical but I will be sure to allow the dry ends of the gradients to be almost dry.
On growing slowly I was thinking that might be a good thing for now, I was hesitant to try to find a colony in the bush because there would likely be too many workers for me to deal with even if I did find one under a rock or log. I think a slow start might be good and it will make it all the more special when the full sized minors and then eventually the majors arrive.
As for being nocturnal that suits me well, I'm pretty nocturnal myself!
Most of my inverts are nocturnal so I have red torches and blue lights for nighttime viewing so that's not a problem.
Once they arrive I'll start a journal so feel free to offer any advice or criticism as I go.
My next goal is to buy some strobe ants when they become available.

[CoolColJ]

The one nest in my area is hole between the a brickwall and concrete floor, so it's pretty dry

Just room humidity should be enough

 

founding nest

 

Bubble wrap nest

[DaveJay]

Wow,the second video's a bit confronting really, I certainly wouldn't be ready for that straight away! Which could be the case if I collected a colony, I'd feel compelled to try and take the entire colony.
A nice slow start will suit me fine!

[CoolColJ]

Wow,the second video's a bit confronting really, I certainly wouldn't be ready for that straight away! Which could be the case if I collected a colony, I'd feel compelled to try and take the entire colony.
A nice slow start will suit me fine!

 

That colony is massive, has to be quite a few years old!

 

Considering that each ant takes about 2+ months in summer/spring

[DaveJay]

Ah, that gives me a good idea of the time frame I'm looking at before rehousing will be needed, I will stick with the smaller housing I had in mind.

[StayLoki]

Ahhhh!! They're huge 👀 lmao

[CoolColJ]

Ahhhh!! They're huge lmao

 

 

16-17mm queens

 

vs my 9-10m Camponotus humilior queen

 

But smaller than my now dead two Camponotus suffusus queens at 18mm

suffusus top, consobrinus bottom

 

one of the minor workers I captured from a wild colony

about 9-10mm

 

Edited by CoolColJ, July 16 2018 - 4:31 AM.

[DaveJay]

Yeah, I didn't realise the minor workers were that big, I knew majors were about the size of the Queens though.
I'm assuming that if she's in a test tube with 4 to 6 workers the workers will be nanitic workers so if they're slow to be replaced they won't get crowded too quickly.

[CoolColJ]

final form

 

[CoolColJ]

Yeah, I didn't realise the minor workers were that big, I knew majors were about the size of the Queens though.
I'm assuming that if she's in a test tube with 4 to 6 workers the workers will be nanitic workers so if they're slow to be replaced they won't get crowded too quickly.

 

Most majors will be smaller than the queen, like 13-14mm

 

Depends on the size of the test tube. If it's the guy I am thinking of, he usually uses small test tubes of 15mm x100mm even with these large queens

[DaveJay]

Yeah, I didn't realise the minor workers were that big, I knew majors were about the size of the Queens though.
I'm assuming that if she's in a test tube with 4 to 6 workers the workers will be nanitic workers so if they're slow to be replaced they won't get crowded too quickly.

Most majors will be smaller than the queen, like 13-14mm

Depends on the size of the test tube. If it's the guy I am thinking of, he usually uses small test tubes of 15mm x100mm even with these large queens

That'll be ok, I don't plan to leave them in the tube too long. It depends on whether I go with one of the two enclosures I've already finished or if I finish off another one and wait for the extra grout to cure.
I won't give too many details, it may breach forum rules but the suppliers first name is Paul, so people either know who it might be or they don't.

[StayLoki]

WOW CoolColJ great photos! Those are beautiful queens!

[DaveJay]

They arrived!

I started my journal , http://www.formicult...es-ant-journal/ .

The water in the tube was a worry, for a while I thought the queen had drowned.