180 replies to this topic

[Major]

Yeah yeah. So I know that I’m pretty late. I should have started one of these a while back but never had the time. Well here it is.

Photos: (Edit: These pics aren't good but my pics get better in the sixth post in this journal)













Pic #1 is where I keep them
Pic #2 is all my test tubes
Pic #3 is my very stubborn Aphenogaster Picea or Myrmica queen who won’t lay. I pushed the cotton a little farther down to make her feel a little more secure.
Pic #4 is still my Aphenogaster Picea or Myrmica
Pic #5 is my Tetramorium Immigrans queen I caught on nuptial flight day. She keeps on pumping out eggs!
Pic #6 is my Camponotus Pennsylvanicus (Found her in a log in a forest with trails.)
Pic #7 is my Camponotus Novaeboracensis colony with 1 worker that exposed today. Found her on a sidewalk
Pic #8 is another Camponotus Pennsylvanicus found in the same log
Pic #9 is yet another Camponotus Pennsylvanicus found in the same log
Pic #10 is more Camponotus Pennsylvanicus found in the same log (found like 30 queens in this log but for a price. Solenopsis stings...
Pic #11 is my prized Camponotus Novaeboracensis colony. They have 9 workers. They were also brood boosted. They love honey water and superworms.

2 Colonies and 6 Queens

Edited by Major, July 25 2018 - 8:31 AM.

[Major]

Something terrible happened

My largest novaeboracensis colony lost 4 workers!! I boiled some sand and then added it to their setup. Then the unexpected happened. They appear to be ingesting it. So that’s how they died. I moved them to a fresh test tube and our world free of sand. They won’t stay in the test tube. They scattered their eggs and brood all over the out world. I’m probably going to release them. I also released my Aphenogaster queen as she hasn’t laid eggs in a week.

[CatsnAnts]

That’s so sad! Best of luck with your other colonies and with your Aphenogaster queen!

[Major]

With sadness comes joy.
Two of my Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Queens got their first workers!! And, my other Camponotus Novaeboracensis queen got another worker and is at two! I did release the Aphenogaster and the Camponotus Novaeboracensis colony that was at 4 or 5 workers.

[Major]

So I was flpping some rocks over, digging up founding chambers when I stumbled across something. It wasn’t a founding chamber, it was a Tetramotium Immigrans colony. I found their brood room too. So I took some brood and gave it to my Tetramorium Immigrans queen. She was pretty hesitant at first, it must have seemed to good to be true. But she eventually started taking care of them.

I also gave my Camponotus Pennsylvanicus colonies some honey water soaked into a cotton ball. One queen drank so long that her hamster became distended! The other one took a couple sips but didn’t seem that interested. Pictures coming soon!

[Major]

Pictures

[Major]

Gave each of my colonies a piece of freshly killed mealworms. First protein meal!

[Major]

My other two Camponotus Pennsylvanicus queens got their first workers! One of my other Camponotus Pennsylvanicus queens got her second worker.

[CatsnAnts]

That’s awesome! I’m still waiting for my first workers.

[CoolColJ]

man you don't leave much room in the test tubes, I guess you have the water all the way up?

How do you feed them, without the queens freaking out?
It will get dicey when more workers arrive

Edited by CoolColJ, July 9 2018 - 2:55 AM.

[Major]

I think that I will move them to a test tube with more room when the time comes. I feed them when I see the workers and queen on the other side of the test tube. Maybe I will make a mod of your test tube. (The one that is completely empty but is attached to another test tube full of water via cotton.)

Edited by The_NY_Major, July 17 2018 - 5:29 PM.

[Major]

My novaeboracensis is at 3 workers but still timid. My pennsylvanicus is at 3, my other one is at 2, another one is at 2, and the last one is at 1. My Tetramorium queens brood that I boosted her with seem to be dying. She doesn’t seem to care for them either.

Besides that, I finally got some ok pics! I don’t have a macro or a camera. But I do have an iPhone X. The camera isn’t as good as apple advertises it. The only reason pics weren’t all grainy was because I put a magnifying glass in front of the lens. Lighting was hard. I’m thinking about getting photography lessons because I quite enjoy the hobby.

Check out this forum (camera recommendations) :http://www.formicult...recomendations/

Here’s the pics I’m so proud of (I know their not amazing, but I tried)

Camponotus Novaeboracensis:



Camponotus Pennsylvanicus (4 Colonys



This one isn’t good⬇️







Tetramorium Immigrans:

Edited by The_NY_Major, July 10 2018 - 1:21 PM.

[Major]

How come my imgur links won’t show up as photos?

[CoolColJ]

How come my imgur links won’t show up as photos?

You need to post the direct image link, it ends with .jpg, not the album link

Edited by CoolColJ, July 9 2018 - 8:04 PM.

[Major]

Ok thanks I fixed it

[KBant]

First, you are overpaying for test tubes!! Look up lake Charles manufacturing for test tubes. Waaaaaaay cheaper.

Secondly your pics are fine. By no means amazing but better than most so don’t worry and keep posting!

Good luck!

[Major]

Yeah I was getting those test tubes from Michaels. But I found a pack of 72 glass test tubes (16x150mm) 44 cents each on amazon. https://www.amazon.c...i_VV0jBbDT0PJ5H

[Major]

Quick update, my Tetra queen has a pile of eggs and larvae almost as big as her! She discarded all the boosted brood. Except for one pupae and a couple larvae.

[Major]

So I made this brick trap, credits to CoolColJ. Hasn't gave me anything yet, besides some tetra colonies.

[CoolColJ]

It depends on the season and location I guess