91 replies to this topic

[TennesseeAnts]

So I caught this colony while looking for Formica queens in the woods. They were in a small log and I thought "Yay! A nice small colony!", When I took more of the wood off, the queen and 80 workers and 150 pupae come pouring out... I collected the queen and (surprisingly) all the workers. I put them in a large plastic nest with grout in the bottom for traction. Next day, the queen lays around 50 more eggs!

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, May 30 2019 - 4:33 AM.

[CatsnAnts]

Wow! That’s awesome!

[TennesseeAnts]

Thanks!

[TennesseeAnts]

8-2-18

So this colony is now at around 100 workers! Some new majors just eclosed yesterday! I am adding two new colonies to this journal too!

Colony #1
100 workers
This is the colony I just told about.

Colony #2
2 workers
New colony

Colony #3
8 workers.
New colony

[TennesseeAnts]

8-20-18

I moved the large colony into a THA Discus. So far, they love it! They now have mabey 150 workers, 50 eggs, 10 larvae and 30 pupae. The smallest colony now has five workers and 10 pupae.

(Pics coming soon!)

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, August 26 2018 - 11:39 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

8-26-18

The large colony has around 160 workers now. They also have a HUGE larva that is a third the size of the queen, and is still eating and growing! The large larva is either going to be the largest major I have ever seen, or a male alate.

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, August 26 2018 - 11:39 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

9-25-18

Ok, so the large larva was a HUGE major. She is about 2-3 millimeters smaller than the queen! They now have 150 workers and 100 small larvae. They are going into hibernation in 2 weeks.
The smaller colonies now are at 8 and 5 workers, each with good, healthy brood piles. Here in Tennessee, I am expecting some Lasius, and late Camponotus flights here shortly. Also, does anyone know when Formica pallidefulva fly in Tennessee?

Thanks for reading!

[xTNxANTMANx]

I'm so jealous! I have to say out of the species in Tennessee, Camponotus chromaiodes is probably my biggest dream species. Last year I had a friend find the one while we were out Queen hunting but that was it, just the one. They are so beautiful with the black and red. I hope this Colony does good for you. Good luck with them

[TennesseeAnts]

I'm so jealous! I have to say out of the species in Tennessee, Camponotus chromaiodes is probably my biggest dream species. Last year I had a friend find the one while we were out Queen hunting but that was it, just the one. They are so beautiful with the black and red. I hope this Colony does good for you. Good luck with them

Yeah, these guys have been amazing for me so far. They are definitely the most common ant in my area.

[TennesseeAnts]

10-19-18

So the colonies went into hibernation with: 155, 7 and 6 workers. I will be taking them out late January to extremely early February. The big colony I expect to have more then 500 workers this time next year.

[TennesseeAnts]

11-25-18


Well the large colony is doing good with 150 workers. The other colonies are at 8 and 5 workers. Each colony has lots of larvae.

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, November 25 2018 - 3:35 PM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Well do to problems with their nest, I took the large colony out today. I also fused them to another C. chromaiodes colony of 50 ish workers.

[TennesseeAnts]

2-8-19

They have over 200 workers now. They have over 300 brood. Most is eggs small larvae and minor pupae.
There are however, 50 ish huge major and super major larvae. Maybe even alate larvae.

[FeedTheAnts]

Well do to problems with their nest, I took the large colony out today. I also fused them to another C. chromaiodes colony of 50 ish workers.

So did the colony with 50 workers have a queen when you fused it? C.chromaiodes aren't polygamous, and I don't think fusing two Camponotus colonies together is a good idea even if there weren't multiple queens involved.

[TennesseeAnts]

I do it all the time. The 50 worker colony's queen was dying. I've noticed that if you have a queenless colony you can fuse them to another colony. I do it with C. subbarbatus too. And I used to do it with C. modoc and novaeboracensis.
Have to do it when they are chilled though.

[FeedTheAnts]

I do it all the time. The 50 worker colony's queen was dying. I've noticed that if you have a queenless colony you can fuse them to another colony. I do it with C. subbarbatus too. And I used to do it with C. modoc and novaeboracensis.
Have to do it when they are chilled though.

Well cool. I thought it was a little too risky, even when the ants are chilled, but if it works for you

[TennesseeAnts]

                                     

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, February 23 2019 - 1:43 PM.

[TennesseeAnts]

2-23-19

Picture update!!!

 

They have about 230 workers with over 300 brood, and eat a few small crickets and some sugars a day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, February 23 2019 - 2:46 PM.

[TennesseeAnts]

2-27-19

 

Yeah, I think the queen is broken... More eggs not a week after the last batch! They are now filling that top chamber of their Mini Hearth with huge larvae, pupae and... More eggs! 

 

 

 

 

I am also adding two new colonies to this journal.

Colony #2

 

Colony #3

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, February 27 2019 - 10:31 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

3-7-19

Some new workers in colony #1! She is still pale, but I think she will be red when hardened! The top chamber of their Mini Hearth is full with the queen 50 workers and brood. The larvae they had last update have mostly pupated and there is now some HUGE pupae. Like twice the twice of the workers. The queen (which needs a name) laid over 150 new eggs yesterday too. They need a new nest... By the time all their brood hatches, they should have around 700 workers... Quick development for Camponotus!