6 replies to this topic

[AnthonyP163]

8-10-18

 

In the beginning of August, Solenopsis molesta and Brachymyrmex flew on a warm night after rain at around 5-9PM. I decided to merge their journals into one, as they're both relatively similar aside from some morphological differences, and they fly at the same time. 

 

I made multiple groups of S. molesta. Here's the biggest group with lots of eggs.

 

I'll update this journal with more pictures soon.

 

 

[AnthonyP163]

9-28-18

 

About two weeks ago, the Solenopsis molesta got their workers. I have a few successful colonies. All of the Brachymyrmex have died, which seems to happen a lot.

[HongKongAnter]

Update?

[AnthonyP163]

All of these colonies were killed by mold, except for one that moved but only had one worker.

 

The only colonies still alive are in the vivarium, and I rarely see them.

[AnthonyP163]

1-22-20

 

I caught lots of Solenopsis molesta queens and one Brachymyrmex queen. The Brachymyrmex didn't make it, as always. 

 

The Solenopsis molesta queens were split into two colonies. One of them is being moved into a dirt setup.

 

Here's pictures right before I put their tube in the dirt setup. 

Some brood spilled when I put their tube in and some workers went to retrieve it. 

[RushmoreAnts]

I have some queens..... whether they'll lay is the question. 

[AnthonyP163]

12/26/20

 

These ants had flights September.

 

I caught around forty Brachymyrmex depilis queens and six Solenopsis molesta queens at the blacklight. I hibernated them all, many of the depilis in small groups. When I took them out, I had 5 living depilis queens and 5 living molesta queens. Most of the depilis died from mold outbreaks, probably as a result of the substrate they need to found.

 

Currently, I don't yet have photos, but a single depilis queen has large larvae and eggs. This is as far as I have gotten founding this species. She has a claustral chamber in some damp dirt in a test tube. 

 

Two of the molesta queens died, so now it is a 3-queen colony with a decent sized batch of eggs.

 

I'm hopeful that this depilis queen can found a colony. I'll attempt photos next update.