This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!
#1
Offline
Ender Ants
-
Posted August 28 2018 - 6:09 PM
Ender Ants
Advanced Member
Members
205 posts
LocationTrES-2b
Hello fellow antkeepers,
This will be my first post on making a journal, and first time successfully caring for a Dorymyrmex bicolor colony. I usually overlooked this part of the forum, since I was more focused on asking questions at the time. But a quick note: I may not be able to check back, or make updates when something happens, because I may forget Here we go.
Capture Date: July 9, 2018
I actually caught a bunch last year in September, but young Ender Ants was not prepared, and only had one test tube left, after catching other queens. So, I put them all in one test tube. Body heat + aggressive queen ants led to almost all of them dying, except for one. That one still had wings, but by the time November had come around, I decided to hibernate all my ant colonies. They all survived, but that Dorymyrmex bicolor queen died. Lesson learned, will not be hibernating this species this upcoming winter.
#3
Offline
Ender Ants
-
Posted August 28 2018 - 6:32 PM
Ender Ants
Advanced Member
Members
205 posts
LocationTrES-2b
August 28, 2018:
Larvae have developed into pupae. I counted about 13 pupae, and one is close to hatching by the time you see this. Next update will be when the first nanitics arrive.
I didn't want to take any pictures when the eggs were developing into the larva stage, since I did not want to stress out the queens. I would say August 20-25, is when the first larvae appeared. \
I am more frequent with my updates, and posts on my Instagram page, and will be making a colony update, introducing them to my YouTube channel very soon.
Good luck. Nice colony, by the way. Hope they do well. I hope you update, but it is okay if you don’t, because you made that very clear, you may forget
#11
Offline
Ender Ants
-
Posted August 21 2019 - 3:24 PM
Ender Ants
Advanced Member
Members
205 posts
LocationTrES-2b
Update August 16, 2019: New Catches
So about time I've made an update on this post. Reason for the lack of update was because nothing really happened with this colony. They were slowly losing workers, until they were at 11 workers. But good news! They are now at almost 20 workers again, and have more larvae and pupae. Will make an update on them soon. This update however, is on these new Dorymyrmex bicolor and Dorymyrmex insanus queens. Caught 2 of each species, all being able to reach the egg stage! Hoping to have a colony of D. Insanus since this will be my first time catching a fertile queen.
These guys are insane. I know someone with doromyrmex nests on a 1 acre property every half foot. They don't fight, so I believe they're all on colony.
So its been a long time since I have updated this journal because the queens I caught last year didn't survive. The Dorymyrmex insanus alate was infertile and laid a drone. But that all changes now, as I caught a new D. bicolor queen on June 9! I plan on moving this queen into container with sand instead, as I feel like they do better in those kind of setups. For now she'll be in this test tube.
--
Original Colony in Mini Hearth
Worker Count: 19 workers & Brood
One of the other reasons why I haven't updated this journal is because this colony hasn't really changed. I've fed them a whole variety of foods recently, so I hope that will change soon. They seem to like green lacewings, which I have been attracting with my black-light. I never showed their setup except on Instagram and in my YouTube videos, so here it is. They moved the substrate around and made a little hill
#14
Offline
Ender Ants
-
Posted July 14 2020 - 4:36 PM
Ender Ants
Advanced Member
Members
205 posts
LocationTrES-2b
July 14, 2020: The First Drones
Original Colony in Mini Hearth
Worker Count: 12 workers & Brood
Was surprised to see this colony with 3 drones. They're one of my oldest colonies, so I guess it was just their time. I counted less workers this time for some reason, even though I don't see any dead workers in the outworld. I'm just going to feed them even more than before then!
Perhaps the colony was investing more resources in the males, and therefore less workers were hatching. Some could have died without you seeing it. Ants can be very clever.........
Ender Ants likes this
"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version
Formerly called AntsDakota, not to be confused with Ants_Dakota (hence the name change). You can still call me Adak.
This colony has progressed a lot in the past two months. There is about 20 workers, lots of brood, and hills all around the top. They have moved the sand up at least 1 inch from the original surface, and opened up a lot of space at the bottom. I have fed them honey, Hawaiian Punch (Soda), leaf-hoppers, and fish food. Unlike my other colony, they are taking in everything, and are always overturning more sand each day.
Ants I have: Tapinoma sessile(2 queen colony). RED MORPH Camponotus neacticus(now has pupae!), Tetramorium immigrans (x3), Aphaenogaster sp, Temnothorax sp, Brachymyrmex sp. possibly infertile ,Ponera pennsylvanica, and Pheidole morrisi!
Other insects: Polistes sp. Queen
Ants I need: Pheidole sp., Trachymyrmex sp., Crematogaster cerasi , Dorymyrmex sp. Most wanted: Pheidole morrisii
#18
Offline
Ender Ants
-
Posted December 18 2020 - 7:47 PM
Ender Ants
Advanced Member
Members
205 posts
LocationTrES-2b
December 18, 2020: Sand Mounds
(Natural Setup)
This colony has grown much larger since the last update, and as always are moving around sand. I'm not sure how many there are, but I would estimate around 50-60. I wish I had more bugs to feed them since they accept pretty much everything I have given them. So, I got a superworm culture and have been raising them for the past month. Once that culture lays their first mealworms, they're all going straight to the colonies.
In the four corners of their container they made these little ant hills.
The colony has had a steady pile of brood all throughout the year. So satisfying to look at.
I don't have many photos of the colony and queen because the sand is in the way. I do have a video covering their progress, and also covers my 1st colony inside the Mini Hearth. This video was uploaded in October, so they have done a lot of excavating since then.
#20
Offline
RushmoreAnts
-
Posted December 19 2020 - 7:28 AM
RushmoreAnts
Advanced Member
Members
4,105 posts
LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota
I love this species. I enjoy watching their extensive foraging trails when visiting suburban Phoenix.
TennesseeAnts likes this
"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version
Formerly called AntsDakota, not to be confused with Ants_Dakota (hence the name change). You can still call me Adak.