I've finally found the time to work on a journal of my Formica Exsectoides colony. Last year I was out looking for Camponotus queens in an area with hundreds of these ant mounds ranging in size from 1' in diameter and a few inches high all the way up to 6'-7' feet in diameter and 3'-4' high. The ground was always COVERED in the ants from these mounds and everytime I went out there I hoped that I'd be there at just the right time to find a couple dealate queens after a nuptial flight. Unfortunately that never worked out, and I never did find any Camponotus queens either. I later assumed it was because nothing could survive the onslaught that these ants brought forth with their vast population. I'll have to measure out a square foot this year and count how many ants are in it. Anyways, over the winter I did some research and learned what species they are and that they're parasitic. they're also polygyne. I decided earlier this spring that I'd dig up a couple mounds to see if I could find a queen. I figured that my odds were fairly good since a colony can have several queens. Needless to say I found my first queen in the third mound that I dug, along with 2 more after sifting through a little more dirt. I decided since the first one was relatively easy to find that I'd shoot for one more. On my second scoop, in the fourth mound, I unearthed a huge bundle of ants covering 8 more queens. Afraid that this colony didn't have anymore queens, I put 2 back and left with 9 in total, plus a few dozen workers.
When I got home I inspected each worker and queen with my endoscope for mites, terminating only 3 that were visiblly carrying. Even though the workers and queens were from different colonies they didn't show any sign of aggression towards one another. In fact after they were mixed up I didn't know which queen came from where.
After inspection, I built an extra large, grout formicarium for them all. As it stands there is way too much empty space, but I figure with 9 queens it will fill up fast. I've posted pics below showing a couple bundles of eggs held by the workers. The ants seem to carry the egg piles around with them, never actually setting them down for more than a few minutes.
These last 3 pics are of 3 ants hanging from a chamber ceiling, each working together to support a bundle of eggs in just the right spot to keep them under optimal conditions.
Edited by Jamiesname, May 29 2019 - 1:33 PM.
