Looky what I caught in south texas!!

[AntzNaTube]

Caught 2 of these ladies this morning between san Antonio and corpus in soutj texas. Big storm yesterday, must have triggered a nuptial flight. There we're shed wings everywhere!

[idahoantgirl]

I think that is Atta Texana! Anyone agree? Ummm... also... its illegal to transport queens across state lines so.... Yeah I'm not sure what you can legally do here. If you legally have to kill her, then know that this is an extremely hard species to keep, and that they are fungus growers so it would be a lot more work to get a setup for them.

[AntzNaTube]

Yeah I'm not sure what you can legally do here. If you legally have to kill her, then know that this is an extremely hard species to keep, and that they are fungus growers so it would be a lot more work to get a setup for them.

Yeah, I am aware of the law about transporting them. I didn't catch them for me, I have a friend back home in logansport who is holding one for me anyways when I head back that way. Figured I would catch them and donate them to a friend of my son's who moved down here recently. That's why I only caught 2. Cause there were many more to go around if one were so inclined lol.

[Martialis]

This looks like Atta to me.

[Phoenix]

Concurring With The Genus - Atta As Well

[AntzNaTube]

The title was really just meant as a teaser. They are indeed atta texana. Here is a video of them getting comfortable in their new homes.

https://youtu.be/AXbqhnJsf7Q

The container is a small aquarium, the type used to house beta fish. The bottom was filled to about an inch or inch and a half with aquarium gravel to act as a water reservoir and sterilized dirt was then put on top 3/4 of the way full. A tube was put in place before the dirt to allow for filling the gravel reservoir without wetting the actual dirt and risking collapse of their chambers. There is a divider in the middle of the tank to make 2 desperate cells.

This entire setup will be given to a friend of my son's who recently moved to south texas. I just wanted to make them as comfortable as possible until I took them to him. Also, this will serve as a good test system for how I will keep my own queens when I go home.

The aquarium has a vented top that will eventually need modification to prevent escape and allow for connection to other chambers, but that modification will be rather simple and well within the boys scope.

If anyone knows of any better ways to set these ladies up for success please let me know, as I have already let the kid know I have them for him and would hate to have to inform him they expired due to my inexperience with them.

[AntzNaTube]

Does anyone know how I could get in touch with the fan farmer Mikey talks about in the atta video? I would like to discuss his methods on the formicarium he made with hydrostone.

[Batspiderfish]

Does anyone know how I could get in touch with the fan farmer Mikey talks about in the atta video? I would like to discuss his methods on the formicarium he made with hydrostone.

Do you mean Acromyrmex? I think you are talking about Drew, the operator of Formiculture. http://www.formiculture.com/topic/784-dspdrews-formicarium-08-research-and-design-updated-8-5-2016/?hl=research

[AntzNaTube]

That's what I meant. Thanks! It's been a while since I watched the video.

[ultraex2]

Are you sure that's a queen? It looks a lot like a male ant due to the head being so tiny and gaster is small as well.