Pheidole is so hard to keep!
Moderator: ooper01
-
- Posts: 358
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2022 10:14 am
- Location: Phuket
Re: Pheidole is so hard to keep!
Two Diacamma workers taught me a good lesson when I accidentally stepped on their nest.
Keeping:
• Cataulacus granulatus x2
• Camponotus parius
• Odontomachus sp x4
• Pheidole prava x1
• Pseudoneoponera sp x1
• Cataulacus granulatus x2
• Camponotus parius
• Odontomachus sp x4
• Pheidole prava x1
• Pseudoneoponera sp x1
-
- Posts: 358
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2022 10:14 am
- Location: Phuket
Re: Pheidole is so hard to keep!
Speak of the devil, a Pheidole nuptial flight seems to have occurred.
Keeping:
• Cataulacus granulatus x2
• Camponotus parius
• Odontomachus sp x4
• Pheidole prava x1
• Pseudoneoponera sp x1
• Cataulacus granulatus x2
• Camponotus parius
• Odontomachus sp x4
• Pheidole prava x1
• Pseudoneoponera sp x1
-
- Posts: 358
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2022 10:14 am
- Location: Phuket
Re: Pheidole is so hard to keep!
If I had enough test tubes then I swear I could sell Pheidole prava with the frequency of them flying in my backyard.
Keeping:
• Cataulacus granulatus x2
• Camponotus parius
• Odontomachus sp x4
• Pheidole prava x1
• Pseudoneoponera sp x1
• Cataulacus granulatus x2
• Camponotus parius
• Odontomachus sp x4
• Pheidole prava x1
• Pseudoneoponera sp x1
Re: Pheidole is so hard to keep!
I don't know how many times have I accidentally uncovered Diacamma and Odontomachus nests and got stung...JaydenScheepers wrote: ↑Mon Aug 01, 2022 7:49 amTwo Diacamma workers taught me a good lesson when I accidentally stepped on their nest.
Join the new Camponotus Crew: https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=21893&p=93742#p93742
-
- Posts: 358
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2022 10:14 am
- Location: Phuket
Re: Pheidole is so hard to keep!
I usually avoid Diacamma, but they are so common in my area that I end up stepping on them or their nest by accident and get stung.SYUTEO wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:50 amI don't know how many times have I accidentally uncovered Diacamma and Odontomachus nests and got stung...JaydenScheepers wrote: ↑Mon Aug 01, 2022 7:49 amTwo Diacamma workers taught me a good lesson when I accidentally stepped on their nest.
While we're on the topic of Diacamma, is there any way to spot a gamergate between the workers. And what will happen if you take a male ant from one colony, and take a worker from a different colony and leave them in a container together?
I would like to keep Diacamma.
Keeping:
• Cataulacus granulatus x2
• Camponotus parius
• Odontomachus sp x4
• Pheidole prava x1
• Pseudoneoponera sp x1
• Cataulacus granulatus x2
• Camponotus parius
• Odontomachus sp x4
• Pheidole prava x1
• Pseudoneoponera sp x1
Re: Pheidole is so hard to keep!
Usually the only way to tell the difference between the workers and the gamergate is that the gamergate has a slightly larger gaster. But if you are willing to examine every worker under a microscope to tell the difference you can examine the thorax for their gemmae. If the colony has a gamergate present usually the only ant in that colony that has the gemmae will be tha gamergate. If the gamergate in a colony has died then all workers that eclose afterwards will keep their gemmae.JaydenScheepers wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 9:07 amI usually avoid Diacamma, but they are so common in my area that I end up stepping on them or their nest by accident and get stung.SYUTEO wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:50 amI don't know how many times have I accidentally uncovered Diacamma and Odontomachus nests and got stung...JaydenScheepers wrote: ↑Mon Aug 01, 2022 7:49 amTwo Diacamma workers taught me a good lesson when I accidentally stepped on their nest.
While we're on the topic of Diacamma, is there any way to spot a gamergate between the workers. And what will happen if you take a male ant from one colony, and take a worker from a different colony and leave them in a container together?
I would like to keep Diacamma.
I wanted to try that but you most likely have the workers without the gemmae so they won't be able to mate with the male. However if you did managed to get a worker with it's gemmae then the male will probably mate with her but I don't know if she is able to found a colony on her own. Keeping Diacamma requires a constant supply of males to ensure that the colony lives long.
Join the new Camponotus Crew: https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=21893&p=93742#p93742
-
- Posts: 358
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2022 10:14 am
- Location: Phuket
Re: Pheidole is so hard to keep!
Hmm, I see. So it's best to have a setup like AntsCanada has where he has three colonies connected to each other and only the males can travel to each one to mate with the gamergate, there by insuring the colonies live longer.SYUTEO wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:48 pmUsually the only way to tell the difference between the workers and the gamergate is that the gamergate has a slightly larger gaster. But if you are willing to examine every worker under a microscope to tell the difference you can examine the thorax for their gemmae. If the colony has a gamergate present usually the only ant in that colony that has the gemmae will be tha gamergate. If the gamergate in a colony has died then all workers that eclose afterwards will keep their gemmae.JaydenScheepers wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 9:07 amI usually avoid Diacamma, but they are so common in my area that I end up stepping on them or their nest by accident and get stung.
While we're on the topic of Diacamma, is there any way to spot a gamergate between the workers. And what will happen if you take a male ant from one colony, and take a worker from a different colony and leave them in a container together?
I would like to keep Diacamma.
I wanted to try that but you most likely have the workers without the gemmae so they won't be able to mate with the male. However if you did managed to get a worker with it's gemmae then the male will probably mate with her but I don't know if she is able to found a colony on her own. Keeping Diacamma requires a constant supply of males to ensure that the colony lives long.
Keeping:
• Cataulacus granulatus x2
• Camponotus parius
• Odontomachus sp x4
• Pheidole prava x1
• Pseudoneoponera sp x1
• Cataulacus granulatus x2
• Camponotus parius
• Odontomachus sp x4
• Pheidole prava x1
• Pseudoneoponera sp x1
Re: Pheidole is so hard to keep!
This may not always work as when one colony needs males and the other may not have any at the moment.JaydenScheepers wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:53 pmHmm, I see. So it's best to have a setup like AntsCanada has where he has three colonies connected to each other and only the males can travel to each one to mate with the gamergate, there by insuring the colonies live longer.SYUTEO wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:48 pmUsually the only way to tell the difference between the workers and the gamergate is that the gamergate has a slightly larger gaster. But if you are willing to examine every worker under a microscope to tell the difference you can examine the thorax for their gemmae. If the colony has a gamergate present usually the only ant in that colony that has the gemmae will be tha gamergate. If the gamergate in a colony has died then all workers that eclose afterwards will keep their gemmae.JaydenScheepers wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 9:07 am
I usually avoid Diacamma, but they are so common in my area that I end up stepping on them or their nest by accident and get stung.
While we're on the topic of Diacamma, is there any way to spot a gamergate between the workers. And what will happen if you take a male ant from one colony, and take a worker from a different colony and leave them in a container together?
I would like to keep Diacamma.
I wanted to try that but you most likely have the workers without the gemmae so they won't be able to mate with the male. However if you did managed to get a worker with it's gemmae then the male will probably mate with her but I don't know if she is able to found a colony on her own. Keeping Diacamma requires a constant supply of males to ensure that the colony lives long.
Join the new Camponotus Crew: https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=21893&p=93742#p93742
-
- Posts: 358
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2022 10:14 am
- Location: Phuket
Re: Pheidole is so hard to keep!
Yeah, that would be an unfortunate case.SYUTEO wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:58 pmThis may not always work as when one colony needs males and the other may not have any at the moment.JaydenScheepers wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:53 pmHmm, I see. So it's best to have a setup like AntsCanada has where he has three colonies connected to each other and only the males can travel to each one to mate with the gamergate, there by insuring the colonies live longer.SYUTEO wrote: ↑Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:48 pm
Usually the only way to tell the difference between the workers and the gamergate is that the gamergate has a slightly larger gaster. But if you are willing to examine every worker under a microscope to tell the difference you can examine the thorax for their gemmae. If the colony has a gamergate present usually the only ant in that colony that has the gemmae will be tha gamergate. If the gamergate in a colony has died then all workers that eclose afterwards will keep their gemmae.
I wanted to try that but you most likely have the workers without the gemmae so they won't be able to mate with the male. However if you did managed to get a worker with it's gemmae then the male will probably mate with her but I don't know if she is able to found a colony on her own. Keeping Diacamma requires a constant supply of males to ensure that the colony lives long.
Keeping:
• Cataulacus granulatus x2
• Camponotus parius
• Odontomachus sp x4
• Pheidole prava x1
• Pseudoneoponera sp x1
• Cataulacus granulatus x2
• Camponotus parius
• Odontomachus sp x4
• Pheidole prava x1
• Pseudoneoponera sp x1
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 21 guests