AM1C39's Journal (many colonies)

[AM1C39]

I have never thought about making a journal on the forum (even thought I have one on paper) until I captured my newest colony witch mite be the colony I will be talking about the most on this tread. Two days ago (6 apr 2021) me and a friend where bug hunting in the woods and we accidentally found a colony living in wood. I had not planed on catching that colony until I saw multiple queens running for cover. Because I had known it was a multi queened colony I decided to catch them. At the end of the day I had 3 queens and about 30 workers in a test tube setup. The next day (7 apr 2021) I went to look to see what the nest (the one outside) had been doing and they were doing fine so I decided to catch some more. Presently there is 5 queens and about 100 workers I will not be collecting anymore from that colony and they will not die eater because they still have some queens. I have identified them as formica neogagates. I will keep you all updated of what is happening with that colony (witch needs a name got any ideas?) and I will also update you all on my other colonies as well... eventually.

[AM1C39]

• Test_o's colony (camponotus novaeboracensis): test_o is what I named the queen.. who died. The workers (there is 11 of them) are living in a mini nest I made. They have no brood and I will probably not do many updates of this colony because there is nothing very interesting happening or that will happen.

• The power of war (camponotus novaeboracensis): I named them that because of their colors (black=power, red=war). they are living in a wooden vertical nest I made but have not completely moved in. There are 7 workers and lots and lots of brood.

• The black hearths (crematogaster cerasi): One queen and about 50 eggs.

• The shadow ants (formica subaenescens): One queen and only 3 workers, no brood yet.

I will only do updates if there is something very interesting that has happened.

[AM1C39]

I and a friend have decided to name the formica neogagates colony the miniature military.

[AM1C39]

Today I noticed that test_o's colony made an escape tunnel, they tunneled true the foam the mini nest was made out of. I captured 9 of them but two are still missing. Two days ago (9 april 2021) I started moving the miniature military into their new home (vertical wooden nest) and today they are still not moved in all 5 queens are still in the test tube. They have established a grave yard and there are a lot of dead bodies (about 30) I was not expecting that meany dead bodies it surprised me.

[AM1C39]

Today I released Test_o's colony because they had no more meaning without a queen and would be happier to live the rest of their lives outside. I still have not found the two lost workers they are probably dead . One of the miniature military's workers kept escaping, this one worker that was somewhat smaller than the rest kept getting thru a really small crack and I know it was the same worker every time. I put some sugar by the crack so he would get some and go back. When he was back in the nest and I put some cotton thru the crack... he got out again but he just got some sugar and went back. This time I put the cotton in better and I think it has worked, but the crack he is getting thru is beside the lid so every time I open it I will have to put the cotton back properly .