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Grace Ant Journal

Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 11:30 pm
by Varanid
Around a month ago my daughter rekindled my interest in ants when she found a Solenopsis queen. The queen layed a lot of eggs and was tending them up until 2 days ago, unfortunately she passed. My daughter finding that queen so easily made me start looking for them as well. The first day I found four queen Solenopsis around my driveway. Three of these four are tending eggs, not sure what the fourth is waiting on. Since that time I have found three Camponotus castaneus two of them are currently still alive. The two that are alive were found at around 10:30 pm tonight. I also found one black Camponotus, which I believe is pennsylvanicus, this one passed as well. So far my luck with Camponotus has not been good. I hope these newest queens turn my luck around. Anyway, this is the journal of my ant expeditions and hopefully it will lead to a successful colony or two.

Re: Grace Ant Journal

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 1:17 am
by Ghostie
I'd love to see pictures, good luck in your ant adventures!

Re: Grace Ant Journal

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 8:20 am
by Varanid
Will try to get some pictures up today, unfortunately am not very good at taking pictures of ants.

Re: Grace Ant Journal

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 11:09 am
by Varanid
This is one of the first queens I caught, she was caught around three weeks ago. She is the most successful one thus far as well. Has quite a few eggs that she is constantly guarding and moving around.

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Solenopsis probably invicta.

Re: Grace Ant Journal

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 11:18 am
by Varanid
This is my new queen, Camponotus castaneus I believe. Collected two of these last night under lights in parking lot.

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Re: Grace Ant Journal

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 11:39 am
by Varanid
Pictures of another one of my Solenopsis queens. I am rather new at photographing ants, if anyone has any suggestions for better pictures I am open to advice. All I have is my phone camera and a cheap macro lens.

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Re: Grace Ant Journal

Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 7:51 am
by Varanid
Spent about fifteen minutes looking for queens around a parking lot last night. Usually have really good luck there, saw absolutely nothing. I need a couple more Camponotus castaneus, have caught three here in the last 2 weeks.

Re: Grace Ant Journal

Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 8:07 pm
by Varanid
Spent 30 minutes looking for queens today, found a lot of Solenopsis, nothing else of interest. I have 5 Solenopsis queens, 3 of which have eggs, so did not collect them. Will go a little later tonight to my Camponotus honey hole.

Re: Grace Ant Journal

Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 9:57 pm
by Varanid
Went back out around 9 pm. Got 5 Camponotus queens. One of them is probably castaneus, the other four are black, probably pennsylvanicus. Pictures will be posted tomorrow. There were plenty of other queens there, do not have any more test tubes. Am hoping this will be enough to get a colony going :)

Re: Grace Ant Journal

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2016 10:44 am
by WillWithAnts
Varanid wrote:Went back out around 9 pm. Got 5 Camponotus queens. One of them is probably castaneus, the other four are black, probably pennsylvanicus. Pictures will be posted tomorrow. There were plenty of other queens there, do not have any more test tubes. Am hoping this will be enough to get a colony going :)
Good luck! Following along!