My journey keeping a Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Colony

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CANant
Posts: 379
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2019 1:04 am
Location: Paris, Ontario

My journey keeping a Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Colony

Post: # 63707Post CANant
Wed Sep 04, 2019 10:56 am

Hello everyone!

I probably should have set this up awhile ago. Well better late than never right?!
Enjoy!

June 29th 2019 is when my big beautiful lady (Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Queen) literally found me. I had been casually looking for a camponotus novaeboracensis queen but hadn’t had any luck so far and figured I had missed their nuptial flight. No joking I was standing in my front entrance and she walked right out in front of me (maybe 8” away and stopped). Well that has to be the easiest catch ever! Her wings were already removed so I didn’t hesitate to coax her into a test tube.

I am using the AC ‘All You Need’ Camponotus Hybrid 2.0 Gear Pack™
https://www.AntsCanada.com/shop/all-you-need-camponotus-hybrid-gear-pack/

To save me from rewriting and reposting: I have pictures and dates and some comments with her colony’s progress here.
https://imgur.com/a/2kTk38Y
Last edited by CANant on Wed Sep 04, 2019 11:06 am, edited 2 times in total.
Keeper of:
Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

Temnothorax ambiguus/curvispinosus (Acorn ant)

Lasius Interjectus (Larger citronella ant) with host workers: L. Americanus

🐜❤️

CANant
Posts: 379
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2019 1:04 am
Location: Paris, Ontario

Re: My journey keeping a Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Colony

Post: # 63708Post CANant
Wed Sep 04, 2019 10:59 am

Since I took the last images on Sept. 2 the workers have moved the smaller sized brood (eggs and small larvae) to one of the water test tubes. I am assuming for more humidity. The queen is still in her original tube with the pupae and 2-3 workers.
I have ordered some new ant product. I’ll keep everyone posted on that and my thoughts (like a review I guess).

Stay tuned!
Keeper of:
Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

Temnothorax ambiguus/curvispinosus (Acorn ant)

Lasius Interjectus (Larger citronella ant) with host workers: L. Americanus

🐜❤️

sartwell90
Posts: 94
Joined: Thu Jun 06, 2019 2:46 pm
Location: South East Michigan

Re: My journey keeping a Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Colony

Post: # 63709Post sartwell90
Wed Sep 04, 2019 11:33 am

I am tuned and I am staying! Yay CANant Journal!
Check out my colonies! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDze5idJomnpRCpvd3QoAFA
Or, if you would rather read about them check here - https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?p=60680#p60680

CANant
Posts: 379
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2019 1:04 am
Location: Paris, Ontario

Re: My journey keeping a Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Colony

Post: # 63711Post CANant
Wed Sep 04, 2019 12:24 pm

Yeppie!! Thanks Sartwell90! You inspired me :)
Keeper of:
Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

Temnothorax ambiguus/curvispinosus (Acorn ant)

Lasius Interjectus (Larger citronella ant) with host workers: L. Americanus

🐜❤️

sartwell90
Posts: 94
Joined: Thu Jun 06, 2019 2:46 pm
Location: South East Michigan

Re: My journey keeping a Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Colony

Post: # 63729Post sartwell90
Wed Sep 04, 2019 4:21 pm

The awesome folks here (including yourself) inspire me too! #AntUnity
Check out my colonies! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDze5idJomnpRCpvd3QoAFA
Or, if you would rather read about them check here - https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?p=60680#p60680

CANant
Posts: 379
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2019 1:04 am
Location: Paris, Ontario

Re: My journey keeping a Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Colony

Post: # 63737Post CANant
Wed Sep 04, 2019 5:50 pm

sartwell90 wrote:
Wed Sep 04, 2019 4:21 pm
The awesome folks here (including yourself) inspire me too! #AntUnity
We certainly have a big CC family!
Keeper of:
Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

Temnothorax ambiguus/curvispinosus (Acorn ant)

Lasius Interjectus (Larger citronella ant) with host workers: L. Americanus

🐜❤️

Hawkeye
Posts: 1557
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2019 4:38 pm
Location: Almelo

Re: My journey keeping a Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Colony

Post: # 63753Post Hawkeye
Thu Sep 05, 2019 12:54 am

One more CC member here following your progress :D

CANant
Posts: 379
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2019 1:04 am
Location: Paris, Ontario

Re: My journey keeping a Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Colony

Post: # 64095Post CANant
Thu Sep 12, 2019 1:28 pm

Yikes guys I almost literally cooked my ants!! One of the things I ordered came so I set it all up. It’s a 15 watt Zoomed heat cable. Their area temperature has dropped to 68-71 Fahrenheit during the day so they definitely needed a bit more heat. Ideal temperature is 80-85. Luckily I had part of the tube off the heat cable. They moved all the brood to the opening of the test tube (as far away as possible without leaving the tube but the queen couldn’t move herself. She was still at the hottest spot. Her legs were flailing away and her nanitics we trying desperately to help her by pulling on her. Oh my! I hope everyone and the brood is ok and there are no casualties.
I immediately moved them away from the heat and pulled the plug. The temperatures are much safer now and they have already moved the pupae back with the queen. I’m sure the eggs and larvae will follow soon enough.
I’m very afraid to turn it back on. Any tips from people that have this heat cable?
Keeper of:
Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

Temnothorax ambiguus/curvispinosus (Acorn ant)

Lasius Interjectus (Larger citronella ant) with host workers: L. Americanus

🐜❤️

CANant
Posts: 379
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2019 1:04 am
Location: Paris, Ontario

Re: My journey keeping a Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Colony

Post: # 64195Post CANant
Mon Sep 16, 2019 12:38 pm

Quick update on my colony. My 10th nanitic enclosed yesterday! So glad I didn’t cook them all. I have another ready to enclose. Mmm guessing in the next 2-3 days. It’s the largest pupae yet! Excited to see how big she will be. I’ll post more in the next few days. Plus I’ll share some of my new purchases (sadly not new ants so don’t get to excited!
Keeper of:
Camponotus Pennsylvanicus

Temnothorax ambiguus/curvispinosus (Acorn ant)

Lasius Interjectus (Larger citronella ant) with host workers: L. Americanus

🐜❤️

Hawkeye
Posts: 1557
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2019 4:38 pm
Location: Almelo

Re: My journey keeping a Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Colony

Post: # 64209Post Hawkeye
Mon Sep 16, 2019 11:51 pm

CANant wrote:
Mon Sep 16, 2019 12:38 pm
Quick update on my colony. My 10th nanitic enclosed yesterday! So glad I didn’t cook them all. I have another ready to enclose. Mmm guessing in the next 2-3 days. It’s the largest pupae yet! Excited to see how big she will be. I’ll post more in the next few days. Plus I’ll share some of my new purchases (sadly not new ants so don’t get to excited!
I'm guessing your colony will no longer produce nanitics, but regular workers instead.

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