My Solenopsis molesta colony

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AntsDakota
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My Solenopsis molesta colony

Post: # 35620Post AntsDakota
Thu May 03, 2018 7:24 pm

Today I stumbled upon a colony of Solenopsis molesta colony in my yard. Before this, I had no other colonies, so I decided to capture the queen and some workers. Otherwise I would have waited until the Formica argentea nuptial flights in June. The queen is full of eggs, there are 8 workers, and about 10 larvae. They are being housed in a test tube setup. So, what should I name this colony? Any suggestions?
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

AntsDakota
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Re: My Solenopsis molesta colony

Post: # 35631Post AntsDakota
Fri May 04, 2018 4:49 pm

Update

I decided to break into the colony again and this time boosted the colony to about 50 workers or so.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

AntsDakota
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Re: My Solenopsis molesta colony

Post: # 35822Post AntsDakota
Wed May 09, 2018 4:55 pm

The queen and workers escaped!

But don't worry. I caught another colony. This time it has four queens, and around 100 workers. The queens are laying eggs, and the brood piles are growing by the hundreds every day. (Typical Solenopsis molesta egg laying rate)
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

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antnest8
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Re: My Solenopsis molesta colony

Post: # 35824Post antnest8
Wed May 09, 2018 5:12 pm

i have heard solenopsis molesta are very good escape artists
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AntsDakota
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Re: My Solenopsis molesta colony

Post: # 35966Post AntsDakota
Tue May 15, 2018 12:31 pm

antnest8 wrote:
Wed May 09, 2018 5:12 pm
i have heard solenopsis molesta are very good escape artists
I forgot to water them, and put the top on my container, so most of the workers escaped, (escape artists) and the whole thing dried out and there is only one queen left, but I put more workers inside, so it isn't dead yet!
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

AntsDakota
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Re: My Solenopsis molesta colony

Post: # 36160Post AntsDakota
Sun May 20, 2018 4:20 pm

I caught another colony, but this one had 70 or so queens! I only caught 60 or so, but that's still better than nothing. :lol: I named them the Royal Legion, referring to the army of queens.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

Dominik
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Re: My Solenopsis molesta colony

Post: # 36232Post Dominik
Tue May 22, 2018 1:04 pm

I have solenopsis fugax colonies which are present in europe but is solenopsis molesta here too ?
Keeping : 2 Formica colonies: 5-10 workers
Tetramorium : 1 colony 3-5 workers
Lasius Niger : colony 30+ workers
Lasius Emarginatus:colony 10 workers
Solenopsis Fugax: 5 colonies 5+workers
C.V:2 queens founding

AntsDakota
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Re: My Solenopsis molesta colony

Post: # 46582Post AntsDakota
Sat Aug 04, 2018 6:30 pm

Dominik wrote:
Tue May 22, 2018 1:04 pm
I have solenopsis fugax colonies which are present in europe but is solenopsis molesta here too ?
No, they are a North American species.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

AntsDakota
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Location: South Dakota

Re: My Solenopsis molesta colony

Post: # 46583Post AntsDakota
Sat Aug 04, 2018 6:32 pm

The Royal Legion has grown so much since the last time I did an update! There has to be at least 1,000 workers and huge balls of brood. I feed them fruit flies and butter. I find that the Royal Legion is ok with accepting new queens, so I will introduce freshly mated queens every year to keep the colony up and running long after it's supposed to die.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

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idahoantgirl
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Re: My Solenopsis molesta colony

Post: # 46598Post idahoantgirl
Sat Aug 04, 2018 8:24 pm

Butter? That's a new one. What are you giving them for sugar? I don't think butter has much nutritional value for ants.
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Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile

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