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California D. Bicolor

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 12:00 pm
by BleedingRaindrops
A week ago I was at a Mtg tournament in my local card shop when I spotted this girl on the floor. The others wanted to squish her (thinking she was a fly or other annoying bug) but I instantly recognized an alate and cried out for them not to. They hesitated long enough for me to scoop her up (thank goodness I always carry some plastic test tubes around) and were actually intrigued when I explained that this was a queen ant and I intended to start a colony.

I couldn't know if she was fertile, but she's been in a test tube set up in the dark for a week, and here she is today, having shed her wings and laid some brood. Meet Amber.
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She is a Dorymrymex Bicolor queen from Southern California, 8mm long. I have enjoyed tempting this species with candy before
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(some D. bicolor ants I found out in the desert enjoying a crushed m&m I gave them)
So I am excited to see what this colony turns into. I will post updates every week to see how Amber and her colony are doing.

Re: California D. Bicolor

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2018 12:51 pm
by AntsDakota
I've observed a Dorymyrmex bicolor colony, and it had satellite nests that spanned a whole driveway, into the street, and part of a side yard. So they grow large.

Re: California D. Bicolor

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2018 12:21 am
by BleedingRaindrops
Cool. I guess that means they'll take well to extra formicarium space.