The Antlab's Journal, A hopeful ongoing saga
Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2018 9:32 pm
Hi there everyone! My name is Nick some time ago I started a small Twitter account called The AntLabs, if your interested a link will be at the bottom of the journal entry. Anyways, I had started the account to sort of be a journal of sorts, and to just well share my journy through ant Keeping with anyone who might be interested. Take note I'm not a myrmecologist. Just an Ant lover who is beginning there first steps into the world of ant keeping. I want to learn so much more about the marvelous world of Ants, and what better way then first hand observation and study. So as I can i will be uploading pictures, sharing stories, and my findings of the mighty creatures we call Ants.
Here first I will share a brief recap the first few steps I had taken already, Over the Brief rainy season that we got here in the South Central area of Texas, and between a few friends a number of nice walks Id acquired a total of six Queen Alates, Where they Fertile? Would they lay there first brood. I had so many questions, so many hopes, and over all I was just plain excited!. My first queen Alates! I just could not contain my self. So I got the girls into there own private Condos (test tube setups XD) and put them in the back of my closet, Despite my deeply seated desire to check on them every day I had left them be for as long as I could. I would check on them about once every two weeks, and over the span of a month and a half there was no change, no brood no nothing, The only thing to come about was the sad demise of four of the Six alates, but I held on to hope. After abit of saving and some research, i found a low watt heating cable, and moved the two remaining queens to my dresser, safely tucked away into one of AntsCanada's Test tube racks. With heated cable running through, and covered by a lid they say happy and warm. Less then a week later and one of the two Queens had laid her first brood. I was so very excited and would leave them be, soon after i had my first ninantics. However sadly, i lost most of them, but there numbers bolstered after there first meal, and they are on there track once again. And about this time, the other queen had passed away, and that's not all it was at this point i hit my second Hurdle, You see I am very allergic to Fire ants and after putting love and care into i got a good picture and posted it here on the forum and got her identified. She was a member of the Solenopsis invicta family, And while i want a colony, i don't want to risk my health. So i sighed up for the Gan project, to find this girl a home. Soon after i was informed that due to there nature as a invasive species i could not sell them in the US. nor can i release them, so im in abit of a bind .
In a newer development, last night while on my computer a little yellow winged beauty landed on my screen! I think she is indeed a She and ill post pictures soon. she was only just moved to a test tube, and i want her to have her privacy for now. so lets hope for the best
Well thats all for now! i will keep you all updated!!!
Here first I will share a brief recap the first few steps I had taken already, Over the Brief rainy season that we got here in the South Central area of Texas, and between a few friends a number of nice walks Id acquired a total of six Queen Alates, Where they Fertile? Would they lay there first brood. I had so many questions, so many hopes, and over all I was just plain excited!. My first queen Alates! I just could not contain my self. So I got the girls into there own private Condos (test tube setups XD) and put them in the back of my closet, Despite my deeply seated desire to check on them every day I had left them be for as long as I could. I would check on them about once every two weeks, and over the span of a month and a half there was no change, no brood no nothing, The only thing to come about was the sad demise of four of the Six alates, but I held on to hope. After abit of saving and some research, i found a low watt heating cable, and moved the two remaining queens to my dresser, safely tucked away into one of AntsCanada's Test tube racks. With heated cable running through, and covered by a lid they say happy and warm. Less then a week later and one of the two Queens had laid her first brood. I was so very excited and would leave them be, soon after i had my first ninantics. However sadly, i lost most of them, but there numbers bolstered after there first meal, and they are on there track once again. And about this time, the other queen had passed away, and that's not all it was at this point i hit my second Hurdle, You see I am very allergic to Fire ants and after putting love and care into i got a good picture and posted it here on the forum and got her identified. She was a member of the Solenopsis invicta family, And while i want a colony, i don't want to risk my health. So i sighed up for the Gan project, to find this girl a home. Soon after i was informed that due to there nature as a invasive species i could not sell them in the US. nor can i release them, so im in abit of a bind .
In a newer development, last night while on my computer a little yellow winged beauty landed on my screen! I think she is indeed a She and ill post pictures soon. she was only just moved to a test tube, and i want her to have her privacy for now. so lets hope for the best
Well thats all for now! i will keep you all updated!!!