NEW ATTA MEXICANA QUEEN HELP!

Discussions about the care and keeping of ants

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How should I name my new Atta Mexicana Queen?

The Atta Monarch
1
14%
The Aztec Queen
2
29%
Or something else! (Suggestions are appreciated)
4
57%
 
Total votes: 7

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BlitzAnts
Posts: 31
Joined: Sun Aug 06, 2017 3:35 pm
Location: Queretaro

NEW ATTA MEXICANA QUEEN HELP!

Post: # 37620Post BlitzAnts
Wed Jun 13, 2018 1:20 pm

Hello!

If found an Atta Mexicana queen!

I know those are fungi farmers, and I have a lot of questions about “getting started”

First and foremost, are they semi claustral?

Second, when does the queen release the spore for the fungi? (I say this mainly because she went about an hour in a jelly jar with some 3 leaves and I want to know if she could have already realesed the spore, and if I must get some of the leaves she cut in the two “caballitos” (which are tequila glasses, small for a glass but I joined two, there will be an image further on)

Third, should I get her different kinds of plant?

Fourth, what space is necessary for such a queen?

And finally, a name suggestion and some advice in ant keeping (I could use it)

P.S. I also found 3 (it seems) solenopsis queens, housed in test tubes, any advice?

Thanks for your time!
Housing two Camponotus Barbarus Queens!

Also FOUR Solenopsis xyloni Queens! (if you want to, check the journal!)

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BlitzAnts
Posts: 31
Joined: Sun Aug 06, 2017 3:35 pm
Location: Queretaro

Re: NEW ATTA MEXICANA QUEEN HELP!

Post: # 37621Post BlitzAnts
Wed Jun 13, 2018 2:03 pm

https://imgur.com/a/frKUyhD

The housing!

Please feel free to add suggestions!
Housing two Camponotus Barbarus Queens!

Also FOUR Solenopsis xyloni Queens! (if you want to, check the journal!)

PTasker15
Posts: 309
Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2017 9:41 am
Location: Houston,TX

Re: NEW ATTA MEXICANA QUEEN HELP!

Post: # 37660Post PTasker15
Wed Jun 13, 2018 7:38 pm

The Lawnmowers.Lucky.I've Always Wanted Atta.
Keeping ants for 6 years now.

Current Species: Camponotus pennsylvanicus, Camponotus decipiens,Camponotus snellingi Solenopsis invicta,Nylanderia sp,Brachmyrmex patagonicus,Pheidole obscurothorax,Pheidole moerens,Pachycondyla harpax

JustCliff
Posts: 85
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2018 10:03 am
Location: Ohio

Re: NEW ATTA MEXICANA QUEEN HELP!

Post: # 37683Post JustCliff
Thu Jun 14, 2018 12:43 am

Congrats on capturing your queen!!!!
(know that you have some people jealous!)

One of my 3 dream species are leaf cutters of any variety, that doesn't fit well with Ohio though. :P

The only thing I have to add is that you should make sure that the space between both of those containers allows for fresh air for the queen. Maybe consider another container for their container to reduce airflow to the fungi but still allow for oxygen to reach the colony, if that fungi dies the colony dies.

Please don't be afraid to share pictures and difficulties you face along the way, I at least will be here to read it, I'm super interested lol.


I think you should name your queen "Atta Girl", count me as a vote for another name. (Just voted that) ;)
Keeper of:
Temnothorax curvispinosus x2
Camponotus nearcticus
Brachymyrmex depilis
Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Founding:
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Camponotus herculeanus

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BlitzAnts
Posts: 31
Joined: Sun Aug 06, 2017 3:35 pm
Location: Queretaro

Re: NEW ATTA MEXICANA QUEEN HELP!

Post: # 37707Post BlitzAnts
Thu Jun 14, 2018 11:22 am

https://imgur.com/a/xBjoaWN

images of the housing and the shoebox!
Housing two Camponotus Barbarus Queens!

Also FOUR Solenopsis xyloni Queens! (if you want to, check the journal!)

User avatar
BlitzAnts
Posts: 31
Joined: Sun Aug 06, 2017 3:35 pm
Location: Queretaro

Re: NEW ATTA MEXICANA QUEEN HELP!

Post: # 37717Post BlitzAnts
Thu Jun 14, 2018 2:23 pm

Oh by the way is it normal for a queen ant to be so still? (She is alive alright)
Housing two Camponotus Barbarus Queens!

Also FOUR Solenopsis xyloni Queens! (if you want to, check the journal!)

TheRealAntMan
Posts: 620
Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2017 5:59 pm
Location: Chicago, Illinois

Re: NEW ATTA MEXICANA QUEEN HELP!

Post: # 37719Post TheRealAntMan
Thu Jun 14, 2018 2:33 pm

BlitzAnts wrote:
Thu Jun 14, 2018 2:23 pm
Oh by the way is it normal for a queen ant to be so still? (She is alive alright)
Queens stay still because the don't have energy to waste whilst in the founding stage. Leave the queen alone and check on her every time you have to give her a leaf/plant, which should be every 1-2 weeks.
An ants' strength can be rivaled by few animals compared to relative body size.

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BlitzAnts
Posts: 31
Joined: Sun Aug 06, 2017 3:35 pm
Location: Queretaro

Re: NEW ATTA MEXICANA QUEEN HELP!

Post: # 37738Post BlitzAnts
Thu Jun 14, 2018 4:04 pm

Guess what?

I found another Atta Queen!

And a cementery of smashed atta queens

It would seem that a nuptial flight took place near my soon-to-be school, and there were lots of dead Atta Queens, I suspect they were smashed by hordes of millennials looking for avocados

Luckily I found two alive!

Unfortunately I only was to take one, mainly because I do not have any more ”caballitos”, so yes...

But anyways, I housed her with my last two caballitos and I put in 4 types of leaves (of course those were not complete, otherwise they would have been too big)

P.S. How should her be named? The first name suggestion will be elected!
Housing two Camponotus Barbarus Queens!

Also FOUR Solenopsis xyloni Queens! (if you want to, check the journal!)

masterdkh
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2018 12:53 pm
Location: Querétaro

Re: NEW ATTA MEXICANA QUEEN HELP!

Post: # 37836Post masterdkh
Fri Jun 15, 2018 1:08 pm

Hi Blitz I'm from Queretaro too. I've got 3 Atta mexicana "chicatana" para los cuates. I found a forum dedicated just to leaf cutters http://www.leafcuttingants.com/forum/index.php Also I've been watching a lot a videos about ants, since this is would be my first ant colony.

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BlitzAnts
Posts: 31
Joined: Sun Aug 06, 2017 3:35 pm
Location: Queretaro

Re: NEW ATTA MEXICANA QUEEN HELP!

Post: # 37852Post BlitzAnts
Fri Jun 15, 2018 3:12 pm

Any chance you could tell me what videos?
Housing two Camponotus Barbarus Queens!

Also FOUR Solenopsis xyloni Queens! (if you want to, check the journal!)

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