Ant colony

[scolopendra277]

they look like a bit like dimidatus too, sorry for the bad pictures.

 

[scolopendra277]

I am 32 years old, never owned any ants, never had any interest but recently started watching the YT channel AntsCanada. Ants seem like amazing fun but after a 2 hour nature walk yesterday I had no luck finding anything. My only concern is getting mites that spread to my scorpions and dubia roach colony. Probably could avoid this issue with captive bred ants if that is a thing?!??

breeding ants isn't particularly easy, but it can be done. it's usually easier to catch queens and mites can still be a problem. I've bred Rhytidoponera metallica before by catching drones and alates for different colones and simulating a nuptial flight.

 

[Tleilaxu]

Two camponotus pennsylvanicus queens.

 

[Thane1616]

breeding ants isn't particularly easy, but it can be done. it's usually easier to catch queens and mites can still be a problem. I've bred Rhytidoponera metallica before by catching drones and alates for different colones and simulating a nuptial flight.

I figured breeding was not easy give ants use weather as a trigger but I am no ant expert lol

 

[Ponerinecat]

I am 32 years old, never owned any ants, never had any interest but recently started watching the YT channel AntsCanada. Ants seem like amazing fun but after a 2 hour nature walk yesterday I had no luck finding anything. My only concern is getting mites that spread to my scorpions and dubia roach colony. Probably could avoid this issue with captive bred ants if that is a thing?!??

Unfortunately captive bred ants are near impossible to obtain from vendors and most species are incredibly difficult to captive breed (with quite a few exceptions, regardless). WC is the only reliable option if you're just starting out. As for mites, they're a minor issue and you can always check your queens beforehand for hitchhikers before deciding to keep her. Mikey is a fairly good introduction to keeping ants and the husbandry required, but ants are far less disaster prone than he might portray them as. Mite infestations, escapes, and sudden colony death are the exception rather than the norm if you care for them correctly and can usually be prevented entirely with due diligence. AntsCanada is more than a bit careless in that regard and portrays the actual day to day experience of antkeeping rather poorly.

 

[scolopendra277]

Two camponotus pennsylvanicus queens.
View attachment 390088 View attachment 390089

Beautiful queens! What nest is the first queen in? it looks like an Antscanada nest or something.

 

[Tleilaxu]

Beautiful queens! What nest is the first queen in? it looks like an Antscanada nest or something.

Antscanada solenopsis nest 2.0

I used to keep a fire ant colony, but bringing them across state lines is a nono

But the camponotus likes it just fine.

 

[Ponerinecat]

View attachment 390085 View attachment 390086
they look like a bit like dimidatus too, sorry for the bad pictures.

This is a native species of Tetramorium, not Meranoplus. Might be capitale based on the tricolored appearance but apparently captiale has some variation as well in coloration. Thalidum, fuscipes, viehmeyeri and spininode also appear possible based on a quite skin through aussie species. Nice find, I rarely see people with native Australian tetras.

 

[Thane1616]

Unfortunately captive bred ants are near impossible to obtain from vendors and most species are incredibly difficult to captive breed (with quite a few exceptions, regardless). WC is the only reliable option if you're just starting out. As for mites, they're a minor issue and you can always check your queens beforehand for hitchhikers before deciding to keep her. Mikey is a fairly good introduction to keeping ants and the husbandry required, but ants are far less disaster prone than he might portray them as. Mite infestations, escapes, and sudden colony death are the exception rather than the norm if you care for them correctly and can usually be prevented entirely with due diligence. AntsCanada is more than a bit careless in that regard and portrays the actual day to day experience of antkeeping rather poorly.

Yeah I kind of figured he was using the mistakes as a way to get more view and raise some drama. Fun channel to watch before bed though!

 

[scolopendra277]

This is a native species of Tetramorium, not Meranoplus. Might be capitale based on the tricolored appearance but apparently captiale has some variation as well in coloration. Thalidum, fuscipes, viehmeyeri and spininode also appear possible based on a quite skin through aussie species. Nice find, I rarely see people with native Australian tetras.

awesome! I used to keep tetramorium bicarinatum but they look a lot different from this species!

 

[Arthroverts]

It is quite funny; last year I was tearing all over the desert where I live, trying to track down Veromessor, Pogonomyrmex, Myrmecocystus, Camponotus, Solenopsis, Crematogaster, anything. I ended up with ten or so little Solenopsis queens I found at a friend's black light setup and in my driveway.

This year, due to how busy I've been, I haven't been able to get out quite so much to hunt for ants, and instead I've found two Camponotus queens wandering across my path, one in broad daylight on a large trail, multiple Solenopsis queens of I believe two species in my pool, ran through a giant Veromessor flight on accident, a Liometopum occidentale in my driveway, and a Formica queen (also accidental find while wandering in the desert, though she looks to be sterile).

Funny how that works...if you don't look for them, they will come I guess, ha ha.

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 

[Stardust1986]

breeding ants isn't particularly easy, but it can be done. it's usually easier to catch queens and mites can still be a problem. I've bred Rhytidoponera metallica before by catching drones and alates for different colones and simulating a nuptial flight.

I'm scared of ants, but I still love "Ants Canada" i can see ants can be cute : )