Ants853

Before you start reading this post, make sure you have checked the most recent post on this colony https://ants853.com/2020/03/06/weaver-ants-and-the-calm-before-the-storm/

Two weeks ago, I felt something was about to happen, as the colony displays more and more confidence on their outside foraging.

I woke up one day and for the first time ever, I managed to catch them on the early…

Before you start reading this post, make sure you have checked the most recent post on this colony https://ants853.com/2020/02/28/black-tyrant-ants/

Two weeks have passed since last post !

In these two weeks, I added the test tube to its own outworld. With proper feeding dish, water and honey water feeding dispensers (from ByFormica, the absolute best).

I added a special plastic plug…

Weaver Ants and the calm before the storm

Before you start reading this post, make sure you have checked the most recent post on this colony https://ants853.com/2020/02/21/weaver-ants-stillness-of-the-lake/

These last two weeks have been quite slow paced for the Weaver Ants. They keep mostly to themselves still, not much perimeter foraging, they just like going up and down towards the mealybug, where I can see them filling up their…

Tropical Fire Ants and the Rule of Two

Before you start reading this post, make sure you have checked the most recent post on this colony https://ants853.com/2020/02/21/tropical-fire-ants-2-species-1-colony/

Let’s start with the immediate bad news… I couldn’t get rid of the mites! No matter how hard I tried and re-housed them, I didn’t work. I think the mites actually layed eggs near the fire ants egg clutches, seems to me to be…

Black Tyrant Ants, a new beginning

Hi guys! Welcome to a new journal !!

I have been wanting to publish this journal for quite some time now, but unfortunately have been busy, mainly with the updates on the other two journals and the YouTube videos, which seems you all have been enjoying by the increasing number of views, subscribers and watch time! Thank you so much for your time and support.

So I decided to run this journal…

Tropical Fire Ants, 2 species 1 colony !

Before you start reading this post, make sure you have checked the most recent post on this colony https://ants853.com/2020/02/14/tropical-fire-ants-with-invicta-friends/

A brief from last week’s post :

Things were looking very grim. Last week Colony 1 to 6 had almost no evolution with some dead queens along the way, one case of mites… Colony 7 (the only with worker) was better, but…

Weaver Ants, bringing up the heat !

Before you start reading this post, make sure you have checked the most recent post on this colony https://ants853.com/2020/02/07/weaver-ants-and-a-little-bit-of-research/

Last week, we saw how temperature may be too low for their optimal development, and so I decided to bring up the heat !

I started by getting an infrared basking spot 100W bulb.

And did some measurements to make sure I…

Tropical Fire Ants, Solenopsis geminata queens with Solenopsis invicta friends to the rescue, is it even possible?!

Before you start reading this post, make sure you have checked the most recent post on this colony https://ants853.com/2020/02/07/tropical-fire-ants/

A brief from last week post:

Lost one queen in Colony 4

Mites still found in Colony 1

Colony 4 and 5 had no eggs

Colony 1 and 6 only had a couple eggs

Colony 2 and 3 had the more significant amount of eggs,

Last week, when I wrapped up the post,…

Tropical Fire Ants, help is on the way!

Before you start reading this post, make sure you have checked the most recent post on this colony https://ants853.com/2020/02/01/solenopsis-geminata-a-queens-perspective/

In our first post (last week), while I was recording the video, we all noticed the mites that were infecting these beautiful founding chambers. Unfortunately they managed to get inside during the separation of the queens.

Weaver Ants and a little bit of research

Before you start reading this post, make sure you have checked the most recent post on this colony https://ants853.com/2020/01/31/weaver-ants-are-not-alone/

Last week I wrote : “The temperatures dropped considerably this week. The lowest my ant room thermometer recorded was 16.9C at night. Normally is stays around 18.5 and 19.2C during the day. I am not planning on using any type of heart…

Solenopsis Geminata, a Queen’s perspective

First of all, if you would like to access the reference papers that will be mentioned on this post, please click the link below.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1tQ1KoNpdmD6sfGIKgZGBIU0lXemfCv9H

And if you would like to see the video, please scroll down to the bottom of the post.

The Tropical Fire Ant (TFA), Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius) 1804, is native to South and Central America…

Weaver Ants are not alone…

Before you start reading this post, make sure you have checked the most recent post on this colony (https://ants853.com/2020/01/27/weaver-ants-first-120-days/)

January 31st 2020

Friday is finally here and its time to update you all on this beautiful weaver ant colony! They still continue on the same nest, their 4th weaved nest. The 3rd is still present but seems to be empty. I can only see…