My Camponotus discolor colony has produced a batch of chunky queens. They all eclosed on the same day. I wonder when they fly? Alates are a mixed blessing for ant keepers— they can really drain the energy of a colony and may lead to its end. But, it’s beautiful to watch. Seriously considering mailing these girls back to Tar Heel ants in GA —. who sold me the queen. They are legal in NY but it’s too far north to let them fly. He has many colonies— maybe he could find a way to get them mated.
They are such beautiful ants! You almost forget how ravenous, warlike and sneaky they are!
The queens are all about the same shade of yellow/orange— which shows they all emerged at once. As their exoskeletons harden, their color will darken. In this species the wings are almost black—very striking! I hope the next batch isn’t all males— though this colony is massive— to think there were only 8 of them years ago.
(read alt text to learn how to spot a queen ant!) #antkeeping#ants#camponotus
My carpenter ant colony takes up two bookshelves. They have two "outworlds" or places to find food and do ant stuff. They have three nesting spaces. (More about the setup in the alt text. )
Glass on antkeeping enclosures often has a hazy look. We use "fluon" to keep the ants from climbing out. It basically makes a powdery slippery layer near the top of the glass that ants struggle to climb. I wish I could find a solution that didn't look so messy.
. . . some of these carpenter ants are— how to put this? Obese. Look at these gasters! At what point do we start just calling you a replete? Everyone thinks the big majors in Camponotus pennsylvanicus meant to fight and dig— but I think they are more into bulk food storage. #ants#FatAnts#camponotus
A pair of Camponotus decipiens carpenter ants exchanges a taste of honeydew while tending aphids on Virginia creeper. Brackenridge Field Laboratory, Texas.
Quick update on #daffodil the eastern black carpenter ant minor worker. I see her most days, though I think she’s slowing down a little. She mostly hangs out at “The Burl” which seems to be a pretty popular place for the older workers. #carpenterAnts#camponotus#ants
It's been a few days since I've opened the enclosure for her colony, so she must have been lost in the apartment for several days. She managed to not get eaten by a spider or by #pica! (yes Pica will eat ants)
Got some wonderful video of a carpenter ant major (Camponotus pennslyvanicus) eclosing from her cocoon. Ants can't free themselves without help. Their first moments of adult life are spent being fussed over, cleaned and fed by as many as 8 excited siblings.
The first thing they see is a world full of others who just want to help them. The first place they experience is warm, safe and made just for ants.
The beautiful golden Camponotus kaura is a night-active insect endemic to the eastern Caribbean. Photographed just this week at El Yunque, Puerto Rico.
Strange things are afoot in the carpenter ant nest this afternoon. A group of workers have seemingly turned against this particular larvae. They are all just biting it over and over... though not doing much damage? What could cause this? Maybe the larvae has died? Maybe it's infected? I will see if they really dismantle it or if it's just a bite fest. #camponotus#antvideo#withnarration
When you hook up a new outworld there is always a traffic jam at the exit. Each ant wants to pause and wave their antennae around from the safety of the opening before setting foot in the dangerous open new area. This will only clear up once they all come to know the new space. Majors are more cautious than minors often backing up into the nest a few times before working up the courage to explore. #camponotus
I'm hooking up the new outworld for my Camponotus pennslyvanicus colony today-- I did a trial hook up for like 3 seconds and already 3 of them got into the new space. Husband wanted to watch them explore so 3 are currently trapped until I re-hook the nest.
You might think the restricted access would make them wary... knowing this colony, they'll be even more excited to get in!
There is a choice hiding space in this new area... I just hope they don't hang out in the connecting tube.
I know it's hard to believe but I mostly keep this account to try to get people to watch my ant videos. (why I want people to watch ant videos is a question I can't really fathom...) I made a really good new video today with a time lapse that shows how heat sensitive Camponotus discolor are. They move their pupae constantly to maintain ideal development conditions.
The life cycle of an ant (Camponotus festinatus) laid out in a single photograph: eggs, larvae of various ages, a silk-covered pupa, and an adult worker. At #UTAustin's Brackenridge Field Laboratory, in Texas.