OT: Ants

[xXxSpyderxXx]

i know a few of you showed interest in ants back a bit ago. just wondering if any of you where still interested in them. spring is here and mating flights have begun and will continue all the way till late late summer almost winter. just wondering if anyone wants me to collect them a queen or two. its a fun new hobby and easy to do once you know the basics. they are fun to watch as the colony grows, watch them scout for food, watch them work together to cut up and break down food to bring back to the nest. there are many many many ways to keep them and display them. let me know if you are interested and if so what type of species you are interested in. please keep it a local species, non local cost some $

so post here if your interested and we can chat. have any questions just ask, i know EVERYTHING and ANYTHING about ants!

 

[pilotguy]

I've always tried but never had any luck, how long after the queen clips here wings and lays her first brood does it take until they hatch?

 

[xXxSpyderxXx]

I've always tried but never had any luck, how long after the queen clips here wings and lays her first brood does it take until they hatch?

with each species it varies a bit but if done right it takes the following.

-The Egg Is Laid.
-In about 14 to 23 days the larvae will emerge
-The Larvae Will grow through many stages
-After about another 24 to 27 days it will turn into a pupae
-After about 13 to 28 days an ant will emerge

So Total time ranges from like 8-12 weeks depending on species.

 

[pilotguy]

And as far as non local species what do you have? Common names

 

[xXxSpyderxXx]

Messor Barbarus (European Harvester Ant) i have 3 of them
Camponotus ligniperdus (from Brazil)
Camponotus Festinatus (from Brazil)
Another Camponotus from Brazil not yet IDed (still has one wing but is laying eggs)

and i will be receiving 3 Atta queens in may (leaf cutter ants)

ill post a few quick shots of my ants up in a sec.

 

[xXxSpyderxXx]

Here are a few quick iPhone snapshots of starter colonies/queens. If you have any questions on the photos just ask.

 

[xXxSpyderxXx]

A few more........

 

[Conesus_Kid]

Spyder,
Any good websites you can recommend on the hobby? Sounds like something that might be a good addition to my classroom.

 

[xXxSpyderxXx]

Here is what a basic player of Paris setup looks like. Made it myself

On the right you can see the water rez used to keep the nest moist. And on the right you can see where I siliconed in a tube to attach the nest to an outer world were the ants will forage for food and also place their trash.

 

[xXxSpyderxXx]

Spyder,
Any good websites you can recommend on the hobby? Sounds like something that might be a good addition to my classroom.

also if your looking for some for your classroom i dont have any large colonies at the moment, all mine are last years queens just now getting their first workers, but i can pass a queen/colony your way free of charge

unless u wanna start your own from a queen you catch. your choice

no good sites i can recommend lol.

but http://antfarm.yuku.com/ is a site for ants, its good depending on your views lol, i myself dont like it the owner is a grammar freak and such. also i was banned lol

but if you where to look for a USA ant forum thats the place to learn.