ANTSTORE World of Ants

[AntsNational]

Hello all,

So some of you may know me already, alias the 'antman' of Ontario, or as Vasile, and I'm going to start a journal documenting everything concerning host species Formica fusca and Raptiformica species Formica sanguinea. I acquired from a friend both colonies, and for the Formica fusca colony I obtained 1 queen & +10 workers. I haven't exactly counted them properly yet. These ants I have just taken out of hibernation since september, and after about a week (last night) I noticed a worker carrying one egg. I'm pleased about this, they have been fed a variety of things like mealworm, cricket, and milk+honey. They reside in a test tube with water for now.
So for now the colony is 1 queen, +10 workers and currently 1 egg.

My Formica sanguinea colony consists of 3 mated sister queens (all together in one tube), 0 workers, and 0 eggs. I understand that these queens cannot start colonies on their own and depend upon Serviformica 'slaves' to be able to raise their first workers, so I will keep the 3 queens together in hibernation until the first 3-5 pupae from the fusca colony emerge. This won't affect the Formica fusca colony much as there is already +10 workers, so my guess is that there will be more than just 5 pupae in the first generation.

Be sure to subscribe to my youtube channel for an indepth look into my other species of ants! Link:

Hyperlinks sind nur für registrierte Nutzer sichtbar --- A video journal will also be kept for these species, so stay tuned.

I will post pics when I get home! Happy new year everyone!
Cheers,
Vasi

[mtrein]

Looking forward to this, Vasi

[Shiver]

I think Formica sanguinea can survive on their own without ever having "slaves", they are just an added bonus, perhaps someone can confirm? (Polyergus species NEED slaves though)

[AntsNational]

Hi 'Shiver',

I did read up that young F.sanguinea queens like most other parasitic queens require assistance in the form of 'slave' workers to start a colony. From there on their own workers can do the work from there. I can't find my source for it though! I will continue to search. And thanks Mtrein, much appreciated!!

Interestingly enough, I also heard from a friend of mine that F. sanguinea will also take pupae of other genuses of ants, like Camponotus. I'll be sure to put that to the test.

Cheers,
Vasi

[AntsNational]

Found the article. Unfortunately, only the the first paragraph is readable and I'm not going to purchase the entire article for $35. I'm going to track down the authors and email them my request to read the full paper, but the first paragraph does give insight into the founding of F. sanguinea..
Here is the link
Hyperlinks sind nur für registrierte Nutzer sichtbar

Cheers,
Vasi

[Shiver]

It does say though that several Queens managed to found a colony independently and you have 3 so could be possible even if risky, I suppose it's probably a better idea to boost them and not take the chance!

[AntsNational]

@Shiver,

That's exactly what I plan on doing lol!

Cheers!

[AntsNational]

Update:

The Formica fusca colony's queen has laid a good 20+ eggs so far. They're being carefully tended in a large pile. I am extremely pleased to see this as the cycle has begun. The ants have been feeding off baby crickets for the past few days, and this new source of fresh protein has given the colony and queen the nourishment it needs to begin the process of rearing the next generation of workers. Everything is precisely on schedule, as in about a month from now I will take the three Formica sanguinea sister queens out of hibernation. They will be fed with honeywater and will be offered a few F. fusca pupae. I'm looking forward to this ant season in 2012.

Cheers

[AntsNational]

Here's a high-res photo of the colony's eggs as photographed the other day.

[ollieaaron]

Hi Vasi,
Looking forward to this too!
I did find some info on sanguine while back in the university library, i'll see if i can find the book, you might be able to get it off ebay cheap.
Anyway, it said that they tend to group together for hibernation, then, when they are fully awake they begin to lay. The problem is, as queens, they aren't very good parents, so it takes a while to get a good colony started, a lot of what they lay tends to die and get eaten. The few that do grow to adult look after the next couple batches of eggs until theres enough to steal another Formica sp workers as slaves. So they should be ok to start the colony themselves. What I do know though is ants have there own scent, that other colonies of different species, Im not sure here whether the sanguine workers are needed to pass the scent to the workers of the other species, or whether the queen simply accepts them? Might have a little read up if I can get into the uni library, or on here. Don't want your queens starting a fight with the new slave workers :p

[AntsNational]

To view this colony's progress, check out my website at Hyperlinks sind nur für registrierte Nutzer sichtbar ! ALSO make sure to visit "International World of Ants" on facebook!

The queen have begun to lay eggs, and the pupae are nearing their eclosing!

PS Thx for the comments guys!!

Cheers,
Vasi

[Bobdol]

I did not realise Formica sanguinea were native to Canada...

[AntsNational]

They are not, but I'm studying the social behaviours of adopted workers to their queens (and then social behaviours of adopted workers in contrast to their previous behaviours towards F. sanguinea workers) in regards to the colony founding.
Understand?


Edit Uta - post from 15:52

Also to update,

The F. fusca colony is growing and has reached a number which I cannot guestimate, there are many ants. The F. sanguinea colony is still rather small with about a little over 20 workers. There are only 2-3 surviving original (assisted in colony founding) F. fusca workers left.

[AntsNational]

Upon entering hibernation these colonies have had a bittersweet growing season.

The F. fusca colony has grown to well over 150 workers in its first year, which is extremely impressive! The F. sanguinea 3queen colony has diminished to 2 queens, I left them to my girlfriend when I went on a trip and one queen (and the workers) gradually perished. I don't know why since she was taking care of them under the feeding schedule I laid out for her. Regardless, this colony is now coming back. The two queens survived and now have a fresh set of F. fusca workers to aid them. Hopefully new eggs will be laid soon, I think there will be!