ANTSTORE World of Ants

[SteveUK28]

Ok folks, pics and updates on my ants coming up

Firstly we have my Formica gagates, well i think thats what they are perhaps some1 can confirm it?


Still in a test tube and just a few workers...

Next we have my Messor ebeninus, few workers and a minor i think, not very active tho but really lovely ants



Next its my Pheidole pallidula, currently in a ytong setup and growing very strong.






Now my favs at the mo, Myrimica rubra. Im not sure how many there is now i would estimate at least 500 workers and there is at least 6 queens.








Now my Myrmica ruginodis, im still not sure if there is a queen or not, tell me if you can see one in the pics.






Last but not least is my Camponotus substitutus, i love these ants but they dont seem to be growing very fast i only have like 5 workers now



And lastly my lovely Camponotus vagus, Doing very well now Skippy with 7 workers and still some large larvae and a fair few eggs

[Skippy]

Nice photos Steve :) , and in ruginodis colony is queen 100 percent on first pircute in the corner , and on forth picture at center , nice one

[gabranth]

i can see a queen in most of the pics

[JimmyVe]

Very nice pictures Steve. Try to keep them a bit smaller next time, so they fit into the screen, Thanks bud.

[SteveUK28]

NP jimmy.. i was testing out my photo bucket links.. as i had so many i didnt wanna be using antstore thing as it would have taken ages

Glad u like them tho.. and can anyone say if they are Formica gagates ?

[Skippy]

Steve... , Formica gagates is very similar to Formica fusca on first look. But that is it gagates you need to compare. Fusca is making nests only under stones or in wood , gagates that same , but it making also cca 30-40 cm nests hills on ground. Also , formica fusca is polygyn a lot of time , but gagates is monogyn (could be polygyn , but it is rare). Now when is colony small , workers looks like fusca young workers , but when colony will grow up to 150/200 + , there will start differents. I can go to nature and make some photos if you want , gagates are very polymorph , in the nest are workers 4-6mm and the biggest are up to 9-11 mm , like Formica sanguinea or wooden ants . Dont have scare about this. When you are in nature , there are more differents when you can compare. Fusca queens are not so much light-black like gagates queens , also gagates queens are a bit bigger. Hmm ... what more to say? I do not know. Gagates legs are a bit to red colour , when are bigger workers , you can see it on queen under bigger light

[SteveUK28]

well bud u sent me them so u should know...

[Skippy]

if you do not believe , you can look on taxon ... firstly I thought it is formica lemani , but it do not live there by my friend myrmecologist , he told it is this gagates , only by that nest-style

[SteveUK28]

lol it dont worry me what they are.. i think they are really nicely coloured.. shame they dont come out much tho..

[mpir]

Great photos Steve. It seem that you are taking really good care of all of them. I love your M. rubra colony - they must have some apetit to feed all that larva.

[SteveUK28]

ohh hell yes lol.. they can easy take 4 crickets a day and still want more.