Neoponera apicalis - Pachycondyla apicalis
Sept 16, 2015 23:17:46 GMT
Jenny, Zarbi, and 2 more like this
Post by occultus on Sept 16, 2015 23:17:46 GMT
Well I finally did it! I finally ordered a colony of my favourite ant 'Neoponera apicalis'.
For over a year now I have visited all of the ant shops on a daily basis in the hopes to find this species for sale.
I was just making my usual rounds ;checking Antskalytta and I couldn't believe that they were in stock. A small colony of N.apicalis with 5-10 workers. After waiting so long for this ant I had to buy them then and there. It has cost me a hefty £204 including shipping, which is insane for an ant but I know they will provide me with great viewing pleasure for years to come..hopefully ?
Heres a the description from Kalytta:
"Big and long- legged antspecies that combines several preferences of other antspecies. Pachycondyla apicalis have almost the same visual ability as Myrmecia (bulldogant), furthermore apicalis is highly adaptive (learns quick to accept food offered by hand) and is able to stridulate clearly hearable just as Paraponera and Atta.Unlike to most of the other antspecies apicalis do not depend on chemical traces because it predominantly navigate by the use of visual orientation.While transportation of prey back to the nest they use the alternative to jump off a twig and is stil able to find their way home after short reorientation (subjective study).This antspecies use the ability to lead conspecifics through tandem walks and do hunt single and also in packs.Pachycondyla apicalis is unique and not comparable with other Pachycondyla species".
The queen and workers are 2cm long with golden antennas. The workers will also lay eggs and produce males within the colony.
They even have been rumoured to have the ability to produce a fertile queen in a queenless colony of workers
I once watched this species on YouTube climb inside a bird water dispenser and walk around submerged underwater foraging and then it climbed back out after a minute.
Sorry for ranting on , I'm quite excited about getting this species. I shall update upon their arrival sometime next week.
For over a year now I have visited all of the ant shops on a daily basis in the hopes to find this species for sale.
I was just making my usual rounds ;checking Antskalytta and I couldn't believe that they were in stock. A small colony of N.apicalis with 5-10 workers. After waiting so long for this ant I had to buy them then and there. It has cost me a hefty £204 including shipping, which is insane for an ant but I know they will provide me with great viewing pleasure for years to come..hopefully ?
Heres a the description from Kalytta:
"Big and long- legged antspecies that combines several preferences of other antspecies. Pachycondyla apicalis have almost the same visual ability as Myrmecia (bulldogant), furthermore apicalis is highly adaptive (learns quick to accept food offered by hand) and is able to stridulate clearly hearable just as Paraponera and Atta.Unlike to most of the other antspecies apicalis do not depend on chemical traces because it predominantly navigate by the use of visual orientation.While transportation of prey back to the nest they use the alternative to jump off a twig and is stil able to find their way home after short reorientation (subjective study).This antspecies use the ability to lead conspecifics through tandem walks and do hunt single and also in packs.Pachycondyla apicalis is unique and not comparable with other Pachycondyla species".
The queen and workers are 2cm long with golden antennas. The workers will also lay eggs and produce males within the colony.
They even have been rumoured to have the ability to produce a fertile queen in a queenless colony of workers
I once watched this species on YouTube climb inside a bird water dispenser and walk around submerged underwater foraging and then it climbed back out after a minute.
Sorry for ranting on , I'm quite excited about getting this species. I shall update upon their arrival sometime next week.