Shane's: Project Formica lemani.

[shane]

Log: 26.09.2014

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I've been picking Lemani queens up though out summer, Have a total of around 12 queens all in the same large test tube.

6 of them have lost there wings as the other 6 still have there wings so 50/50.

Woody was right about the winged queens seem to take on the workers jobs by going out foraging, but at night but the queens was eating there own eggs the wingless ones ><

I did give this colony a small booster of workers this week as they was some roaming around close to where I keep seeing new queens on wall time to time and tested one of workers with a queen and instantly accepted them so in some way they are related,

And I'm hoping this will put a stop to the queens from eating there newly laid eggs even the food don't seem to stop them eating

there eggs   from months I keep them so I'm trying this next option of workers, Workers in total only 6 captured to see if there will help to prevent queens from eating there own eggs.

This Colony only seem to like syrup and flies.

The workers was added to colony on 22.09.2014.

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Update Log: 26.09.2014

The nest its self does seem messy, Even the camera had a hard time trying to focus.

And with success to some added workers

I started to see eggs in small balls and the odd ones scattered all over there nest, and it looks like they stopped eating them I hope.

Some of the added workers out side of nest test tube with a winged queen foraging for food.

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So far they doing fine  and looks like they could do well for a mixed queen colony.

No deaths or workers picking on queens.

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[shane]

Log:29.09.2014

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Starting to call this colony Lemmings  for some reason.

Anyhow the Project Formica lemani colony are starting to now grow thanks to the boost ;-|no eating of eggs so far,

and at end of or near end of next month the new workers should be ready.

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Little PS:

All the new queen colony's I have from summer are now at there starting stage of forming a colony and around the same time.

All colony's except this one have over 30 workers and some over 50, Seems having them in a empty box like tank set up with just a test tube in for there nest works really well .

The next stage for all the new colony's will be a timed one, with out growing there set up's. Some will like the Messor's and Camponotus's and others won't like the flavus and maybe lemani but will see

[shane]

Log: 07.10.2014

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These girls are still very active, Seems the workers have placed out the eggs away from the queens and not in any orders

Just scattered around    I don't know why and messy, But the workers inspected them all time as they walk over them

and even the larvae's.

Heres some Photo's of there messy egg lay out.

As talking photo's a worker finally was tidying up the eggs in to a eggs ball.

Some of the queens inspecting and workers.

When I taken photo's of there messy egg lay out in day at Night the colony are very active.

Like cockroaches they run for cover when you switch light on     and miss the active fuss

with food when I try and get a photo of them or a movie.

The cotton bud was covered in queens, Soon as I put light on they all run to take cover 

they are a messy colony and fun to watch at night when colony get busy when its food time, But hard to take photo's

cos they shy to light or movement , And Yes they seem to have very good eye sight running for cover with just movement

from that comes in room.

Hope in time they will learn not to be as shy  and then can take a video of them foraging or eating or drinking

as a group.

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Edit: Formica lemani, seem to have the best eye sight from my other colony's I look after. I only have to wave my hand

from a range and they take cover , Again I hope over time they won't run for cover.

[shane]

Log:14.10.2014

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No real change to this colony.

Still very active and the queens still demanding food and larvae are growing but slow it seems with it been colder now.

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[shane]

Oct 16, 2014 19:32:18 GMT shane said:

Log: 16.10.2014

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Theas ant's are still very active, But seems the queens have got to all the eggs and eaten them  and out of all that

only 3 larvae they seem to be caring for. they still laying eggs all time and scattered all over there home, But colony by now

must have had over 100s of eggs but eaten by queens maybe to keep to a small number.

Seems this colony keep to a small number no matter how many queens are in a group colony maybe reason why they branch

apart.

I do find this ant species more intelligent then rest I look after cos of way they behave and that's in communication with one another,

Touch like talking with antennas with one another almost all time.

Colony also sent out small party's to forage always in 2's or a little more like for back up never alone like watching each others backs,

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Photo's of this colony

As you can see, colony have split in to 2 small groups and queens still laying eggs all over .

One group in test tube with new eggs all over and a group out to bottom left.

 

I have added some more workers I forgot to log from weekend to try and boost start this colony to 12 workers now.

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[shane]

Log: 19.11.2014

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This colony seem fine and hugged up either in side test tube there home nest or out side where cotton is.

This colony seem to be in hibernation but time to time they can be a little active.

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[shane]

Log: 08.03.2015

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This colony is still alive and well.

Still in semi hibernation, But I found out unlike other ant colony's that keep there nest clean,   Formica lemani don't .

they will move around and find another clean place once there nest gets to dirty and move on to a clean place again till that's dirty so on

like travellers.

 This behave ya in there nest makes it very hard to keep as pets for a colony cos of danger of mould and fungus building up over time

that will kill colony at some point if not kept clean as I have cleaned them out about 6 times now cos of mess they make and also they don't have

or seem to make a garbage zone with just leaving scraps in there nest.

The colony seem to be laying lots of eggs  but I know some of them will be eaten as food too.

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Best set up for this colony cos they so messy and like to move there nest around a lot like travellers cos of way there leave there nest in a state

after so long.

Its best to have 2 basins with 1 been a nest as well as a foraging tank in one cos they move around leaving a smelly mess, So when one becomes to

dirty you can connect the other basin the clean one for them to move in too when the first basin becomes to messy that the colony will end up moving out

to a clean place to start up there colony so on.

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[shane]

Log: 08.03.2015

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Forgot to post up photo's

As you can see some of colony have moved out side and some are in there clean test tube.

Still in Semi hibernation and a little active and always on move once it gets a little dirty where they roost.

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