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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2013 4:47:18 GMT 1
Hey everyone! Sorry my activity will be a bit low for the next few days- I'm holidaying on a houseboat in the middle of a large lake!! Very interesting and fun- and something happened today that I thought you might find interesting.
It was the morning and we were having a swim. Dragonflies were all around us mating, it was very interesting. But after I threw the ball for a bit, I noticed a queen ant had flown and landed next to me! In the middle of a lake!
I picked her up so she wouldn't drown and while she was crawling on me, another one landed too. Two queens! Lucky, right?
In my experience, queens I've found stranded in bodies of water (pools, etc) tend to have fallen before they managed to mate. Buts its certainly interesting how far a single colony can spread its seed through flying, isn't it?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2013 12:20:34 GMT 1
Cool, enjoy you holiday Charlie hope all is well, my ants are still in hibernation so these been hardly any actively there
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2013 12:50:24 GMT 1
that explains why you haven't been on so much Dr.ant, because your ants ar hibernating you hvent got much to say at the moment.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2013 0:56:00 GMT 1
that and ive been very busy recently, my works picked up alot, been doing alot of art work recently and i been spending alot of time working on my facebook page promoting my work and so. yes i just been to check on the ants today the all huddled in the lowest chamber the queen and the eggs and the workers they moving around but they seem just to stay there. hope everything is well with you all
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2013 4:42:20 GMT 1
Thanks for the well wishes, Doctor! It's been very nice, after several beers last night in midnight on the boat, two more queens landed on me! Must be thriving times for insects in these uncivilised bush parts!!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2013 11:09:41 GMT 1
sounds like you are going to have to buy a few more ant farm there charlie
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2013 18:17:09 GMT 1
Any guesses as to their species? Description, location, ect.?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2013 23:48:17 GMT 1
Even photos? Haha.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2013 3:59:05 GMT 1
Will have photos when I get back!! They definitely seem like a pretty small camponotus species- distinct black bodies with orange legs. Maybe about between the size of a house ant queen and a larger camponotus species. Very cute, will show a photo or two when I get back!
As for the location, they were located in Myal Lake in NSW in Australia. They would have flown over from land, which seems to be a marsh or swamp-like environment. Might try and trek into one sometime to see the type of ecosystem in there!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2013 3:47:29 GMT 1
Here we go guys, a picture: So I'm thinking a relative to sugar ants (camponotus). What do you all think?
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Post by Myrm on Jan 7, 2013 3:55:36 GMT 1
Unfortunately I can't see any of the pictures
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2013 7:12:20 GMT 1
Most certainly Camponotus! Great find! I see that she has started laying. Very good signs. I'm not familiar with Australian Camponotus species, but if you could get a measurement and side shot of her I might be able to give you an ID.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2013 10:55:47 GMT 1
Sounds good Limes, here's a side shot for you to have a crack! She is just over 1cm long, maybe about 12-13 mm.
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