Acromyrmex Octospinosus (Arrowing)

Let everyone see the story of your colony(ies) over time. Pictures, developments, success and failures, what works / what doesn't, and your plans for expansion as time goes by!
Post Reply
Arrowing
Larva
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:17 pm

Re: Acromyrmex Octospinosus (Arrowing)

Post by Arrowing » Mon Oct 28, 2019 12:06 pm

Hi all update on day 8

Activity is booming! A lot to report acually
-The thrashguys are nonstop at work,
- They cut 4 willow leaves (salix alba) during the night, and took most of the clementine whites (the ultimate favorite) and some oats
- They cut a few clovers (trifolium) as well and they use the leaves and the stem.

While i'm writing this they are cutting everything in their nestbox and putting it in the fungus.
The queen is barely visible since they are building around her.
20191028_121200-1032x774.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
1 colony Lasius Niger +-100
1 starting colony Acromyrmex Octospinosus
https://photosynthesis.photoproofpro.com/gallery/100093

Kalidas
Pupa
Posts: 78
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2018 5:14 pm

Re: Acromyrmex Octospinosus (Arrowing)

Post by Kalidas » Mon Oct 28, 2019 9:01 pm

Woah! So much growth in such a short time? They look amazing, keep up the good work

Arrowing
Larva
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:17 pm

Re: Acromyrmex Octospinosus (Arrowing)

Post by Arrowing » Tue Oct 29, 2019 3:23 pm

Hi all, Update on day 9

We cleaned out the feeding/garbage cube (forgot to make pictures)
The thrash was piling up a bit, first removed all the old leaves and the feeding trays then vacuumed all the thrash and then cleaned everything with water. Apparently that was a small mistake,... because now they start to deposit their thrash in the tube (connecting feed/garbage cube with the nestcube) :roll: i hope they will change their mind on that soon (the tube is very hard to clean due to the narrowing part)
Also removed a few (black/thready)moulding rose petals from the nestcube.

Fungus today: im really surprised how the fungus changes color daily (even constantly) :D
20191029_150632-1032x774.jpg


There was a little bit less damp today so i could take a photo from the nestbox
Its a huge mess inside:
-Stones that fell inside from their earlier building rage (they keep them inside)
-leaves waiting to be cut and processed, also piles of whitered leaves in the corners (i think they keep it for humidity reasons?)
They will clean it out themselves as the fungus grows (I guess?)
20191029_150658-1032x774.jpg
They take clover, willow and blackberry leaves (wet stuff) and oats, clementine white, dried rosepetals and broken flax seeds (dry stuff)
Everything else they leave untouched (so far) but we keep the variety up.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
1 colony Lasius Niger +-100
1 starting colony Acromyrmex Octospinosus
https://photosynthesis.photoproofpro.com/gallery/100093

User avatar
Acromyrmexbob
Site Admin
Posts: 2199
Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2015 10:32 pm

Re: Acromyrmex Octospinosus (Arrowing)

Post by Acromyrmexbob » Tue Oct 29, 2019 10:43 pm

If they are taking leaves I would like to see the fungus garden a little darker. Cant make my mind up about the fungus. If they are adding orange pith then white is fine. But hungry, unfed fungus is white and yours looks a little fluffy which can mean the ants arent feeding it. Is there another angle for a picture? As I say, cant really say from the pics. Have you seen the ants using the leaves on the fungus or just seen that they cut. It can be the case that the foragers cut leaves but the gardeners do not use them. I am sure everything is fine, just curious at the colour.

Atta solider
Worker
Posts: 475
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 9:30 am

Re: Acromyrmex Octospinosus (Arrowing)

Post by Atta solider » Thu Oct 31, 2019 10:53 am

As Andrew pointed out there is no dark on the fungus where they be adding leaf bits to it you see the fungus turning darker on top when they are adding new bits. how is the temp and humidity. Have you tried rose leafs or privet as I did and they added them to the fungus.

Arrowing
Larva
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:17 pm

Re: Acromyrmex Octospinosus (Arrowing)

Post by Arrowing » Thu Oct 31, 2019 11:25 am

Hi all, another update on day 10 and 11,

They went mad for clovers! :D 3 ants were continuosly cutting and transporting clover to the nestbox
Their the smaller workers took over and cutted them smaller. Really nice to observe
20191029_182053-1032x774.jpg
The fungus does indeed look fluffy and white, we can see them putting small white pieces inside the fungus so i think they are still building it.
You might be right about the harvesters cutting and the gardeners not using the leaves. There is always a pile of fresh leaves next to the fungus They do use the clementine whites, oath flakes and clover everything else they wont touch (they have daily fresh leaves 3 to 5 different types)

Cant upload the big resolution picts (2mb+) so i resize them to +-150kb otherwise the forum rejects them :?

20191030_092137-1032x774.jpg
20191031_100105-1032x774.jpg
Seems a bit more greyish today
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
1 colony Lasius Niger +-100
1 starting colony Acromyrmex Octospinosus
https://photosynthesis.photoproofpro.com/gallery/100093

Arrowing
Larva
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:17 pm

Re: Acromyrmex Octospinosus (Arrowing)

Post by Arrowing » Thu Oct 31, 2019 2:28 pm

[attachment=0]Screenshot 2019-10-31
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
1 colony Lasius Niger +-100
1 starting colony Acromyrmex Octospinosus
https://photosynthesis.photoproofpro.com/gallery/100093

Atta solider
Worker
Posts: 475
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 9:30 am

Re: Acromyrmex Octospinosus (Arrowing)

Post by Atta solider » Fri Nov 01, 2019 9:04 am

Looking good, can see there new bits they added on the nest

Atta solider
Worker
Posts: 475
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2015 9:30 am

Re: Acromyrmex Octospinosus (Arrowing)

Post by Atta solider » Fri Nov 01, 2019 9:18 am

Tip for you don't take all the waste out of the pod leave a small bit in it so they no it's there waste pod as I used to do as they knew where to put it.

Arrowing
Larva
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Oct 04, 2019 5:17 pm

Re: Acromyrmex Octospinosus (Arrowing)

Post by Arrowing » Fri Nov 01, 2019 3:30 pm

Our ants have discovered a new passion: curly endive
Here are some action pics
Screenshot 2019-11-01 at 13.22.13.png
Screenshot 2019-11-01 at 13.22.05.png
Screenshot 2019-11-01 at 13.21.54-160x88.png
Thanks for the tip @atta soldier
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
1 colony Lasius Niger +-100
1 starting colony Acromyrmex Octospinosus
https://photosynthesis.photoproofpro.com/gallery/100093

Post Reply