Tapinoma melanocephalum

6/21/08
Flipped over a mat I had outside and found a new colony of Tapinoma melanocephalum
that had recently budded off from their main colony.
There was no brood and the queen still had a small gaster.
There was about 50 workers and I captured 20.
They are now resting in a test tube now feeding off sugar water.
6/22/08
The queen has already begun laying eggs and they have around 7 eggs.
3 injured workers have died.
8/28/08
These guys grow just as fast as fire ants!
They started out with 20 workers and already have 100+ workers. Thats pretty fast for a colony with only 1 small queen. I'd say there are now 50 pupae and larvae, and of course many, many eggs.