10 replies to this topic

[lpst]

Hey everyone, my Solenopsis Xyloni queen I found a little over a year ago, although was very slow starting until after winter, founded a very healthy and hungry colony. About four days ago I noticed they stopped eating, then they stopped coming out of the nest, then today i found the queen evacuating the nest and the whole colony was dead. I put her in a test tube setup and put the brood (unsure if alive) in a separate small founding cell as i'm afraid that with all the stress Queenie might eat them. I did offer a few random food items in the week prior, some new beetles I found, which they seemed to love, and a roach, they didn't like at all. I also gave them a pinch of organic bird seed mix they liked to pick through but they ignored it for the most part so I took it out. They seemed perfectly fine during all this time. So... Question one: If she survives, will she need workers to continue? or should i just feed her small amounts of foods and let her start over alone?

And, Question two: Should I attempt to put the brood in with her? or assume it's contaminated and/or she may eat them, so keep them separate until ants appear and then combine them? Any other advice anyone would like to throw my way? Thank you all for the wonderful information thus far. 

[AntPhycho]

I did offer a few random food items in the week prior, some new beetles I found, which they seemed to love, and a roach, they didn't like at all. 

Where did you find these beetles and roach?

[lpst]

 

I did offer a few random food items in the week prior, some new beetles I found, which they seemed to love, and a roach, they didn't like at all. 

Where did you find these beetles and roach?

 

in my shop, we live in the country and don't use any kind of chemicals or house sprays. the worst thing you'd find is vinegar and tabasco sauce spray on the roses. I have been feeding them in that way all year, just going out at night with a flashlight and finding bugs for them. I try to mix it up a bit but still give them things they prefer when I can. 

[AntPhycho]

Although you don't use any chemicals or house sprays, there is always the chance someone else did and the bugs wandered into your shop. It usually isn't ever a good idea to feed wild insects even if you believe they are safe. Mites are also a possibility, they can kill entire colonies very fast. These mites could have been introduced through your wild insects.

[lpst]

Although you don't use any chemicals or house sprays, there is always the chance someone else did and the bugs wandered into your shop. It usually isn't ever a good idea to feed wild insects even if you believe they are safe. Mites are also a possibility, they can kill entire colonies very fast. These mites could have been introduced through your wild insects.

I see, its definitely a possibility. If you don't me asking, what in your opinion would be the best source to get them quality food? I don't really want to just give them feeder crickets and mealworms (only thing available here) but its better than the Xyloni holocaust.

[Mdrogun]

People are so quick to jump on you for the bugs you're feeding them being contaminated, but I really doubt that's the issue. Why would pesticides kill only the workers, but not the queen or brood? That makes no sense. Especially since the queen and brood are more sensitive to conditions than workers are typically. Sometimes ants die and we don't know why. There have even been cases where the half the colony just starts fighting the other half of the colony. A bit of a "civil war."

It is also quite a concern to me that your colony was only at 50 workers after more than a year. That is absolutely tiny for a colony of this age for this species.

 

Your best bet right now would be to combine the queen with her brood. Small, soft-bodied insects, like fruit flies, would be the best source of food for her until she gets workers again. You can try feeding a bit of sugar water if she will accept it.

 

Your queen may be completely doomed. It depends a lot on the species, but often times, if my queen loses her workers it seems like she doesn't know how to play that forager-queen-care taker role and things go south  .

 

Good luck

[drtrmiller]

Nest and outside ambient temperature play a huge role in foraging activity for Solenopsis.  Were they kept warm?

 

Also, when ants become dehydrated, they will typically first try to vigorously escape, and then when they are critically low on water, the workers often retreat to the nest and huddle together until they die.

[Manitobant]

Solenopsis xyloni colonies are known to unexpectedly die sometimes for unknown reasons. Maybe that’s what happened.

Edited by Manitobant, June 23 2019 - 6:39 AM.

[lpst]

Thanks everyone, it was 106 degrees outside but about 77-80 in the room they were in. They had water, and it was fairly humid in the nest. I cleaned it out an found some white fuzzy mold so it may have been that. Either way the queen is pretty bad at this point but still moving slightly so ill keep her as long as she’s alive, but I don’t see her pulling through.

[lpst]

It is also quite a concern to me that your colony was only at 50 workers after more than a year. That is absolutely tiny for a colony of this age for this species.
 
Your best bet right now would be to combine the queen with her brood. Small, soft-bodied insects, like fruit flies, would be the best source of food for her until she gets workers again. You can try feeding a bit of sugar water if she will accept it.
 
Your queen may be completely doomed. It depends a lot on the species, but often times, if my queen loses her workers it seems like she doesn't know how to play that forager-queen-care taker role and things go south  .
 
Good luck

I felt that as well, she ate her first two clutches of brood, then nothing from her through the winter then in march she started laying and although slow for a S.Xyloni the offspring seemed to be very healthy and active.

[lpst]

Quick update, my Queen died. Thanks for all the replies everyone, have a great summer!