9 replies to this topic

[Foogoo]

1) Does the queen do anything for the eggs other than protect them? Do they essentially develop into larvae on their own?

2) Do queens or workers know their eggs from stranger's eggs?

3) Some of my queens either got messy with their honey water or picked a fight with the cotton and their eggs are in a tiny bit of moisture. Is that ok or are those doomed?

[dean_k]

1. I've seen queens relocate eggs. It could be for more moisture. But a queen basically does nothing to the egg. Eggs will turn into larvae on their own, provided that the eggs were fertilized of course.

 

2. Yes, workers and queens know which eggs are of their own. If you give a colony another ant colony's eggs, they will eat them quickly. Ant eggs are a good source of protein for ants.

 

3. I think egg themselves are okay even if it's submerged in liquid but larvae will quickly die, I assume. Larvae does have limited ability for movement, so they could get themselves out of there but it really depends on species. Some species' larvae are completely immobile while some other species' larvae have limited ability of movement (wiggling). Some other species' larvae can move around on their own even.

[Ants4fun]

1.The queen 'licks' her eggs with special anti-biotic 'saliva' (I don't know the proper term) like stuff. Without her the eggs would die.

 

2. Many times workers and queens will adopt eggs, larvae, and pupae of other ant colonies of the same species. Even different species it sometimes happens, such as the case with parasitic queens.

 

3. It depends on how much moisture. In my experience, eggs that were submerged died.

 

 

I don't want to sound contradictory...

Edited by Ants4fun, March 19 2015 - 7:16 PM.

[Nick0809]

 my Camponotus queens are boosted for max growth....even though they are over a hundred workers. there are adoptions sometimes of brood.

[Foogoo]

Welp, the one I thought wouldn't make it is fine but a whole 'nother Dorymyrmex insanus queen was discovered drowned in a single drop, I'm not even sure of water, water? Leftover honey? Anyway, she has about 7 or so eggs I'm thinking of boosting to another queen. Do you think that would work? At the very least, the queen can eat them right?

[dean_k]

If the eggs are from the same species, it will work.

 

If it's from different species, one of two things will happen. The queen will eat the eggs or will adopt it and when worker is born, she will be killed. (Of course, I am not talking about parasitic species.)

[Mercutia]

1. Eggs cannot be left unattended. The queen constantly is caring for them, and keeping bacteria and fungus from growing on them. If not they will go bad and die. They can't just develop on their own, they need to be cared for.

2. I've noticed that when eggs and larvae and pupae are first introduced to a nest, there is a decision on whether they are put with the brood pile or eaten. I think at the beginning while they still smell like another colony, there is a distinction. The longer they stay into the nest, the longer they pick up the host colony scent and become indistinguishable despite any special difference.

3. It's possible the queen may still find them and pull them out but I've found often times if they are left alone, they will go bad and die.

[antsinmypants]

Here's a stupid question that I have been meaning to ask: do eggs increase in size/mass before becoming larvae? In other words, does cellular division occur to increase the size and mass of the egg and if so, where and how does the egg get its nutrients to do this?

[dspdrew]

I've never read about exactly what happens here, but I will tell you what I usually see. The eggs don't seem to "hatch", but instead they seem to just turn into larvae. You can tell this is happening, when the egg starts to get a little elongated and curved. You also will notice some areas opaque and some more clear. The next thing you know, you have full on larvae, hairs and all.

[Jonathan21700]

I've never read about exactly what happens here, but I will tell you what I usually see. The eggs don't seem to "hatch", but instead they seem to just turn into larvae. You can tell this is happening, when the egg starts to get a little elongated and curved. You also will notice some areas opaque and some more clear. The next thing you know, you have full on larvae, hairs and all.

True.