1 reply to this topic

[Tfisupe]

I have recently acquired 5 atta Texanas but after a week there is no sign of fungus or eggs, at least that I can see. Should I be more patient or am I in trouble?

[Ferox_Formicae]

I have recently acquired 5 atta Texanas but after a week there is no sign of fungus or eggs, at least that I can see. Should I be more patient or am I in trouble?

I have personally never kept Atta myself, but have done lots of research on the genus and am a keeper of two related Attine species, Cyphomyrmex rimosus and Trachymyrmex septentrionalis, so I may be able to help. I am sure that the queens do, in fact, have fungus, as the queens are fully claustral and would have no reason to not have any fungus, unlike queens of semi-claustral genera such as Acromyrmex or Trachymyrmex. I would suggest giving these queens as much privacy as possible, and only checking on them once a week, if even that. If you are patient, your queens will spit out their fungal pellet and eventually lay eggs. Also, be sure the queens are kept in a nest that is well hydrated, as if the nest is not well hydrated, the queens will never bother spitting out their fungal pellet and will eventually die without producing anything. I suggest keeping them on hydrostone or some other form of plaster, just something that retainly humidity well. I wish you the best of luck with these queens!