23 replies to this topic

[MinigunL5]

 

I have a Lasius aphidicola colony with several hundred host workers. When I first got up this morning, the workers were grooming the queen like she was their own (like they have for the past week), yet an hour later, they were trying to bite her in every possible vulnerable spot! What could've changed? 

Did you capture these host workers yourself or were they already there when you received her? And why/how does she have so many hosts?

That is a lot of host workers.

[RushmoreAnts]

I have a Lasius aphidicola colony with several hundred host workers. When I first got up this morning, the workers were grooming the queen like she was their own (like they have for the past week), yet an hour later, they were trying to bite her in every possible vulnerable spot! What could've changed?

Did you capture these host workers yourself or were they already there when you received her? And why/how does she have so many hosts?

I captured the hosts myself. But as I said above, I replaced them with an even greater number of americanus hosts, and they’re getting along greater than she ever did with the neoniger hosts. I figured that lots of hosts would be more natural, as they usually infiltrate colonies of this size or larger.

[RushmoreAnts]

All is well with the new hosts. I even got an OKish pic of the queen, amidst all those hosts:

I believe there is a 'crease' (if you'd call it that) in the queen's gaster, indicating the beginning of physogastrism. 

 

 

Edited by AntsDakota, May 24 2020 - 5:54 AM.

[RushmoreAnts]

I actually think that worker by the queen’s gaster may be grooming her. Not sure, though.........