14 replies to this topic

[AntsSoutheast]

The queen I got has her first, nanitics, and they are major workers and they don't want to forage. I am worried about the health of the colony. Please help!

The major just hang around with the queen.  

[ANTdrew]

Can you give a bit more background?
What species?
What are they living in?
What temp?
What are you feeding them?

[AntsSoutheast]

Pheidole sp

A test tube inside a foraging area

34 Celsius

honey drop

 

I'm very worried for their health.

[ANTdrew]

That’s kind of odd that she would start with only majors. I would advise placing the food directly in the tube on a piece of foil or paper towel. Offer some protein as well. Keep in mind that a tiny colony will feed very little.

[BlueLance213]

Could it just be normal workers that are just bigger than expected? I mean it would be awesome if its a genetic mutation causing only majors though.

 

It could also be they are eating but only a small amount and you are not seeing it? I found if i chop anything up that mainly gooey I never see them feeding on it because of how little time they need to spend processing it.

[ponerinecat]

Majors as nanitics. I highly doubt that. If they are indeed majors, this is completely normal, as majors prefer to hang around and do nothing. In the absence of workers they will switch to a more helpful role, however. I think that there's no need to worry. New colonies don't like to risk their workers as much and thus don't forage as much. It's also likely that they are indeed eating any food you give them, if only a little bit. My founding Pheidole didn't finish a pinhead sized drop of honey for a couple of weeks.

[RushmoreAnts]

Majors as nanitics. I highly doubt that. If they are indeed majors, this is completely normal, as majors prefer to hang around and do nothing. In the absence of workers they will switch to a more helpful role, however. I think that there's no need to worry. New colonies don't like to risk their workers as much and thus don't forage as much. It's also likely that they are indeed eating any food you give them, if only a little bit. My founding Pheidole didn't finish a pinhead sized drop of honey for a couple of weeks.

I agree. Let the queen get a few more workers before drawing a conclusion. Also, young workers tend to be much more shy and timid, as they are pretty inexperienced. And nanitics in particular don't have any other workers to do anything for them, and therefore have to figure out everything on their own. My Camponotus vicinus nanitic didn't start foraging until more than two weeks after it eclosed. As time passed, however, she became more bold, and now I see her forage once every 1-2 days at least.

Edited by AntsDakota, September 19 2020 - 9:11 AM.

[AntsSoutheast]

They are obviously major workers. If you look at their head it is almost bigger than their body. I find this kind of weird

[ANTdrew]

That’s really odd. Did you buy a queen that already had minor workers but lost them?

[Ants_Dakota]

or maybe someone brood boosted it before you bought it.

[BlueLance213]

I am thinking the same as Ants Dakota, I mean its a lot of energy to produce majors, I'm surprised the queen even managed to raise them.

[ANTdrew]

Yes, I think you may be on to something, Ants_Dakota.

[AntsSoutheast]

The queen focused all her energy on one egg. Its pretty weird

[Swirlysnowflake]

The queen focused all her energy on one egg. Its pretty weird

this thread is from september but i was wondering if you have any pics?

[steam_funk]

My Obscurithorax colony barely foraged in the beginning even with majors so I gave them food at the entrance to their nest. They seem to prefer live food in the early stages so try offering a injured small insect. Their "hunger" tends to grow exponentially so if you can feed them a few times it should stop being a problem. I have had particular luck using crickets, mealworms, super-worms, and grasshoppers.