24 replies to this topic

[xXxWrathxXx]

21/10/2020

 

So, first time keeping Mermecia of any kind and also first time keeping a Semi-Claustral queen. Bold move i know. But i found this queen early spring this year foraging in my backyard and i couldn't resist, so i put her in a test tube with some honey and within the first 2-3 hours she had laid 2 eggs. after 3 days she had laid 6 or 7 eggs and was eager for a feed so i gave her some honey as a first meal and set her aside for another 3 days. about 2 weeks went by and one of the eggs had hatched into larvae. i was so happy to see them progressing at such a fast pace as it can take up to 4 weeks for eggs to hatch. another 2 weeks went by and every egg had hatched and the queen had moved all the babys into the larvae circle (a signature thing i have found most large ants to is move all the larvae into a position where its easier to feed them) One week later brings us to two days ago where i saw the fattest larvae I've ever seen, it looks close to spinning a cocoon and ill check later today to Take photos and see if its begun to pupate. I'm so glad that they have progressed so fast because I've heard it can take up to 3-4 months to get where they are now. Photos will be shared later today.

Edited by xXxWrathxXx, October 25 2020 - 3:21 PM.

[Kaelwizard]

Have you given them protein? Feeder insects would be best.

[RushmoreAnts]

Have you given them protein? Feeder insects would be best.

I don't believe they could have thrived on anything but protein. Larvae couldn't grow that fast on carbs alone.

Edited by AntsDakota, October 21 2020 - 7:26 AM.

[xXxWrathxXx]

Yes i do feed them protein, usually mealworms but sometimes a small cricket. Also photos! (sorry for the poor quality) 

https://imgur.com/a/OiVaDFS

Edited by xXxWrathxXx, October 21 2020 - 3:11 PM.

[xXxWrathxXx]

26/10/2020

 

Heyo everyone, The colony is doing really well so far, still no pupae sadly but the larvae are getting really big which I'm excited for. I'm finding the queen goes out for food a lot more now and isn't taking as much sugar/sugary foods as she used to so I've been giving her food every 2-3 days instead of every 3-4. No new eggs which is normal for these guys around this time as the queens tend to focus on their small first gen primarily. No pictures today because I've disturbed her a bit cleaning out the garbage pile she's made (and also doesn't like me touching) ill see if i can get photos tomorrow or when i feed her again.

[KitsAntVa]

So cool! I hear these are the most aggressive ants on earth. One of my favorite ants despite.

[xXxWrathxXx]

Yeah, they have the 8th most painful sting in the ant world. the first being Myrmecia Pyroformis which I'm praying to find a queen this summer.

[KitsAntVa]

Eeeeee I wish i could keep these though, I already have killer ants anyway.... 

[Antkeeper01]

me to

welp at least Have had queens of P. occidentalis and will have them next year

[KitsAntVa]

Dang they died, sorry to hear that they are really fun next year if you can either catch or buy some from THA its worth it just make sure you have a mini hearth ready to use.

[KitsAntVa]

Ps. don't stick your finger in there, even if it is only one worker in the outworld. my colony could actually kill me if they all stung me at once. 

[xXxWrathxXx]

27/10/2020

 

I have pictures! so i found my old Camera which means better pictures. its not the best but still a hell of  a lot better. The queen is doing really well and there is one huge larvae still that outsizes the rest of them, no pupae still. 

 

https://imgur.com/a/RM7wqgG

Edited by xXxWrathxXx, October 26 2020 - 8:51 PM.

[xXxWrathxXx]

17/11/2020

 

Sorry its been a while, nothings really happened with these guys except.... She had a pupae then opened the casing... and killed it. this was about a week or two ago. Then this morning she killed another one of her larvae so we are down to 4. I don't know why she's killing them. still feeder her regularly, keeping it quiet, pretty much doing the same thing i do for all queens. If anyone has a theory on why she killed her larvae please tell me because i would love this colony to grow and be able to keep for years. 

 

Side note: The larvae have sort of straitened out instead of curving over like before (if you get what I'm saying) 

[xXxWrathxXx]

19/11/2020

 

Good news and what may be bad but interesting news- The good news is we have our first (Alive) pupae!!!!.... The might be bad news is that the queen didn't let it make a cocoon like they are meant to. Not going to lie it was an interesting sight when i checked on them today to see legs on larvae, then noticing a half formed triangle head. So it could be just a once in a blue moon thing that this happens but i do not know. If someone else has had this happen before i would love to know. 

Edited by xXxWrathxXx, November 18 2020 - 10:15 PM.

[Ants_Dakota]

19/11/2020

 

Good news and what may be bad but interesting news- The good news is we have our first (Alive) pupae!!!!.... The might be bad news is that the queen didn't let it make a cocoon like they are meant to. Not going to lie it was an interesting sight when i checked on them today to see legs on larvae, then noticing a half formed triangle head. So it could be just a once in a blue moon thing that this happens but i do not know. If someone else has had this happen before i would love to know. 

do they ever get workers then?

[xXxWrathxXx]

23/11/2020

SO all the pupae died and the queen hasn’t gone into the test tube for a few days so I’m thinking that meant she didn’t like where she was, so I’ve moved her into a tower set up which I've used before with an apheanogaster lingiceps queen and they did really well. So I’m hoping she creates a nice claustral chamber and she will lay eggs, but for now this journal will probably be a bit slow. I’m going to be starting a double journal on my rytidoponera Metallica queens in the absence of this one.

[ZTYguy]

Oh no. Hope she’s okay.

[xXxWrathxXx]

So do I, I've noticed she’s been itching her gaster a lot lately.

[ZTYguy]

Try and get a video of it for others to help with the problem. She might just be cleaning herself.

[xXxWrathxXx]

I think she’s full of eggs, I notice that a lot of queens that have tend to have a small first batch itch a lot then end up producing a pile once the first few workers arrive