12 replies to this topic

[englishlist]

My formica subsericea queen was doing OK after hibernation. She laid 10 eggs and stopped. There's no problem until the larvae turn into pupae. The queen seems to be very worried about the pupae and keep touching them. She is always very active and running a lot in the test tube. There are already 4 pupae disappeared (2 larvae and 4 pupae left). What could be the issue?

 

 

 

 

 

https://youtu.be/cv0HjuAtBZk

 

 

[ANTdrew]

Do the pupae have substrate to help spin their cocoons with? Perhaps she is stressed from being checked too much? These are very sensitive ants. Also, what temp are they kept at?

[Manitobant]

My formica subsericea queen was doing OK after hibernation. She laid 10 eggs and stopped. There's no problem until the larvae turn into pupae. The queen seems to be very worried about the pupae and keep touching them. She is always very active and running a lot in the test tube. There are already 4 pupae disappeared (2 larvae and 4 pupae left). What could be the issue?
 
 
 

 
 

if they had already spun cocoons and then ended up like this, that is natural. Formica unwrap their pupae when they are close to eclosing.

[englishlist]

Thanks for the information. There's only a grout layer at the bottom of the test tube. Should I put sand in? I did not notice any cocoon. I will check again if the cocoons were placed elsewhere. 

[ANTdrew]

Some sand in the tube is usually helpful for these.

[englishlist]

I think the queen ate the pupae. 

 

[Antcatcherpro3]

The queen is probably being disturbed too much. Don't check on her for like a few days and she probably won't eat any more pupae.

[Kaelwizard]

Based on the dates on the pictures you are checking on her too often.

[ANTdrew]

I agree. Check no more than once a week, perhaps less. This species is exceedingly sensitive.

[englishlist]

Actually I put a wifi cam beside the test tube and cover them with black cloth. So I keep watching through the cam instead of checking the queen physically. (The queen likes the cam as a heat source. ）

 

It might be the location as I put the test tube under my desk. There's lots of activities arount as I am working at home.  

[englishlist]

Just saw the first nanitic today.There are 2 pupae and 2 larvae left from the first batch. I provided the queen a fruit fly last weekend and she took it back right away (right side beside cotton) which could helped. The queen laid second batch eggs already. Hopefully the second batch can be more successful. 

 

[Kaelwizard]

Actually I put a wifi cam beside the test tube and cover them with black cloth. So I keep watching through the cam instead of checking the queen physically. (The queen likes the cam as a heat source. ）

 

It might be the location as I put the test tube under my desk. There's lots of activities arount as I am working at home.  

Yeah movement could have caused the queen to get stressed for sure. Using a camera like that is actually a really good idea. I don't know anyone else who has thought of that.

[ANTdrew]

This species goes full on psycho- mode at the slightest vibrations.