18 replies to this topic

[Queen]

I have a colony of V. pergandei of maybe 500+ around 1 - 1.5 years old. At any given time there could be about 30-40 workers foraging in the outworld. Recently I noticed a number of them in the outworld walking a bit funny, probably 5-10. and another 5-10 are probably dead or dying. I suspect the ones walking funny will end up dying. The ants in the nest don't seem to be experiencing that.

 

Is this something you'd be concerned about? or since the older ants are usually the ones foraging, they are merely reaching the end of their life span?

 

Thanks!

[ANTdrew]

It sounds like they’re just dying of old age. I wouldn’t sweat unless you see a lot more.

[Queen]

It sounds like they’re just dying of old age. I wouldn’t sweat unless you see a lot more.

 

Thanks, that is what I assumed too. What would you consider as "a lot more"? like 50% of the colony?

[Queen]

I should add... I also moved them in to a larger nest. They could probably have died from the stress too?

[ZTYguy]

A lot is a rapid incline so say if it goes from 5-10 to 20-30 in a little amount of time then get concerned.

[Antkeeper01]

 

It sounds like they’re just dying of old age. I wouldn’t sweat unless you see a lot more.

 

Thanks, that is what I assumed too. What would you consider as "a lot more"? like 50% of the colony?

 

i mean a lot more is like twice that number

[NickAnter]

What nest did you move them into?? Read dspdrew's journal, and you can see they had some strange, lethal reaction to plasti-dip. They seem to be a sensitive species. If they keep dying in that strange way of walking funny, I would begin to worry.

[Queen]

A lot is a rapid incline so say if it goes from 5-10 to 20-30 in a little amount of time then get concerned.

 

Thanks!

 

What nest did you move them into?? Read dspdrew's journal, and you can see they had some strange, lethal reaction to plasti-dip. They seem to be a sensitive species. If they keep dying in that strange way of walking funny, I would begin to worry.

 

THA labyrinth. Yes, it was aired out thoroughly.

[ZTYguy]

Then you should be fine. Good luck!!!

Edited by ZTYguy, April 16 2021 - 8:29 PM.

[Queen]

Today the deaths reached 20, but all the ants inside the nests are okay. The 20 ants are all small ants (older gen). I changed nothing in their diet, temperature, water, etc... Any thoughts?

[JoeByron]

Can you post some pictures of the dead ants? Or even better if you are US based I PM me and I'll give you my address and if you mail me some I can check 'em out

[Queen]

Can you post some pictures of the dead ants? Or even better if you are US based I PM me and I'll give you my address and if you mail me some I can check 'em out

 

Thanks, here is a picture for reference. Will consider mailing them if we can't figure it out via pic.

 

edit: dead ones are circled red.

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Edited by Queen, April 17 2021 - 10:40 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Twenty workers out of 500 is still nothing to worry about, especially if they’re smaller, older workers.

[JoeByron]

 

Can you post some pictures of the dead ants? Or even better if you are US based I PM me and I'll give you my address and if you mail me some I can check 'em out

 

Thanks, here is a picture for reference. Will consider mailing them if we can't figure it out via pic.

 

edit: dead ones are circled red.

 

 

I agree that a colony of that size isn't a huge deal. Perhaps the reason you are seeing them more now is they needed more space inside of their nest? Do you they have garbage chambers?

[Queen]

 

 

Can you post some pictures of the dead ants? Or even better if you are US based I PM me and I'll give you my address and if you mail me some I can check 'em out

 

Thanks, here is a picture for reference. Will consider mailing them if we can't figure it out via pic.

 

edit: dead ones are circled red.

 

 

I agree that a colony of that size isn't a huge deal. Perhaps the reason you are seeing them more now is they needed more space inside of their nest? Do you they have garbage chambers?

 

 

No garbage chambers, but I suspect they might've been eating their dead when they were in a smaller nest to save space or for hygiene reasons...? Since now they have a larger nest they no longer need to?

[Kaelwizard]

My Pogonomyrmex died under the same circumstances in their THA mini-hearth. Since then I haven't had any other ants die in the same way in that nest. I'm not sure what it was with them.

[Queen]

Some new additional observations:

 

-The ants were moved in on 4/11. There has been about a grand total of 150 out of a 500+ colony death. This averages to about 15 deaths a day (150 deaths / 10 days). The colony looks like it's still producing and the numbers didn't really change too much from a visual comparison against a picture of when they first moved in. Everyone inside the nest is fine and it's just the ants in the outworld that are dying.

 

-The nest was aired out and nothing has changed in terms of diet, water, etc.

 

-I should note the colony has 3 queens, this could potentially be about 5 deaths per day had the colony had only 1 queen? I am not sure if all 3 queens lay eggs simultaneously... 

Edited by Queen, April 20 2021 - 2:28 AM.

[Kaelwizard]

-I should note the colony has 3 queens, this could potentially be about 5 deaths per day had the colony had only 1 queen? I am not sure if all 3 queens lay eggs simultaneously... 

I don't think queen # would affect death count. There isn't a correlation between the two unless the queens are going around eating their children.

[NickAnter]

150 workers is quite substantial. If it continues you might want to consider moving them out of the nest.