17 replies to this topic

[Crazycow]

Okay so my Temnothorax colony had some pretty large larva about two weeks ago and i just thought they were gonna be fat workers but when i checked on them today 1st i was shocked at the amount of pupa but i also noticed a very interestingly shaped pupa and when i got out my macro lens i took some pic and noticed it had the three eyes on the top of its head that drones and queens have so i'm just confused on why. dose anyone know?

 

[PetsNotPests]

I think it's just their nuptial flight routine. Good job!  

[ReignofRage]

They could be trophic eggs that didn't get eaten and will turn into males or your colony is mature enough to produce alates.

[PetsNotPests]

They could be trophic eggs that didn't get eaten and will turn into males or your colony is mature enough to produce alates.

I doubt its the first one, but the colony looks mature to me. Post an update when they mature into adults.  

[Crazycow]

Okay I will but it’s just interesting they are mature enough they only have 14 workers

[PetsNotPests]

Okay I will but it’s just interesting they are mature enough they only have 14 workers

14 workers? that's a large brood pile for only 14 workers. How old is the colony? 

[NPLT]

Okay I will but it’s just interesting they are mature enough they only have 14 workers

So probably uneaten trophic eggs, unless Temnothorax mature fast.

Edited by NPLT, June 7 2021 - 9:33 AM.

[PetsNotPests]

 

Okay I will but it’s just interesting they are mature enough they only have 14 workers

So probably uneaten trophic eggs, unless Temnothorax mature fast.

 

Sad, but probably true. I don't think ants could mature that quickly. 

[Crazycow]

I collected them from the wild because I was looking at a camponotus colony and found then In a stick and saw the queen so I just put in a collection container. This was early in the year so they probably had just started waking up from diapause. And I’ve had them for like 2 months now
Wait no more than 2 months it’s been like 3… wow time flys

Edited by Crazycow, June 7 2021 - 9:35 AM.

[PetsNotPests]

I collected them from the wild because I was looking at a camponotus colony and found then In a stick and saw the queen so I just put in a collection container. This was early in the year so they probably had just started waking up from diapause. And I’ve had them for like 2 months now

How many workers did the colony have when you collected them? If you only collected a small portion of it then it was probably mature and is just following their original schedule.  

[ReignofRage]

I collected them from the wild because I was looking at a camponotus colony and found then In a stick and saw the queen so I just put in a collection container. This was early in the year so they probably had just started waking up from diapause. And I’ve had them for like 2 months now
Wait no more than 2 months it’s been like 3… wow time flys

When you collect a colony, try to collect all the workers.

[Crazycow]

I collected them from the wild because I was looking at a camponotus colony and found then In a stick and saw the queen so I just put in a collection container. This was early in the year so they probably had just started waking up from diapause. And I’ve had them for like 2 months now

How many workers did the colony have when you collected them? If you only collected a small portion of it then it was probably mature and is just following their original schedule.

There was 15 in the stick and one died about 3 weeks after collection. And I never saw any on the ground or around the stick but it’s possible that I missed some

I collected them from the wild because I was looking at a camponotus colony and found then In a stick and saw the queen so I just put in a collection container. This was early in the year so they probably had just started waking up from diapause. And I’ve had them for like 2 months now
Wait no more than 2 months it’s been like 3… wow time flys

When you collect a colony, try to collect all the workers.

I tried

[ReignofRage]

Was probably a satellite nest since you didn't see many workers.

[PetsNotPests]

Because this is a wild colony, you probably missed some workers, so the colony is more mature than you think.  

[Crazycow]

Okay that makes sense, well they are about to explode in population. They have a good 30-40 pupa

[PetsNotPests]

Okay that makes sense, well they are about to explode in population. They have a good 30-40 pupa

that's good to hear. When the alates mature, just catch them and release them outside. 

[Crazycow]

Will do

[Crazycow]

Alright update on the alates. They have enclosed and there is 1 drone and one queen rn. Only weird thing is that the queen alate is very small and isn’t much bigger that a worker. Is she a microgen?