4 replies to this topic

[100Kopeks]

I'm really trying to not ask the typical newb BS, I know how frustrating it is to keep seeing the same crap. So Ill just go with 1 at a time here; I found several small colonies inside acorns this summer, and being the utter neophyte I am assumed they were Acorn Ants...seems logical! But no. 3 Tapinoma sessille, 2 Aphaenogaster N17 (presume) oh, and 1 very small group of Temnothorax curvispinosus!! I tried to minimize the disturbance so did not dig in to confirm a queen presence; since have confirmed positively 1 queen T. sessile and 1 Queen A. N17. Finally my question...1 of the T. sessile groups has very low worker count, maybe 25. I cannot find a queen with them but suddenly there are a bunch of eggs. Do workers of this species lay male (haploid) eggs or is there a queen in there I just can't find?

[futurebird]

lol these aren't noob questions at all. A noob question is "is this an ant??" (photo of a wasp) or "why are my ants dead?" (ants have been kept on a windowsill in direct sun with no water)

 

 

 

 

Tapinoma

Workers may lay eggs without mating. In one study, eggs that hatched were killed by workers upon reaching pupation. In other studies, researchers have reared workers from worker-laid eggs, which is interesting as unfertilized eggs normally develop into males. These eggs take longer to reach maturity, at about 11 to 12 weeks.

https://animaldivers...22-002500F14F28

 

 

 

Aphaenogaster

"In Aphaenogaster colonies, workers may occasionally lay unfertilized (parthenogenetic) eggs. Since the eggs are haploid, they will only develop into males."

https://www2.palomar...rong/Super4.htm

 

 

 

 

Temnothorax

others on this forum have had some strange things happen... see this thread. https://www.formicul...ave-reappeared/

[100Kopeks]

Awesome, thanx! I'm a 2-month newb with ants, but 50 years of genetics and animal experience. I'll just have to watch the colony and see what happens.

This hobby is either the most complicated learning curve or my age is catching up with me!

[ANTdrew]

It is a very high learning curve, but we’re here to help. The Tapinoma aren’t worth keeping. They struggle in captivity and are generally horrid. I say just put ‘em back where you found them.

[Antkeeper01]

It is a very high learning curve, but we’re here to help. The Tapinoma aren’t worth keeping. They struggle in captivity and are generally horrid. I say just put ‘em back where you found them.

i have a very nice 2-3 queen colony of T. sessile who have around 125 workers housed in a THA mini-hearth and they have not staged an escape yet. and i love their little callows

Edited by Antkeeper01, August 29 2021 - 5:06 AM.