30 replies to this topic

[UberDuber]

Here's that picture I forgot to attach.

 

 

 

 

Edited by UberDuber, May 16 2022 - 7:29 AM.

[aznphenom]

I guess I need to look into buying fungus from someone then lol Even the one that has it, it's barely a crumb.

I wouldn't worry about that yet. If may 9th or a day earlier was when you caught them then you're behind me by like 2 weeks. The fungus definitely grow fast. I recently just merged all me gardenless queens with garden queens. They are all still alive. No killing of each other. The queens are attracted to the fungus like crack. The instant they sense it, they start tending to it asap. Kind of wish I left a couple of singles to see if multiple queens grow their garden faster than a single if both were the same size after week X. But all the pairs have noticeable gardens now. Some are disc shape, others are a ball. I'll probably leave them be now for a few weeks. The plaster should stay moist that long. I may create a time-lapse if i can find my spare camera.

[mmcguffi]

You should be able to noticeably see the garden even after a few days. For reference, I collected these queens on May 6th this year, but they had no fungus. I added fungus on May 11th and this is what it looks like (pic taken 5 min ago):

 

[aznphenom]

You should be able to noticeably see the garden even after a few days. For reference, I collected these queens on May 6th this year, but they had no fungus. I added fungus on May 11th and this is what it looks like (pic taken 5 min ago):

IMG_1069.jpeg

I didn't know you did sand set ups too. Any noticeable difference? I enjoy my sand set ups. Its cool seeing them dig. Where did you get your sand? Mine are super fine and I actually don't like it.

[UberDuber]

I'm interested in where to get that coarse sand as well lol I just have regular play sand.

 

Thanks for the additional fungus input.

[mmcguffi]

It's just regular play sand! I got it from homedepot for ~$5

 

I probably wouldn't use it again just because it makes getting the fungus/queens out more difficult, but I wanted to experiment since I'm 90% sure these queens are infertile. It is neat to see them dig!

Edited by mmcguffi, May 16 2022 - 8:59 AM.

[FloridaAnts]

Question for you, if Atta are infertile and have fungus couldn’t you just give it to another queen when they die/have males?

[mmcguffi]

Question for you, if Atta are infertile and have fungus couldn’t you just give it to another queen when they die/have males?

 

Yes, you can easily transplant fungus (and brood). Atta only mate high in the air, so adding males does not help ...even though I continue to fruitlessly try every time I have collected them haha

 

Or when you say "have males" if you mean the unfertilized eggs develop into nanitic males -- this is a bit different in Atta. Nanitic males don't (usually) develop from unfertilized eggs. There is 1 observation of this happening (that I am aware of; http://www.sbs.utexa...Sociaux2019.pdf) though this is indeed rare, and also likely result from diploid eggs making this a different mechanism from most ants that produce nanitic males. Typically the infertile Atta eggs just don't develop

Edited by mmcguffi, May 16 2022 - 12:42 PM.

[FloridaAnts]

Question for you, if Atta are infertile and have fungus couldn’t you just give it to another queen when they die/have males?

 
Yes, you can easily transplant fungus (and brood). Atta only mate high in the air, so adding males does not help ...even though I continue to fruitlessly try every time I have collected them haha
 
Or when you say "have males" if you mean the unfertilized eggs develop into nanitic males -- this is a bit different in Atta. Nanitic males don't (usually) develop from unfertilized eggs. There is 1 observation of this happening (that I am aware of; http://www.sbs.utexa...Sociaux2019.pdf) though this is indeed rare, and also likely result from diploid eggs making this a different mechanism from most ants that produce nanitic males. Typically the infertile Atta eggs just don't develop

I have had Brachymyrmex mate in tubes(I had to check), but I am sure this is very different with Atta.

[mmcguffi]

@UberDuber and @aznphenom -- any updates on your colonies? Maybe this isn't the best place to ask, but I'm not sure if y'all have journals/threads

 

My 8 surviving queens (9 originally collected) are all infertile this year. If y'all collected your foundresses about a month ago, they should have late instar larvae or pupae by now

[aznphenom]

@UberDuber and @aznphenom -- any updates on your colonies? Maybe this isn't the best place to ask, but I'm not sure if y'all have journals/threads

 

My 8 surviving queens (9 originally collected) are all infertile this year. If y'all collected your foundresses about a month ago, they should have late instar larvae or pupae by now

My set ups doesn't let me get a great view of the eggs but i think 1 of my 9 colonies have different size eggs.