5 replies to this topic

[Antlover24]

So I got a colony of Myrmecocystus mexicanus a few months ago, it was a queen with one worker and they had a few eggs. I bought brood to boost them with they accepted them but only 2 of the pupae actually ended up eclosing. Now the queen has lost her first and only biological (due to old age most likely), but she still has the 2 boosted workers. She is serving as a replete which is probably why she hasn't laid eggs. I've been looking for brood to boost the colony with however no one has any at the moment it seems.

 

Anyone know what I can do?

 

[AntsCali098]

Try moving them into a THA mini hearth or the cheaper option of a vertical formisquarium

[aznphenom]

You could just have a runt of the litter. Not all queens are created equally. The fact that you got it mid winter with just 1 worker should have been a red flag. I have received runts before. At least the seller was honest with it but I still wanted them. As expected, it was just a slow drawn out death.

[Antlover24]

Try moving them into a THA mini hearth or the cheaper option of a vertical formisquarium

I moved them into a vertical formisquarium but they didn't seem to like it, I'll try it again to see if it works though.

You could just have a runt of the litter. Not all queens are created equally. The fact that you got it mid winter with just 1 worker should have been a red flag. I have received runts before. At least the seller was honest with it but I still wanted them. As expected, it was just a slow drawn out death.

It seems I get alot of runts, 4 to be exact. Before anyone says anything I know that 4 isn't that bad for some people.

Edited by Antlover24, April 6 2023 - 6:05 PM.

[Katla]

Bad luck, i hope the queen catches up.

[gcsnelling]

M. mexicanus is known to be a rather problematic species, your situation is no real shock.