Jump to content

  • Gallery
  • Members
  • Member Map
  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Injured queen- torn gaster?

Started By Antmom24 , Sep 19 2023 12:43 PM

  • Please log in to reply
6 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Antmom24 - Posted September 19 2023 - 12:43 PM

Antmom24

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 19 posts
Today I checked on a queen and she has a noticeable tear in her gaster. She’s sitting still but her antennas are moving. Last week she was normal! Does anyone know what might have happened? Is she going to be ok?

It’s hard to get a good photo with the condensation, but you can see the greenish spot where her gaster has opened.

Attached Images

  • IMG_0581.jpeg

#2 Offline Antmom24 - Posted September 19 2023 - 3:25 PM

Antmom24

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 19 posts
Update: I was looking at pictures from when I caught her and I think I see a small dent in the same spot. I think her gaster is getting bigger and so the gap is showing more. I’m going to continue to care for her and see if she is ok.

I could use advice- I was going to refrigerate her soon for hibernation. Should I treat her differently now that I know she is injured?

#3 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 19 2023 - 5:07 PM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,957 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
No, I would just proceed as normal and hope for the best.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#4 Offline bmb1bee - Posted September 19 2023 - 5:11 PM

bmb1bee

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 978 posts
  • LocationHayward, CA

What species is this? There's a chance that "gap" is just showing because of how full she is. It's called physogastrism, which is when a queen's abdomen overextends usually due to consuming lots of fluids.


"Float like a butterfly sting like a bee, his eyes can't hit what the eyes can't see."
- Muhammad Ali

Check out my shop and parasitic Lasius journal! Discord user is bmb1bee if you'd like to chat.

Also check out my YouTube channel: @bmb1bee

#5 Offline antsriondel - Posted September 19 2023 - 5:52 PM

antsriondel

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 928 posts
  • LocationRiondel British Columbia Canada.

I have seen this happen for some of my Queens. It is caused by the Queen being injured but it has never harmed the Queen in a way that limits her from laying eggs or starting a colony. 


#6 Offline Antmom24 - Posted September 20 2023 - 10:46 AM

Antmom24

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 19 posts
The species is I think lasius neoniger, that was what I was told from the ID request post I made earlier.

Yeah, comparing the pictures it does seem like she is bigger now than before so the swelling does make sense. I do think it is an injury though, because it is uneven and just looks wrong.

Thanks for all the help! I really appreciate it. And I feel a lot better knowing that she could still survive this.
  • antsriondel and 100lols like this

#7 Offline Virginian_ants - Posted September 20 2023 - 12:30 PM

Virginian_ants

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 621 posts
  • LocationCharlottesville, VA
This is normal she'll most likely be fine.
Back to General · Next Unread Topic →


1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users