3 replies to this topic

[Ernteameise]

Today I noticed some kind of weird fuzzy stuff next to the brood on the water tower.

Did they drag in some cotton from the water supply test tube?

Or is this some kind of mold?

If it is mold, why is not not cleaned up?

Is this something I will have to remove?

Has anybody seen this before?

 

[Artisan_Ants]

If there is cotton present so where within or on the top of the nest, sometimes the ants will take that and put it over the brood so they can help them pupate. No need to worry at all as this picture is clear and your can clearly see that the strands are messed up like that of cotton instead of straight up like that of fungus. I see this in my Formica colony all the time. Sometimes they can also use it for trash as it’s easier to stick trash to the cotton and then deposit it in the outworld.

Edited by Artisan_Ants, April 22 2024 - 3:38 AM.

[Ernteameise]

If there is cotton present so where within or on the top of the nest, sometimes the ants will take that and put it over the brood so they can help them pupate. No need to worry at all as this picture is clear and your can clearly see that the strands are messed up like that of cotton instead of straight up like that of fungus. I see this in my Formica colony all the time. Sometimes they can also use it for trash as it’s easier to stick trash to the cotton and then deposit it in the outworld.

 

I never knew this!!!

I also asked on Facebook, and several people answered that this will be the cotton from the test tube up top, and that their ants all do it to help the larvae spin the cocoons.

Wow!

This is amazing.

I will add some sand to the outworld which they can collect and make it easier for them to spin cocoons.

Thank you.

I am very relieved that I do not have a rabid mold infestation.

[ANTdrew]

Looks like cotton to me. No need to worry.