8 replies to this topic

[Artimusclydeperez]

i found 3 queens and they are all together laying eggs but they did not have their fungus pellets any one around san antonio with a colony i can get some starter fungus from?

[Artisan_Ants]

I don’t have any fungus as I’m not from the A. texana range (I live in Pennsylvania although I did wish that I got Atta and Acromyrmex around here) so all my knowledge is from others on this forum or just general articles and videos. Anyways there was old post on this forum that I found when searching up about their fungus pellets and it mentions that they use trophic eggs to make them. Perhaps your 3 queens have failed to produce trophic eggs to create the pellet. He mentions that he doesn’t know how the fungus differentiates the two kinds of eggs (trophic and fertile eggs) but that's why I believe they have lost their fungus. Just wanted to throw it out cause it’s always good to know the cause. Anyways good luck and hopefully your queens do well!

[ANTdrew]

Atta do not make fungus pellets out of trophic eggs.

[Artisan_Ants]

Atta do not make fungus pellets out of trophic eggs.

One of the articles (from 2022) stated not very clearly though but not with too much doubt that they were created from trophic eggs. Perhaps a typo of some sort then.

Edited by Artisan_Ants, May 14 2024 - 12:53 PM.

[bmb1bee]

 

Atta do not make fungus pellets out of trophic eggs.

One of the articles (from 2022) stated not very clearly though but not with too much doubt that they were created from trophic eggs. Perhaps a typo of some sort then.

 

A source would be helpful. Fungus pellets =/= trophic eggs though, as fungus pellets are carried in the mouth by female alates prior to leaving the nest.

[ZTYguy]

Atta do not make fungus pellets out of trophic eggs.

One of the articles (from 2022) stated not very clearly though but not with too much doubt that they were created from trophic eggs. Perhaps a typo of some sort then.

Alates take a fungal pellet from the fungal colony of their parent colony. After mating when they begin digging they let go of it once their chamber is deep enough. This is where Atta and Acromyrmex differentiate in founding styles. Acromyrmex (versicolor at least) go out and forage for material to give their fungus. Atta on the other hand use waste to feed their fungal garden (they are fully claustral).

[Artimusclydeperez]

Update after 2 weeks looks like they managed to start their own fungus tell me if u can see it
Also are y’all saying it’s best to take the leaves I out in out till the nanitics arrive?

Attached Images

• 

[ZTYguy]

Take the leaves out. Atta are fully claustral and the leaves will not be touched by any of the queens. The leaves will sit, rot, and then kill the queens so yes definitely take the leaves out. Only put leaves in with ants such as Acromyrmex versicolor who are actually semi-claustral and will in fact leave their chambers and forage.

[Artimusclydeperez]

Done. Ty for the advice