5 replies to this topic

[Sambuca]

I’ll try and keep this as short as I can but it’s not going to be easy!!

 

I’ve had my new L Niger queen for around two months which came with 8 workers. Started in test tube setup then I added one of Ant Davy’s small founding nest with the mini outworld.

I designed and printed a connector so they can still have their original test tube setup connected in case the environment wasn’t right at the start.

 

They moved in on their own accord with queen and 12 workers after a couple of weeks.

But recently every couple of weeks they are bring 10/15 pupae back to their original test tube setup. There’s about 35/40 pupae left in their main founding nest. They don’t bring them all.

When I add water to their founding nest, I do worry I might add too much so I do couple of drops one a week.

 

I noticed yesterday that they had done it again and moved some back to the test tube, so I added two more drops of water to the nest hole.

A few hours later they then moved them back to their main nest so I thought, ok it wasn’t watered enough. But last night I saw that they’ve brought some pupae back (about 15) to the test tube again.

 

Currently I have around 40 workers. 

I check on queen and workers for a few seconds every two weeks or so.

 

I’m struggling to know if the nest is too dry, wet or maybe they’re bringing just a few pupae there due to temperature. Room temp is 24/25

 

 

Any help or understanding to this would be great.

 

Edit: They have since moved more pupae to the test tube.  

 

 

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Edited by Sambuca, May 26 2024 - 7:45 AM.

[AsdinAnts]

are you able to show a picture of the nest?

The ants may have run out of room, and are transporting brood back to the original tube for more nesting space? This is just a guess.

[Sambuca]

Hi, thanks for your reply, there's still a lot of room. 

Around 15 workers were in their other outworld when I took the above photo.

Edited by Sambuca, May 26 2024 - 7:47 AM.

[AsdinAnts]

Maybe the nest is too wet, and they are transporting the cocoons to the tube, which may be dryer?

How much water is left in the tube?

Also, nice job on this colony! They look super healthy.

[Serafine]

Usually that happens because of temperature or humidity and it's actually quite normal and nothing to worry about.

Not all stages of brood (not even all stages of the same brood type) need the same conditions.

[Sambuca]

Thanks for all your comments and advice on this.

 

It's good to know they're doing ok and it's completely normal, I really want them to have the best environment I can give them.

 

Many thanks

Sam