5 replies to this topic

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

one of my queens has a weird abdomen with what I am calling right now "an exaggerated petiole dent" I have no idea why she has it but it is definitely not a different species or something because I did some research on every Formica species that lives in my area and none had that "exaggerated petiole dent"

 

here is a pic were you can kind of see it

 

here is a closer look

 

anyone know what is the cause like mishandling a genetic error? please tell me because I am dying to know 

[Stubyvast]

Maybbbee genetic, but that's hard to tell without seeing that queen's mother. It could also be a parasite, such as a tapeworm, but I kind of doubt it. It's also possible the queen's ovaries expanded in an uneven fashion or something like that. All guesses, would need confirmation for additional proof. Anyone else know?

[rptraut]

Maybe she got dropped on her head as a larva…..

[rptraut]

Hello OwlThatLikesAnts;

Perhaps it got dented while in the cocoon (maybe by tweezers) and then hardened that way.
RPT

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

I mean to me it looks like she could have a massive petiole that can fit in there

[Antz_Straya]

It's just a dent, probably caused by a bump when she was on her nuptial flight or when immerging from her cacoon