27 replies to this topic

[AntsGodzilla]

My pogonomyrmex rugosus just had a 7 worker die-off in three days. What happened? Unless feeding them dead fruit flies id bad, I haven't changed anything.

Edited by AntsGodzilla, September 9 2024 - 12:06 PM.

[AntsGodzilla]

I mean, I did just give them humming bird nectar, but my myrmecocystus drink it and nothing bad happens to them,

[ANTdrew]

What brand of hummingbird nectar?

[AntsGodzilla]

pennington

[IdioticMouse26]

Were the fruit flies wild ones? They could have carried germs/parasites. If you found them dead, they could have been sprayed with bug spray.

[cooIboyJ]

The workers could've been older nanitics/workers that have finally died. 

Edited by cooIboyJ, September 10 2024 - 6:36 AM.

[AntsGodzilla]

The workers could've been older nanitics/workers that have finally died. 

Now that I think about it, it was probably that because I haven't seen much dead so far.

[bmb1bee]

I mean, I did just give them humming bird nectar, but my myrmecocystus drink it and nothing bad happens to them,

P. rugosus don't need hummingbird nectar. It'd be wise to invest in a bag of untreated grass seeds, since they normally eat seeds in the wild. I'd also use larger insects than fruit flies for a better protein boost. Regarding dead workers, it could be one out of a variety of reasons such as lack of food, nanitics aging, or a bad batch of nectar provided.

[AntsTx]

P. rugosus don't need hummingbird nectar. It'd be wise to invest in a bag of untreated grass seeds, since they normally eat seeds in the wild. I'd also use larger insects than fruit flies for a better protein boost. Regarding dead workers, it could be one out of a variety of reasons such as lack of food, nanitics aging, or a bad batch of nectar provided.

I buy this brand of dandelion seeds and they are the favorite of my P. occidentalis colony but that could just be P. occidentalis.

[bmb1bee]

I buy this brand of dandelion seeds and they are the favorite of my P. occidentalis colony but that could just be P. occidentalis.

Yeah, I also use dandelion seeds. I typically collect those by hand, though perhaps growing and culturing them myself would be more efficient.

[mete]

My pogonomyrmex rugosus just had a 7 worker die-off in three days. What happened? Unless feeding them dead fruit flies id bad, I haven't changed anything.

 

I wonder how large and old is the colony ?

[RushmoreAnts]

Yes, Pogonomyrmex have no need for sugars, and seeds is their primary diet. If you haven't been giving them seeds and not many fruit flies they are probably starving to death.

[AntsGodzilla]

Yes, Pogonomyrmex have no need for sugars, and seeds is their primary diet. If you haven't been giving them seeds and not many fruit flies they are probably starving to death.

No, they have plenty of seeds, and up until a a week ago hey have had a bunch of fruit flies, I just need to restock them when I have time.

 

My pogonomyrmex rugosus just had a 7 worker die-off in three days. What happened? Unless feeding them dead fruit flies id bad, I haven't changed anything.

 

I wonder how large and old is the colony ?

 

About 40 workers and around seven months.

[Yusteponant]

For my Pogonomyrmex Rugosus I feed them mostly seeds and insect protein now and then. I use dandelion, kentucky blue grass and chia.

[AntsGodzilla]

yeah that's what I do

[AntsGodzilla]

Ok another 10 died. It's not the food, and there is nothing visiable wrong.

Edited by AntsGodzilla, September 19 2024 - 1:35 PM.

[cooIboyJ]

Must be just bad queens.

[AntsGodzilla]

No, I bought them from THA and she's been alive for 9+ months

[Mushu]

I think at 7 months you should be getting some worker die off for Pogonomyrmex. The 10 workers is over span of x days I presume.  I'm more concerned you are not making enough workers to replace them. I'd expect more than 40 workers. 

[Ants_Dakota]

Ok another 10 died. It's not the food, and there is nothing visiable wrong.

How is the water situation? Do they have access to drinking water and nest hydration?