3 replies to this topic

[Mdrogun]

I had stopped watering my Pogonomyrmex californicus colony and they consumed all of their brood except 4 larger larvae. They have been in a Byformica Grotube HS setup for about a week now. I have given the colony a heat and moisture gradient and have given them all of the seeds and crickets they could ever eat. I have made sure to keep the colony in the dark for 99.9999999% of the time except when I look at them. The queen refuses to lay eggs. I am starting to get kind of worried. I don't want the workers to get old and die. Does anyone know why she is doing this? Could it be bad genetics? I've never come across a queen that has done this.

[antmaniac]

Have you provide them some sweet liquids? I find that my ants start to consume more honey when they have protein foods like insects. Otherwise maybe the environment causing this.

[drtrmiller]

I had stopped watering my Pogonomyrmex californicus colony and they consumed all of their brood except 4 larger larvae.

That kind of stress, combined with being a small colony, can result in unusual behaviors. Moving to a new formicarium is also very stressful.

[dspdrew]

In my experience, and from what many others have reported, Pogonomyrmex slow down or stop brood production during winter, and resume egg laying around February or March. This might be more specific to the Southwest, but since you have P. californicus, just give it a little while, and you may see a new batch of eggs.