4 replies to this topic

[CozmoDog]

So I noticed that my Camponotus sanctus ant colony has been producing pupae with cocoons since the first nanitics but my Messor wasmanni colony pupae have all been naked and still is, is there a reason for that ? or just because they are different species ?

Edited by CozmoDog, June 28 2016 - 8:23 AM.

[altmoola]

Some ant species spin a cocoon, and some don't. It's pretty much that simple.

Edited by altmoola, June 28 2016 - 8:47 AM.

[Runner12]

Myrmicine ants typically have naked pupae, formicine have cocooned. It's normal

[Batspiderfish]

Whether or not a pupa matures naked or inside a cocoon doesn't follow a unanimous taxonomical pattern, but very generally Formicinae and Ponerinae (along with "Ponerinae-like" subfamilies) will use cocoons as often as possible, while Dolichoderinae and Myrmicinae (along with "Myrmicinae-like" subfamilies) will never use cocoons.

[benjiwuf]

i have had formica subcericea that never spun cocoons, but others of the species typically do. i've asked this question as well, and in short the response was more of a it's a species thing first. then it turns into a question of available substrate, if there is not enough they won't. when there is enough they will. how true the second part is, i have no idea as i never had 2 identical colonies that i could compare.

 

edit: sorry for reviving a dead thread. i'm just looking through older threads now XD

Edited by benjiwuf, August 8 2016 - 3:31 PM.