15 replies to this topic

[Works4TheGood]

I just found this queen.  Camponotus pennylvanicus I presume.  But she's behaving strangely; she shakes a lot.  Is this normal behavior?  Perhaps she came into contact with pesticides?  Anyone want to wager on how long she survives?  She'll be transitioned to a test tube setup in a few hours.  We'll see how things go from there.

 

[Batspiderfish]

That is a lot of shaking, but I see a behavior similar to this with many of my ants. I don't think it's reason to worry just yet, although if there is actually something wrong with her, there's not much you can do anyways.

[James C. Trager]

Pretty twitchy. Probably not good for the long term.

[XZero38]

maybe she is having ant dreams

[Works4TheGood]

I gave her a bath   ... just in case it would help with any pesticides.  She's been surprisingly active ever since (several hours ago).  I'm guessing it's a coincidence though.  I'm guessing that she'll last 3 days.  Any contenders?

[XZero38]

I gave her a bath   ... just in case it would help with any pesticides.  She's been surprisingly active ever since (several hours ago).  I'm guessing it's a coincidence though.  I'm guessing that she'll last 3 days.  Any contenders?

I give her a week. I've had a Pogonomyrmex. Occ. that i thought was going to die last weekend she was having trouble walking and she was still alive last night, but just barely she was mostly dragging herself around at that point.

[Batspiderfish]

I gave her a bath   ... just in case it would help with any pesticides.  She's been surprisingly active ever since (several hours ago).  I'm guessing it's a coincidence though.  I'm guessing that she'll last 3 days.  Any contenders?

She could live longer, barring any more drownings. 

[Works4TheGood]

 

I gave her a bath   ... just in case it would help with any pesticides.  She's been surprisingly active ever since (several hours ago).  I'm guessing it's a coincidence though.  I'm guessing that she'll last 3 days.  Any contenders?

She could live longer, barring any more drownings. 

 

Any more specific numbers?  I promise I won't put her in my "washing machine" again!

[sgheaton]

I'm afraid to throw my guess in there because I'm assuming others will become quite upset that we are gambling with ants. I do hope she makes it....  though how DO you wash an ant? Run water over her? I am not going to but all of my queens...are....way too quick to let anything like that happen. 

[Works4TheGood]

I put her in a test tube filled almost completely with room temperature water and slowly turned the test tube upside down, right side up, upside down, etc. for maybe 15 seconds.  Many of my queens came from swimming pools where they visually looked like they'd drown.  I was often surprised that they were alive because they had clearly given up struggling long ago and were waiting for the inevitable.  So, I knew that 15 seconds was really nothing at all.

 

This Camponotus pennylvanicus queen is a big, heavy tank.  She's also at room temperature and possibly under the influence of insecticides.  She's really not quick at all.

 

For the record, I really hope she makes it too, but my hopes are low.  These queens are about the largest ants you'll ever find in the USA, and so she'd really be a unique item in my collection.

[Mdrogun]

I put her in a test tube filled almost completely with room temperature water and slowly turned the test tube upside down, right side up, upside down, etc. for maybe 15 seconds.  Many of my queens came from swimming pools where they visually looked like they'd drown.  I was often surprised that they were alive because they had clearly given up struggling long ago and were waiting for the inevitable.  So, I knew that 15 seconds was really nothing at all.

 

This Camponotus pennylvanicus queen is a big, heavy tank.  She's also at room temperature and possibly under the influence of insecticides.  She's really not quick at all.

 

For the record, I really hope she makes it too, but my hopes are low.  These queens are about the largest ants you'll ever find in the USA, and so she'd really be a unique item in my collection.

I'm surprised you don't have a ton of these queens. When I visited my aunt near Pittsburgh Camponotus pennsylvanicus were everywhere. It just goes to show that state boundaries have nothing to do with the native ranges of ants.

[Works4TheGood]

This species is all over the place here in State College. I just don't normally see them in "queen" form! Or is that what you meant?

[Works4TheGood]

Incidentally, this particular queen is still alive. She had been tearing away at the cotton a lot, and that seems like a good sign in regard to her health.

Going forward, I probably should not disturb her anymore or else she may postpone laying eggs. It's best just to check on here again in a month and see if she made it.

[soulkeeper79]

My Queens do the same thing when they are jamming out to the sweet tunes of Creedence Clearwater Revival...

[Works4TheGood]

She died

[sgheaton]

Well.... I think I lost.