4 replies to this topic

[FSTP]

Hello,

I just took a peek at my dorymyrmex queens after not checking on them for several days and they ones that were said to likely be Dorymyrmex bicolor seem to have gotten larger. Specifically their gasters seem to be longer and more plump. It seems the cuticle between the tergite segments is much more distended and stretched, Is this normal? is this just eggs developing within her gaster/abdomen?

 

You can also see a little pile of eggs she's minding. So that's a good sign I take it.

 

 

 

 

you can really see how stretched it is in this pic

 

 

 

as close as I could get

 

 

 

I'm sure this is all normal and I'm just being annoyingly cautious, but I'd like to hear your guy's thoughts anyhow.

 

Kind regards,

Jess

 

 

[Canadian anter]

this can be one of two things; parasitic maggots or the queen's ovaries going into production. It is more likely the latter as it already has eggs

[Mdrogun]

I see my Camponotus pennsylvanicus queens looking like this all the time. I am pretty sure that it means they are producing eggs.

[Serafine]

Some ant species queens can go into an "overproduction mode" that makes them look a bit like termite queens.

Also I'm not sure if Dorymyrmex is laying eggs in batches like Camponontus does (so the gaster would change size over time back and forth).

 

As it already has eggs parasites are very unlikely.

Edited by Serafine, November 13 2016 - 10:47 AM.

[dspdrew]

Sometimes the queen just drinks a lot of liquid and her gaster swells.