5 replies to this topic

[T.C.]

Hello, everyone, So I just got done checking on my Canponotous Pennsylvanicus queen with her larvae. After i took them from hibernation about a a little under a month ago, the queen appeared healthy and so didn't the larvae. However before I put her in hibernation, I was splitting a log and found a whole mess of camponotous pennsylvanicus larvae. So, I took three of them and added them to my queens collection. I believe them to be majors because of their size. As of today she is still caring for them. However the larvae that she had first, the ones that are actually hers are shrinking in size. She only appears to be feeding the large ones. Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated.

[XZero38]

Have you tried increasing the amount of food you are giving?

[T.C.]

She drank some sugar water. but she is resisting protein sources all together?

[Serafine]

Try fruit flies. Young colonies always take fruit flies, sometimes exclusively.

[Alabama Anter]

I feel like you should not have added majors. I think she is neglecting the younger nanitics because she thinks that they are too small or crippled and thinks that the major larvae is her healthy ones. Just a guess though.

[LC3]

Camponotus queens need every ounce of energy they can muster to raise their first workers, since the workers, unlike other species are quite energy extensive to raise. She's undoubtedly picking favourites and in this case thinks that the larger more developed larvae are worth investing more at the moment. I doubt she will kill all her other brood however.  

The larvae will shrink when not fed, looking sort of shriveled, this isn't a clear indicator it's going to die or the colony/queen doesn't want to look after it.