10 replies to this topic

[nurbs]

Was checking out my first ever catch of C. quercicola and noticed one of them laying an egg. Think this is the first time this has been recorded. Wanted to share!

 

Also, anyone know what that red thing is on her leg? Looks like a mite.

 

 

 

[Antking117]

Very cool and good quality! Not yet super familiar with ants so I don't know what the red thing is!

[soulsynapse]

My quersicolas don't have a single egg yet T_T

[SoySauce]

My quersicolas don't have a single egg yet T_T

Ours neither!  

[Alabama Anter]

Wow! Soy, and Soul, just leave them be. Camponotus are very easily ruffled. Also, Camponotus usually immediatley yank off their wings unlike some species, so that may be a sign of infertility.

[nurbs]

My quersicolas don't have a single egg yet T_T

 

Do you keep yours in the dark? Let them be for awhile and try not to peek (I know it's hard).

 

It's also why you collect as many as possible and why I went back a fourth time. The first three nights I collected 1-2 quercicolas per night.

 

The fourth time I went alone very late and found more that night than all three combined. All the winged ones have not laid any eggs yet and there are a few non-winged ones that are not laying eggs as well. The ones that are laying eggs also have a swollen abdomen.

Edited by nurbs, March 20 2017 - 2:54 PM.

[nurbs]

Have a hunch these gals will fly again in the upper altitudes. They have many nests up in the mountains, and will head up there when it gets warmer. Drove up the San Gabriel mountains last week and it's just still too cold for anything to fly.

 

I'll post date and location if there are any flights.

[soulsynapse]

Have a hunch these gals will fly again in the upper altitudes. They have many nests up in the mountains, and will head up there when it gets warmer. Drove up the San Gabriel mountains last week and it's just still too cold for anything to fly.

 

I'll post date and location if there are any flights.

 

cheers dude, I'm regretting not going out and finding a few more!

[SoySauce]

Yeah, we have 5 and one stilled winged one. We've only look once and no eggs yet. Most of our Sansabeanus have laid multiple large eggs tho! Still waiting patiently

[dspdrew]

Mine have laid a few eggs each.

[nurbs]

Yeah, we have 5 and one stilled winged one. We've only look once and no eggs yet. Most of our Sansabeanus have laid multiple large eggs tho! Still waiting patiently

 

One thing I do (and not sure if this actually helps) with every new queen is I feed them a very small drop of a liquid sweet before putting them away.

 

Diluted honey, hummingbird nectar, ByFormica Sunburst - any of those will work and the queens will willingly drink it up. 

Edited by nurbs, March 20 2017 - 8:19 PM.