8 replies to this topic

[JackPearl]

Hi guys I've had multiple founding Iridomyrmyx queens in Australia for over a month now, and non of the eggs have even made it to larvae stage, I don't heat them since when I did the next day all the queens had moved their eggs to the water side cotton of the test tube, so I thought they were uncomfortable, any help?

[Gabraime]

I had the same problem with a solenopsis xyloni queen Then she died after 2 months

[JackPearl]

I had the same problem with a solenopsis xyloni queen Then she died after 2 months

That's not exactly encouraging. Or helpful, but thanks.

[nurbs]

Try not to disturb them. Avoid light, movement and vibrations. Sometimes they will eat their eggs and lay new ones, making it look like they are not developing.

 

But with that said, you are probably not doing anything wrong. I am not familiar with Iridomyrmex, but If they haven't made it past the larvae stage at this point, they are most likely not fertile.

[JackPearl]

Try not to disturb them. Avoid light, movement and vibrations. Sometimes they will eat their eggs and lay new ones, making it look like they are not developing.
 
But with that said, you are probably not doing anything wrong. I am not familiar with Iridomyrmex, but If they haven't made it past the larvae stage at this point, they are most likely not fertile.

But surely not all 7 of my queens are infertile but in the same predicament?

[nurbs]

Last year, I found over a dozen P. rugosus without their wings, and none of them were fertile. They just kept laying eggs and didn't even die. Lived over a year. The other day I finally put them out of their misery and submerged them into isopropyl alcohol in a collection jar. 

[JackPearl]

Last year, I found over a dozen P. rugosus without their wings, and none of them were fertile. They just kept laying eggs and didn't even die. Lived over a year. The other day I finally put them out of their misery and submerged them into isopropyl alcohol in a collection jar.

So I guess back to square one?

[JackPearl]

What do I do with the queens if they're infertile?

[123LordOfAnts123]

I've found Forelius eggs develop poorly, if at all, below 78 degrees. They're a heat loving Dolichoderinae and Iridomyrmex may be similiar. When they move their eggs toward the water then that means they're utilizing the humidity gradient, which if anything is a good thing.

Edited by 123LordOfAnts123, May 26 2017 - 5:48 AM.