31 replies to this topic

[Reevak]

Is there an update for this colony coming soon or did something go wrong?

[ultraex2]

Is there an update for this colony coming soon or did something go wrong?

 

I can update, but for whatever reason the larvae are still at exactly the same state as they were a couple months ago - not sure what's going on, to be honest.  I've basically just figured that they need to hibernate before the brood will start developing again.

 

I'll post one more update post before I put them in hibernation.  I did catch another one, so this winter I'm going to try to introduce it to some Lasius Alienus workers from the colony I have.

[ultraex2]

Update 4/16/18:

 

Took all my ants out of hibernation and they're all starting to develop again.  The first cocoon developed (there's 6 more now, the picture only has 1 which is in the middle) and it looks like the first generation of parasitic workers will hatch within the next month or so.  The queen also laid another small batch of eggs as well, so hopefully this colony will grow big this year.

 

Pretty excited and glad that the colony is going good!  Somehow none of the workers died over hibernation as well, so that's a plus!

 

Edited by ultraex2, April 17 2018 - 5:43 AM.

[AntsAreUs]

And now that nothing has died out, this suddenly became a lot more interesting. Keep us notified!

[Jamiesname]

I'm looking forward to this one. I recently found one of these (can't tell if it's L. Umbratus or L. Clavigar) less than a week ago. It must have just come out of hibernation. I put some of my L. Neoniger brood in with her, so I'm just waiting for the workers to eclose and the queen should lay eggs shortly after that.

Keep us posted!

Edited by Jamiesname, April 17 2018 - 11:46 AM.

[antnest8]

love the journal

[ultraex2]

Update 5/09/18:

 

Bad news!  I'm going to wait for this batch of eggs to finish hatching (about 2 dozen cocoons) but all the ants that have hatched so far are males which are pointing to an unfertilized queen... super dissapointed to find that out.

 

Really sucks, but the good news is I have a bunch of L. Neoniger queens with eggs that I'll be able to take brood from so hopefully I will get another one going this year that is actually fertile.  Thanks for the support everyone!  I will post pictures later this week, just sucks having to look at them.

 

 

 

Edited by ultraex2, May 14 2018 - 8:16 AM.

[rbarreto]

Oh no! I was looking forward to this journal.  

[Canadian anter]

It was a nice run. Keep it and see how long it goes.

[antnest8]

keep the ants. some queens lay males first. if a couple batches come without workers then you can consider throwing them away

[Jamiesname]

keep the ants. some queens lay males first. if a couple batches come without workers then you can consider throwing them away

I second this. My L. Latipes had a male hatch first, only 1 though. The rest are workers. Regardless, hold on to them for the summer and see what happens. Worst case scenario = using all the males as food for your other colonies.

[ultraex2]

 

keep the ants. some queens lay males first. if a couple batches come without workers then you can consider throwing them away

I second this. My L. Latipes had a male hatch first, only 1 though. The rest are workers. Regardless, hold on to them for the summer and see what happens. Worst case scenario = using all the males as food for your other colonies.

 

Will do... I also managed to catch another parasitic Lasius, so hopefully I can get that one started.

 

edit: also added pictures to the update post, for those interested.

Edited by ultraex2, May 14 2018 - 8:16 AM.