7 replies to this topic

[Tetramorium]

My Tetramorium caespitum queen leaves her nest and is wandering in the outworld, trying to flee her ergates. She then, perhaps due to the coaxing of her ergates, returns to the nest, where her ergates and larvae reside. This Tetramorium colony current resides in an AntsCanada Myrmica Hybrid Nest, which is connected to an AC Outworld. What is causing this behavior and how can it be corrected? I have experienced this issue in the past before, albeit in a Talus formicarium manufactured by Tar Heel Ants (THA). I appreciate any help and advice that others might offer me! 

Edited by Tetramorium, August 25 2017 - 9:03 AM.

[Spamdy]

Are you telling me your Tetramorium caespitum queen gave birth to beetles!?

 

 Jokes aside, I'm going to assume that "ergates" are workers. This kind of behavior has been shown with different queens and different species and genera. Is she coming out for food or just mindlessly walking around? I don't think It'll be a problem anyway as long as she's laying eggs and the workers don't kill her.

 

If your queen actually did give birth to ergates, that's some really strange behavior, if so we need pictures.

Edited by Spamdy, August 25 2017 - 10:17 AM.

[fANTastic]

Are you telling me your Tetramorium caespitum queen gave birth to beetles!?

 

 Jokes aside, I'm going to assume that "ergates" are workers. This kind of behavior has been shown with different queens and different species and genera. Is she coming out for food or just mindlessly walking around? I don't think It'll be a problem anyway as long as she's laying eggs and the workers don't kill her.

 

If your queen actually did give birth to ergates, that's some really strange behavior, if so we need pictures.

I think ergates actually means ants... lol you are funny

[Spamdy]

 

Are you telling me your Tetramorium caespitum queen gave birth to beetles!?

 

 Jokes aside, I'm going to assume that "ergates" are workers. This kind of behavior has been shown with different queens and different species and genera. Is she coming out for food or just mindlessly walking around? I don't think It'll be a problem anyway as long as she's laying eggs and the workers don't kill her.

 

If your queen actually did give birth to ergates, that's some really strange behavior, if so we need pictures.

I think ergates actually means ants... lol you are funny

 

It actually means a worker ant or a kind of beetle. I don't know but eargates sounds weird, I'd much rather prefer worker ant. 

[Tetramorium]

Thanks for your reply. The queen seems to be wandering around, attempting to flee her ergates, although she does return to her nest after exploring. In the wild, this behaviour would be harmful (due to the existence of natural predators). 

 

Also, the entomological term "ergate" refers to a simple worker ant. Similarly, the word "dinergate" refers to what is colloquially called a "soldier ant". 

[Leo]

Oh lol  , when I first read your post and searched ergates (without looking at the other posts) I was like WHAT

[Serafine]

She may just search for food. It is not that uncommon for a queen to be the main forager in a young colony.

Messor queens are known to do that and even my Lasius niger queen did it.

[Mettcollsuss]

It could be the nest. Myrmica nests are very moist, around 80-90% humidity, while Tetramorium prefer humidity levels of 20-40%.