3 replies to this topic

[MegaMyrmex]

My C. Chromaiodes colony has a bunch of pupae in cocoons and 2 of them jave become very datk, but the ants jave not opened them yet. Its been like this for a few days and I eventually decided to open one of them, only to find that the pupa had molted into a dark gray callow worker still curled up in the pupal position. This is pretty urgent since I have never had this jappen to me, and they have at least 5 more pupae on the way to adilthood, and I don't want all of them to die, but nor do I want to have to meticulously dissect all of them. I tried hydrating the nest a bit more than before but theybhavem't eclosed the other pupa yet. Anyone have any experience with this? Tgis is a pretty small colomy of about 4 workers and 1 queen.

[Ants_Texas]

My Camponotus pennsylvanicus colony has tons of dark pupae. Pupae in which you can see the worker inside just means it's very close to being ready for adulthood. When you opened the pupa, it wasn't completely formed yet hence why it was dead. You've got to have some patience with Camponotus, man. 

[MegaMyrmex]

Haha, thanks I was jist getting impatient😅 I'vr never really had much luck with my camponotus colonies, they just end up slowly dying off so I wanted to maximize this colony's chance of survival. Rhanks again though!

[Ants_Texas]

Haha, thanks I was jist getting impatient I'vr never really had much luck with my camponotus colonies, they just end up slowly dying off so I wanted to maximize this colony's chance of survival. Rhanks again though!

Just let them do their thing. Those dark pupae will eclose in about a week or less. 

Edited by Ants_Texas, February 10 2018 - 9:09 AM.