26 replies to this topic

[Deluga]

Update 01/07/2018 12am.

 

I knew some of the pupae would eclose soon, so I've checked them every day the past few days. But only once a day. And the first worker eclosed yesterday!

Took 1 month and about 2 weeks to get the first worker, and there should soon be 2-4 more, as there is 4 more pupae just waiting to eclose.

 

Other than that, there is a quite large egg pile and some big larvae and small larvae, so it seems like the colony is doing really good, which I'm really happy about!

 

This is probaly the best picture for the brood. The larvae is covered by the queen, and it was hard to get a picture of them, so I decided not to do it, as it would disturb too much.

 

I think it's amazing how small the worker is compared to the queen.

 

So it looks like the colony is doing really good, and I might feed the worker and queen some sugar water soon and see what they say about it. Just so make sure they are doing fine. I really want to make sure this colony is doing good, as this is the only what I've got.

 

 

I've been working on a formicarium for them, I'm done with the Ytong nest, haven't painted it though, might wait a bit, as I'm gonna test it with other ants first, to make sure it is safe. Also I need to secure the space between the ytong and the plastic box. right now I'm looking a different kind of grout for that usage, but again it's pretty hard finding information of it's good or bad, so I would probaly have to use that too. I'm probaly gonna get some that is used for akvariums, as it wouldn't break upon getting in contact with water.

 

Here are the picture of the ytong nest.

 

This is the top view. I've made two nest entrances, as there is a nesting area in both sides. My plan is to pour water directly into the chambers. I've also cut a large place in the lid, that I've planned to cover with fine mesh. Only problem is that everytime I remove the lid, to feed them, is it's hard to put back in place, due to the Ytong. I've tried to sand it down a bit, but doesn't really work out that well, and I'm afraid of sanding it down too much, so the ytong won't sit tight. 

 

Also there is only around 3cm, from the ytong to the top of the lid, so I cannot put that much soil in there. So considering not putting soil in there, but I might do it anyway, not sure yet.

 

This is how the chamber looks from the side.

 

And this picture shows the opposite side of the ytong nest, and also show that I've made a hole all the way through, so they have easy acces to both part of the nesting areas. I found that this was more ideal and natural.

 

[AntsAreCool55]

I would wait until colony has at least ~20 workers before moving them into the nest.

Congrats on first worker!

Edited by AntsAreCool55, July 1 2018 - 11:15 PM.

[Karma]

I would agree with antsarecool for this one normally however I have noticed most camponotus don't like being in test tubes very long, on top of the fact that most C. species are fairly large and easily outgrow most test tubes in the founding stage so it is difficult to wait to move them out. Even then I have found most camponotus completely fine with moving with anywhere from 3 to 10 worker. For their comfort I recommend putting them in that nest once the first batch of workers ecloses. Congrats on your first worker, I can't wait to see their colours!

[Deluga]

I'm not finished completely with the nest, gonna need some grout around the edges to seal off the space between Ytong and the box. I have a coworker getting some today that might be good. It is used for akvariums, so it has no problems with getting in contact with water, and it does no harm to his fish.

 

However this is ants, so I will have to test it out before using it, and I already have planned how to test it, with some help from grout experienced users. 

This will take a couple of days, to maybe a week or two, as I'm soon going on a camping trip(next week) Hopefully after that, the last pupae would eclose. 

 

Here is a small update.

 

The second worker is now eclosed!

I knew it would happen soon with the second one, as one of the pupae were getting some nice colour. 

 

 

[AntsMaryland]

I actually have a question. I have 2 camponotus pennsylvanicus queens. They both have pupae. None of them are hatching and every so often they throw one out, and i opened it, and it was a dead black (not pale) nanitic. And it looks like a bunch of others are like that. Am I doing something wrong?

[AntsAreUs]

I actually have a question. I have 2 camponotus pennsylvanicus queens. They both have pupae. None of them are hatching and every so often they throw one out, and i opened it, and it was a dead black (not pale) nanitic. And it looks like a bunch of others are like that. Am I doing something wrong?

I've had that happen before. I'm not sure what the cause is, but I do find it odd. It has only happened to me with C. pennsylvanicus.

[Deluga]

I actually have a question. I have 2 camponotus pennsylvanicus queens. They both have pupae. None of them are hatching and every so often they throw one out, and i opened it, and it was a dead black (not pale) nanitic. And it looks like a bunch of others are like that. Am I doing something wrong?

 

I have not tried this yet. So I do not know the answer. And I don't think you can do anything wrong. Try make a new topic for this question. Write how you keep them and other info that might help.