26 replies to this topic

[StayLoki]

All together...can't believe it.

I took the larvae out as I don't even know what sp. it is or what they're going to be..

Hope they don't figure out she's a fake!!!





She seems happy with her new slaves 💓

Edited by StayLoki, May 21 2018 - 9:26 AM.

[StayLoki]

I've been checking every half hour or so just making sure they're not attacking her.
The first time I was quite alarmed b/c it looked like they were all around her and I thought they might be grabbing her legs. I turned my flashlight on quick and it appeared they were all just sitting around her, and under her. Which was a huge relief!
The second time just now, I noticed one hanging upside down on her belly feeding her! They were touching mandibles, but not aggressively..a few workers are hiding under her and the rest around her.
I think she pulled it off.
I'm going to name her Ghost, in honor of Call of Duty Ghost and after umbratus after all!
😂

Edited by StayLoki, May 21 2018 - 9:56 AM.

[StayLoki]

The workers were identified as Lasius alienus if anyone is interested .. I took the larvae out because as Canadian anter pointed out to me, I don't what know they'll be.

All workers are still alive and focused on feeding and tending to her.
It's funny b/c when she was in there by herself she barely moved at all.
Now her company feed her, clean her, even move her legs around and move her.

I hope I see some eggs in a few wks. 👏

Edited by StayLoki, May 22 2018 - 4:05 PM.

[mallonje]

I think my problem was not enough room.

I built an impromptu out world, added some newly found l. Niger or alienus 8 workers and various brood to the out world and plugged in my queens test tube.

So far they're all still alive but as of right now I can't tell I'd they're being social yet.

Before I'd chill the workers and slip them in.

[StayLoki]

I went with the dead worker, larvae, then 1 worker approach (over the course of 2-3days?), which I suppose is a mixture of everything except chilling..

...not sure what u mean by not enough room?
I started this queen in a test tube only, no outworld. The host workers and larvae in were in another normal tt themselves..and everything was introduced into her tt.

I didn't introduce everything at once and maybe you need less space and one-at-a-time intro? Although time consuming, it worked for now.. . . .

[mallonje]

I was introducing host workers one at a time into the queens Test Tube Setup. I think between the gate cotton and the water cotton there was enough space for the two the them to have enough space to return to neutral corners. As a result, the queen was killing all my workers. 

 

So I whipped up an outworld out of an unused prescription bottle (CVS gave them to me for free) and a test tube cap with a hole bored in it. Everyone is still alive, but I don't think they're interacting much yet. She clearly has their sent but I haven't seen them feed or groom her.   

Edited by mallonje, May 22 2018 - 6:56 PM.

[StayLoki]

^^ ooo ok, gotcha
Yea in my tt they have about an inch, maybe more.
The 1st worker kept retreating to the cotton gate and running circle/loops round near the entrance every time it ran into her.
But then it would run back to the larvae, which were by the queen, and I'm thinking having the larvae present help trick the worker..in my case at least