2 replies to this topic

[CoolColJ]

Thanks to suggestion from somone on Reddit I successfully merged 2 nanitics and 4 larvae from my Camponotus suffusus queen that died recently, to another one with 5 workers that had just moved into an Atom C nest.

I waited a week after removing the queen's dead body, so that any colony scent would be greatly diminished.

Then I dumped them into the outworld, near the nest entrance. The larvae came out easily enough, but the 2 nanitics had a larvae each in their mouths and I had to use a small paint brush to coax them out.
At first they were confused for a while, but eventually they entered the nest, one with a larvae in it's mouth.

click to enlarge


The first newcomer nanitic encountered the queen upon entering and started feeding her, while 2 of her workers looked on angrily, but the queen was happy



Then the one with the larvae entered



she placed the larvae on the brood pile



then fed the queen as well, it seems this is the way to please someone



Later on there was some mild biffo with one of the larger workers (regular vs nanitic I think) and one of the newcomer nanitics. Some leg grabbing etc, and that Camponotus angry body jerk



Queen came over to break it up, and the newcomer nanitic fed one of the workers. It's almost like this is the way to beg for mercy or something



-

Queen is now happy, she has 7 workers and 11 larvae

[Batspiderfish]

I've seen this happen between two species as well. Camponotus (young colonies, at least) don't seem to let nanitics go to waste. There is some risk if you don't know why the queen died.

[CoolColJ]

I've seen this happen between two species as well. Camponotus (young colonies, at least) don't seem to let nanitics go to waste. There is some risk if you don't know why the queen died.

 

 

In my case, I accidently severed the queen's left antenna in whole.

She died after 3 days, so not 100% sure if a missing antenna could have killed her, but the glass and forces that removed her antenna could have caused other injuries