7 replies to this topic

[Solenoqueen]

I put my S. Molesta queen i caught last week in a test tube setup six days ago. She's well and alive... except she seems to have burrowed into the wet cottonball and camped over there haha. It kinda sucks because now I can't really see her well, and I have to get a magnifying glass to see her moving through a tiny orifice that she made, which even then only lets me see part of her thorax moving around. Can someone tell me if it means anything, or if it does, how can I prevent it? I do want to see her if possible, but at the same time, if she's ok this way, then I might as well leave her there. Just out of concern and curiosity.

[Waganga]

Maybe it would be good to add a small amount of sterile substrate to the tube? So she has something else to dig into besides the cotton? 

[rbarreto]

Could it be that you didn't push the cotton in far enough so she is just trying to get to where its more humid?

Edited by rbarreto, June 9 2018 - 3:08 PM.

[Solenoqueen]

Maybe you're right... how would I fix this though, I want to see her Highness  , but if there is no safe way to do it, I guess I should just leave her there. Anyone else?

[FeedTheAnts]

Maybe it is because she is so small. She probably wants a smaller living space, viewing the cotton as digging medium. I'd agree with adding some dirt, or just forgetting about it.

[Scrixx]

I noticed the same thing with three of the S. molesta queens I put in a tupperware setup with cotton. They seem to like digging into it or at least getting in a very tight spot. I think they just want a very small founding space.

[AntsAreUs]

They are tiny ants after all. I don't want my bed room to be 50 feet high while I sleep.

[Solenoqueen]

Haha, thanks guys. No more concerns, but I won't see her with the brood and stuff. As long as she is happy it's alright with me.