10 replies to this topic

[Mettcollsuss]

I caught a Myrmica sp. queen over the summer. She laid a clutch of about ten or so eggs very soon after capture. Despite frequent feedings, her brood developed slowly, as well as some being cannibalized. Now, roughly three months after capture, she has her first pupae, and it's a worker pupae, meaning she is fertile. I had had my doubts due to how slowly her brood developed. She now has one pupae, one large larvae, one small larvae, and one egg.

 

here are some bad quality pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kaelwizard]

Update? Hibernation?

[TennesseeAnts]

Mine took 3 months to get workers as well! Good to know I was not doing anything wrong!

[Mettcollsuss]

haha, oops. I forgot about this journal.

 

About a month ago, the first worker eclosed. I'm not sure if it's this species' coloration, or something's preventing it from gaining pigment, but it still has callow-like coloration.

 

Yesterday, the second worker eclosed. They are already just as active as the first. Despite being a month older, the two are basically identical in coloration.

[Rstheant]

Good luck!

[Mettcollsuss]

The newest worker just died 

 

But the queen and other worker are acting healthy.

[Mettcollsuss]

I moved them to a new test tube today because the old one was getting pretty dirty. While moving them I noticed a pupae in their tube, but it had been cannibalized. Oh well. The queen and her nanitic are still healthy. Hopefully they get more brood soon.

[Mettcollsuss]

I realized I've never posted pictures of the worker. Oops. Here you go.

 

For some reason, the worker is still really light in color.

 

[Mettcollsuss]

They just laid a couple new eggs.

[Mettcollsuss]

Several eggs now.

[TennesseeAnts]

I love Myrmica. I miss kinda miss my colony.