12 replies to this topic

[sweetgrass]

I extracted ants from a log I was splitting for wood.  None appear to me to be queens.  Yet on checking just now 5 or so days later , there are 2 eggs in the test tube?!

[gcsnelling]

In times of stress worker will sometimes lay infertile eggs. If they develop at all they become males, but more often than  not they are fed to any larva present.

[nurbs]

Myrmecocystus seem to. Have a colony from last year - all black, found in the mountains, but never ID'ed - where the queen died. I kept the workers, hoping to find another queen this season from the same spot and drop her in. Never found a new queen, but the colony seemed to mysteriously grow. I looked into the nest and was surprised to find eggs, larva, and cocoons.

 

That was earlier this year, and the gamergate may have died. I do not see any new brood now except a few remaining cocoons.

[Leo]

My diacamma, leptogenys, diacamma and ectommyrmex can have gamergates.

[TennesseeAnts]

Myrmecocystus seem to. Have a colony from last year - all black, found in the mountains, but never ID'ed - where the queen died. I kept the workers, hoping to find another queen this season from the same spot and drop her in. Never found a new queen, but the colony seemed to mysteriously grow. I looked into the nest and was surprised to find eggs, larva, and cocoons.
 
That was earlier this year, and the gamergate may have died. I do not see any new brood now except a few remaining cocoons.

Did the cocoons hatch into workers or males?

[nurbs]

Myrmecocystus seem to. Have a colony from last year - all black, found in the mountains, but never ID'ed - where the queen died. I kept the workers, hoping to find another queen this season from the same spot and drop her in. Never found a new queen, but the colony seemed to mysteriously grow. I looked into the nest and was surprised to find eggs, larva, and cocoons.
 
That was earlier this year, and the gamergate may have died. I do not see any new brood now except a few remaining cocoons.

Did the cocoons hatch into workers or males?

Workers, no males. Fascinating, huh? Have no idea how that one worker became
fertilized. Entire colony was raised in captivity.

[Zeiss]

Workers, no males. Fascinating, huh? Have no idea how that one worker became

fertilized. Entire colony was raised in captivity.

And you're positive there just wasn't a large brood pile from the queen?

[sirjordanncurtis]

It could also be possible that some workers were carrying the eggs between their mandibles, and you just didn't notice it while you captured them. 

[nurbs]

 

Workers, no males. Fascinating, huh? Have no idea how that one worker became

fertilized. Entire colony was raised in captivity.

And you're positive there just wasn't a large brood pile from the queen?

 

 

100% positive. Queen died last year in July. Only 2-3 workers, very little brood. They have about 15-20 workers now. There's even two repletes.

 

I don't blame you, I wouldn't believe you if you told me the same either. When I get home will post pics.

[TennesseeAnts]

Workers, no males. Fascinating, huh? Have no idea how that one worker became
fertilized. Entire colony was raised in captivity.

And you're positive there just wasn't a large brood pile from the queen?

 
100% positive. Queen died last year in July. Only 2-3 workers, very little brood. They have about 15-20 workers now. There's even two repletes.
 
I don't blame you, I wouldn't believe you if you told me the same either. When I get home will post pics.

One worker in my now deceased Camponotus colony laid eggs. They ate them though.

[sweetgrass]

This is fascinating.  I won't give up on mine yet.  I am extracting another colony from a log.  I captured quite a few last night.  They are wild.  Tearing the cotton.  Some of the smaller ones died overnight sadly.  There is one that could be a queen.  Not sure.  Leaving for the weekend. so fed the ones in the log that are inside a very large container.  Fed the newly caught ones as well.  Smashed my thumb with a hammer.  Not good.

[nurbs]

Pic as promised. I count 16 workers, 2 repletes, and one larva left. Keep in mind the queen died last year around July, with less than 5 workers and hardly any brood.

 

[TennesseeAnts]

Pic as promised. I count 16 workers, 2 repletes, and one larva left. Keep in mind the queen died last year around July, with less than 5 workers and hardly any brood.
 

Wow!