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[Trythis22]

I can understand that trophic eggs are hard to differentiate between fertilized eggs and may be consumed by the queen or brood. When larvae disappear, is it a case of cannibalism? I've been keeping strict head counts and the numbers do not add up. I am not overestimating brood count. The disappearing larvae is most evident early on, and it happens in every colony, from 5% to as much as 30% "death" rate of the larvae. Temperature is not a factor in these disappearances although they are less significant in the colonies kept at higher temperatures due to faster growth (400% higher performance). 

 

Is the whole "survival of the fittest" thing going on where the healthiest larvae are given special attention, even within the same colonies in captive conditions? Is it just larvae dying during their development then being fed to the living larvae afterwards? What is the reason that larvae, even pupae, sometimes disappear without a trace without increasing worker head count? 

[Major]

Hello Trythis22,

This most likely is cannibalism. Your queen and colony may be stressed, or some other factor. Perhaps you are feeding them a lack of protein, to the point where they must revert to their primal ways and eat their sisters. I would not be very worried, this happens with colonies very often. I would assume streets is the key factor in this. Has there been temperature change, daily disturbance or vibration, lack of protein or sugar, airflow, or any other factor that would lead to stress? Try to be careful on how often they are exposed to light, sometimes even vibrations and movement can be stressful.

Me and a few others have learned that tropic eggs usually are larger, and do not have the extra layer, and are more exposed. It is difficult to describe, but I imagine with experience you may be able to compare and notice.

Colonies may be eating the larvae because they may have been unhealthy. There are so many factors to why the larvae were eaten. You may want to compare numbers with number of brood eaten at (x) temperature, or (z) times checked on. Make sure to have only one independent variable, with multiple subjects. I would be interested in seeing rates.

Good luck, and I hope your larvae will not be eaten.

Edited by Major, October 5 2018 - 10:02 PM.