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Post by TenebrousNova on Oct 8, 2019 1:06:17 GMT
Tonight I noticed a larger sized callow that I believe is the first of a different caste from the rest of her sisters. She's twice as big. I don't think she's a major since the one Wood~Ant had was over half the size of his queen. Media, possibly?
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Post by Wood~Ant on Oct 10, 2019 8:02:51 GMT
She is a major, as mine was twice the size of her sisters: but only half the size of the queen, not bigger.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Oct 31, 2019 19:19:54 GMT
Oddly while the colony was feeding today, the xiangban queen, for reasons known only to herself, walked out of the nest and explored the foraging area. I didn't see any panic or surprise from the workers at seeing their mother leave the safety of the nest. I've seen ants such as Formica physically drag their queens back inside if they wander off! Here she is inspecting the sugar water collection effort. She soon went back inside, where she was fed.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Mar 20, 2020 18:12:21 GMT
Winter went well for this colony and they still have plenty of left over larvae from last year. What's more, the queen has already started to lay eggs. My only regret since moving this colony into their current nest is that I can't get in there and clean it for them, since they have two trash chambers and they're an eyesore.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Mar 29, 2020 18:40:23 GMT
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Post by TenebrousNova on Apr 9, 2020 16:01:47 GMT
Here's the first cocoons of the year. I've been feeding the colony every day now. I want them to grow as fast as possible.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 9, 2020 16:10:22 GMT
Brilliant brood mass. What are you feeding the colony on, as I haven't been able to get out to buy food for my ants for obvious health reasons.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Apr 9, 2020 17:30:44 GMT
Brilliant brood mass. What are you feeding the colony on, as I haven't been able to get out to buy food for my ants for obvious health reasons. I've been alternating between medium sized crickets and small Dubia cockroaches. I ordered them online from this site.I also give them sugar water and whatever flies happen to find their way into the house. I hope to see your colony growing soon!
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Post by TenebrousNova on Apr 16, 2020 16:33:03 GMT
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Post by TenebrousNova on Apr 22, 2020 19:06:08 GMT
I finally got to see this queen laying an egg! I had just missed the first one because a worker was already holding it, but at an unseen signal another worker approached and started feeling for the egg as it was laid. She did in fact try to take the egg before it was fully out in her enthusiasm, which caused the queen to jump. Here's the two nurses squabbling over who gets to carry the new eggs. Minor update: she laid a third soon after. It looks like I'm doing something right!
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Post by TenebrousNova on Apr 24, 2020 18:49:09 GMT
Ant eggs are sticky, as the worker in the middle discovered when one firmly attached itself to her gaster. It was funny watching her trying to ignore it but occasionally trying to dislodge it with her hindleg. It reminded me of people who step on chewing gum and try getting it off their shoe. The queen has laid at least two new eggs today judging by the ones I see in the jaws of nearby workers. She prefers to spend her time in the chamber next to the one filled with brood, so any eggs present with her are new ones. The colony is now eating two crickets a day.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Apr 30, 2020 15:40:11 GMT
This cocoon seems to be larger than the rest. I'm wondering if it could be a major.
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Post by TenebrousNova on May 6, 2020 14:18:34 GMT
The brood chamber is practically full to capacity now with big larvae and cocoons. It's gotten to the point where some larvae are now kept in the adjoining chamber where the queen lives. The colony isn't quite as big right now as it was last year because of old age related deaths, but it looks like the population is set to go straight up again.
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Post by TenebrousNova on May 9, 2020 16:28:10 GMT
I just watched the queen lay her 5th egg of the day. She seems to like the warmer weather.
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Post by TenebrousNova on May 23, 2020 17:34:49 GMT
Here's a peek at the colony today. The vast majority of brood is currently made up of cocoons and some of them, as you can see, are very dark now. It will not be long before the first workers of the year emerge. I think they'll start eclosing tomorrow, or perhaps even sometime tonight.
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