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Post by TenebrousNova on Jan 29, 2019 16:07:01 GMT
There's still plenty of larvae and they are still growing, albeit very, very slowly, but there's still no new eggs or cocoons. A few days ago I actually caught a few workers eating half a larva. Whether it was already ill I can't say.
The workers usually accept sugar water but they still refuse to take insect food actually inside the nest, preferring to nibble at it on the surface (And barely consuming any of it at all). I hope they start to do better soon.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 4, 2019 20:25:58 GMT
About three days ago I caught the workers eating a larva and yesterday I found a larva that was all black and dead...the rest of them look okay. Wonder what's wrong? There's still no eggs, although Wood~Ant 's queen still seems to be laying them. I hope I'm not doing anything wrong. Worker giving me attitude in the foraging box: Major:
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Post by TenebrousNova on Jul 24, 2019 20:45:05 GMT
After many, many months of this colony being at a standstill and not going out foraging, I have put my foot down and moved them into a smaller set up, where perhaps a miracle will happen and they'll grow once more. Catching the colony was easy, especially the majors who charged at my fingers with jaws agape. I got all of them in the foraging box of their new nest within five minutes. Currently they are sulking in there while workers explore the nest, which I've covered for the time being. There are several larvae but I'm not sure if they're even healthy. They look almost dry to me. Here is their new nest, made out of a block of ytong by a good friend of mine in Australia. Perhaps they'll feel more at ease in here. Fingers crossed, everyone! I want this colony to be doing just as well as Wood~Ant 's one day.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Jul 24, 2019 22:40:51 GMT
The colony moved quickly into the nest. They took the larvae as well, so they must be alive. Shortly after the move: Now that they're somewhat settled in, they are pampering the queen and grooming her all over. This is actually the most interaction I've seen between them for a long time. They spent all those months huddled there motionless. If her colony is to succeed, they need to start eating and she needs to lay eggs. Unfortunately there has been one incident where a worker managed to "drown" herself in sugar water. I laid her out on a piece of tissue in hopes of reviving her and there's definitely some movement now. I hope she makes it! I took the opportunity to get a photo of her face with my microscope.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Jul 25, 2019 15:07:16 GMT
Unfortunately that worker didn't make it, dropping the population to 16. I left out a mealworm for them but they've been walking straight over it.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jul 25, 2019 17:28:45 GMT
Unfortunately that worker didn't make it, dropping the population to 16. I left out a mealworm for them but they've been walking straight over it. Mine are not keen on hard shelled insects, but greenbottles are always eaten.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Aug 2, 2019 0:42:42 GMT
Now there's a sight I never expected to see again...the first egg this queen has laid for the better part of a year! They're still refusing insects though.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Aug 2, 2019 23:34:34 GMT
There are now three eggs. I'm hopeful that the presence of newborn larvae will make this colony remember that they need to be fed.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Aug 5, 2019 1:01:00 GMT
There are now six eggs! Wish I knew what was causing this change of heart from the queen. She should've been laying eggs back in Spring like Wood's queen.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Aug 6, 2019 2:05:56 GMT
One of the majors has been acting very oddly for days now. She spends most of her time in the nest with the others but will always be the first to investigate the foraging box when the lid is opened. And whilst most of the workers coming out will drink their fill, this major will angrily splash around in it, snap her jaws at it and then frantically run around whilst mashing her face into the sand. It's utterly bizarre and she does it until the workers have drank it all. Normal worker who just wants to get a drink without her blundering big sister charging wildly around: Any explanation for this behaviour would be appreciated.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Sept 27, 2019 17:43:19 GMT
I'm sorry to report that this colony has died out. I don't know if it was because of some unseen factor or my own incompetence that led them to refuse all food, but it had been going on for almost a year.
I will one day try keeping this species again since I know it can be done. The trouble is finding someone who sells them.
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