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Post by TenebrousNova on Nov 1, 2019 18:46:56 GMT
At long last, the first worker has eclosed! Here she is with her mum:  She is slightly iridescent but it's hard to see with the brown colour. Over the coming days the brown will give way to the brilliant blues and greens associated with this species. It should now just be a matter of time before the other pupae eclose.  |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Nov 2, 2019 17:14:07 GMT
It's always nice to see the first newborn callow worker, and with a new daughter to help raise the brood other worker ants should soon follow. I'm happy to see this species is doing well for you.  |
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Post by TenebrousNova on Nov 3, 2019 15:50:20 GMT
It's always nice to see the first newborn callow worker, and with a new daughter to help raise the brood other worker ants should soon follow. I'm happy to see this species is doing well for you. So am I, believe me! The worker is settling in well in her role as sole helper of the queen. I've seen her carrying eggs around and I've already seen the queen expectantly shoving brood into her face! I don't think she's finished darkening just yet, but she does look lovely already.   I'm also expecting some of those eggs to start hatching quite soon. |
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Post by TenebrousNova on Nov 4, 2019 1:32:28 GMT
I decided to move the colony into a new test tube since their old one was so dirty and moldy. The queen walked into the new test tube on her own but the worker and brood had to be tipped in. I almost accidentally threw the eggs away with their old sand, but I believe I've got most or all of them! I'm convinced that the pupa on the right will eclose within the next few days since it's quite dark now.  |
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Post by TenebrousNova on Nov 14, 2019 23:40:35 GMT
The brood currently stands at 3 pupae and several eggs. For some reason the large larva is gone so I can only assume it was eaten. I can't get a good view since the eggs are hidden in the cotton, but I'm sure I can see a few tiny larvae among them! The second worker still hasn't eclosed but the cocoon mentioned in the last post is now very dark indeed. Interestingly, the queen has now taken to sugar water and I've watched her gently sipping from it a few times now. Rhytidoponera have an interesting behaviour where they gather up a droplet in their jaws and carry it back to the nest and here, you can see the queen delivering a little droplet to the worker.   |
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Post by TenebrousNova on Dec 2, 2019 18:52:48 GMT
Unfortunately the worker inside that dark cocoon apparently died before it could eclose, because they threw it out. The last two cocoons are darkening nicely though. The new larvae are growing swiftly and the queen has laid more eggs. The queen has just given some fruit flies to the larvae.  |
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Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 27, 2020 12:26:33 GMT
It has taken a long time and the queen had eaten more cocoons, but finally the second worker is here. Things are looking up.   |
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