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Post by deano on Nov 27, 2008 15:19:32 GMT
Hi guys, I got 2 new photos to share. Bottom of the current colony, no queen in there, but lots of larvae. Maybe someone can tell me what the black stuff above them is? www.bigdotmedia.com/ants/ants_1.jpgMy new queen ant - yesterday she pulled her wings off and todays she's almost twice as big. She's been drinking the water all day. www.bigdotmedia.com/ants/ants_2.jpgI'm also building a small plaster nest for this new queen, it's really just a test to make sure what I'm doing is working.  more on that soon. |
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Post by Jenny on Nov 27, 2008 17:55:37 GMT
It looks like black sooty mold judging from the picture.  |
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Post by Black Ant on Nov 27, 2008 18:40:34 GMT
You could try using a dilute fungicide solution which will kill the mould to a point, and it doesn't seem to harm ants if used as a weak solution |
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Post by deano on Nov 28, 2008 1:53:34 GMT
Do you know what brand or anything more about this solution? I think it would be worth trying to get rid of it. Previous they in another tank they dug holes every where, but this one they are moving around the black stuff.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Nov 28, 2008 7:55:17 GMT
Hi Deano, I also have used fungicide to kill or stop sooty mould in my set ups when it has infected sand. The best kind to use is the type used on plants such as roses to control mildew and black spot (sooty mould). What I did was spray the ready made solution onto the surface of the sand, then let it soak in. It did not affect my ants in any way, but it did stop the mould from spreading and seemed to kill it. Sadly the blackened area will remain the same, as it has already stained the sand; but at least it won't grow any more. Any good brand of fungicide spray sold in garden stores will do the trick  |
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Post by deano on Nov 29, 2008 7:45:02 GMT
Thanks Wood Ant, I will try that. Also, my queen laid her first larvae today, it's so small. |
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Post by Zarbi on Nov 29, 2008 19:16:31 GMT
Also, my queen laid her first larvae today, it's so small. I think you mean she's laid her 1st egg Deano, as ant eggs hatch into larvae which then turn into pupae before becoming fully grown adult worker ants |
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Post by deano on Dec 1, 2008 13:06:54 GMT
Bad news.
This queen died. Not sure why, I woke up this morning and I watch her, she was shaking then laid on her side, when I came back from watering the garden she was on her back.
Anyone seen this shaking before? Was so weird.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Dec 3, 2008 13:06:46 GMT
Bad news. This queen died. Not sure why, I woke up this morning and I watch her, she was shaking then laid on her side, when I came back from watering the garden she was on her back. Anyone seen this shaking before? Was so weird. Most likely her death throws, as the twitching of her legs would indicate an autonomic nervous response. Usually ants just curl up and die, but I have heard of the odd queen going into spasms of uncontrollable shaking before. It always seems to be followed by the ant dying some hours later sadly  |
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Post by deano on Dec 5, 2008 2:34:02 GMT
Thanks Wood Ant, at least now I know my ants don't need to fly into the air to mate. They can do this in the tank. However as soon as they spot her she's dead - normally they drag her to the surface and kill her. I've found 4 recent large females cut in half.
But also notice no males in my tank. Maybe their under the surface.
Will keep an eye out for more dragged to the surface.
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