markm
Nurse Ant 
Posts: 83
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Post by markm on Jan 30, 2009 16:51:56 GMT
Since this my first queen I wanted to keep a journal on one of the forums I visit. This site has helped me a bunch so what better place to start my first journal! I got this queen on Jan 23rd 2009. When I got her she had about 5 eggs with her and was in a test tube set up. I quickly placed her in a box lined with a kitchen towel and put another kitchen towel over the top of the box and faced a lamp at the box. I was able to get the temp to a steady 76 degrees F. There she has remained for the last week. I did try and feed her once. I placed a small piece of foil in the test tube with a honey and water mixture, 4 parts water and 1 part honey. It was gone the next day but I think it evaporated more than she ate it all. It was only a drop but she is 6-8mm and the drop seemed to be as big as her! None the less I will leave her be for awhile before I introduce anything else. I have recently started folding the towel on top back a bit to get her used to the light as I would like to have this colony in the light verses covered up all the time. Currently she has a large pile of eggs, no good way to count them as they are piled on top of one another, upon inspection I did notice that a few of the eggs (3-4) have turned to larvae. Here are a few pictures I was able to get. Feel free to respond to this thread as I would love advice and feedback...    |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jan 30, 2009 17:42:18 GMT
A nice healthy looking queen. I would probably wait until she has raised a few larvae into pupae before offering any form of protein. When she has her first 2 or 3 workers, then you can think about moving the colony into a more permanent set up  Not entirely sure what Lasius species she may be, but she is certainly a very fine specimen  |
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Post by Zarbi on Feb 5, 2009 18:29:58 GMT
Nice looking queen you have there, thanks for posting those pics  |
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markm
Nurse Ant
Posts: 83
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Post by markm on Feb 18, 2009 14:50:27 GMT
Since my last entry I was able to feed this queen a spider which she readily took.  Shortly after I noticed that I now have a cocoon.  I looked last night and the cocoon had darkened up quite a bit but looks mishapen and a bit collapsed. Not sure if that is normal or not, I also noticed a lot of larvae now. This colony should be getting larger soon! |
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markm
Nurse Ant
Posts: 83
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Post by markm on Mar 10, 2009 16:07:28 GMT
Been a few weeks so an update is in order. The one cocoon seen in the pictures prior was either eaten or died or something as shortly after I posted the pictures it darkened up a lot, shriveled up and was moved away from her and the other larvae and eggs. I wonder if she ate the cocoon or fed what was in it to the larvae because shortly after many of the larvae spun cocoons, she has quite a few now.... This picture was taken a week or so ago so there are actually a few more cocoons than in the picture.  |
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markm
Nurse Ant
Posts: 83
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Post by markm on Mar 11, 2009 14:17:52 GMT
3-11-09 First worker emerged!!! Went to bed last night and she had many eggs/larvae and cocoons. Woke up and checked on her and she had 1 worker! She is as cute as a button and I will try to get some pictures later today but I had to get out the door and to work. I did put a small wad of cotton soaked in sugar water for them for a little energy boost while I was at work and will try and offer some protein when I get back. The worker was already hard at her job moving cocoons around for the queen. It is amazing how strong she is. The cocoons are bigger than she is but she had no trouble moving them around. She is gray for now but I expect her to darken up to all black like the queen??
None the less I was super jazzed and will update more later once I return home!
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markm
Nurse Ant
Posts: 83
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Post by markm on Mar 12, 2009 13:12:07 GMT
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markm
Nurse Ant
Posts: 83
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Post by markm on Mar 13, 2009 13:05:03 GMT
3-13-09
Second worker arrived today!!
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Post by Josh on Mar 15, 2009 21:42:27 GMT
Thanks for the journal entries with the pictures. I've found them most interesting and your colony is coming along quite splendid. I wish you the best with it and keep us updated! |
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markm
Nurse Ant
Posts: 83
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Post by markm on Mar 16, 2009 16:00:45 GMT
Well she is up to 7 workers at last count, I worked on and finished the formicarium this weekend. Pictures to come later today. My wife had the camera this weekend while she was out of town. I have placed the test tube into the foraging area and hope that they will soon find their new home. For now they seem content staying in the test tube, but it is in the light and the nest is in the dark, so I hope that they will eventually move in.
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markm
Nurse Ant
Posts: 83
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Post by markm on Mar 17, 2009 14:15:32 GMT
Here is the nest I chose for them with the attached foraging area, any improvement ideas are welcome...  |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Mar 18, 2009 0:37:14 GMT
Nice set up I think the best advice I can offer is the following. Keep the foraging tank dry with lower humidity, while the main nest should be slightly damp. Also to encourage the ants to move into the nest rather than remain in the foraging tank, cover it with card or something dark, as this will make it a dark place for the queen to lay her eggs in; and the workers to move any brood into. Most ants nest underground in the wild, where it is naturally dark and damp, even in high summer. So you should find that your own colony will prefer to live in the dark, and you can just remove the card when you wish to observe them. The foraging tank will attract the workers to hunt for food, and if this is drier it will prevent food from growing mould too quickly. |
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markm
Nurse Ant
Posts: 83
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Post by markm on May 8, 2009 16:10:55 GMT
Sorry for the long delay between updates.
Well since my last update not much has changed other than the number of ants now in the test tube. The queen now has about 13 or so workers. They tend a large pile of brood of all shape and size. The numbers grow daily it seems and they STILL are content in the test tube. I have the lid off of the foraging area to help get rid of humidity, a heat lamp pointed at the foraging area, the nest in darkness and humid but they do not want to move!
They have a constant supply of sugar water and I drop in a bug of some sort every few days. They forage well and eat well.
I would attach a pic but the test tube is pretty dirty now with all their waste and it is impossible to get a good view.
Once they move I will snap a few more pictures for everyone.
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markm
Nurse Ant
Posts: 83
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Post by markm on May 20, 2009 15:07:25 GMT
Numbers still hover around 13-16, it is very hard to get a good count as the test tube has been "spruced" up a lot which means I can not see in very well. Yes, they are still in the test tube and seem to want to stay no matter how uncomfortable I make it for them.
They continue to forage and have drinks from the cotton ball that has the sugar water soaked into it. I dropped in a spider 2 days ago and it was brought into the test tube where they eat when they feel the need.
The colony is doing well and seem healthy and happy.
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markm
Nurse Ant
Posts: 83
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Post by markm on May 27, 2009 14:06:20 GMT
The water in the test tube is starting to dry out so I hope this will push them to move soon. They are a very active colony for such a small colony. Always foraging and moving brood around. Most insects are taken straight into the test tube where the larvae are fed.
I have been keeping the plaster nest moist and in darkness and I hope they will move within the next few weeks. It will b much more fun to watch then when they are in the nest. I have a lot of trouble seeing them currently because of all the debris in the test tube.
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