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Post by Wood~Ant on Aug 22, 2012 18:04:59 GMT
As long as they're not headless chickens, or in your case ants Smudge, then it is good to hear the queen is still playing the goose that lay the golden eggs ;D Or in other words, great to hear this colony is doing so well.
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Post by Smudge on Aug 22, 2012 18:24:07 GMT
Hahaha that made me laugh thanks Wood
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Post by TenebrousNova on Aug 22, 2012 20:14:16 GMT
I bet you're glad that you spoke too soon.
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Post by Smudge on Aug 22, 2012 21:38:29 GMT
I am indeed
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Post by Smudge on Aug 23, 2012 16:15:20 GMT
Quick update the colony are fine put in a spider and some fresh cut up meal worm unfortunatly the spider was still alive and playing dead so it sufferd at the handz of about 50 ants within the nest when it decided to get up and try to escape. It is now in about 10 pieces being fought over although feeling rather sorry for it, it was a joy to watch the girls have some contest at feeding time.
I know as this colony grows they will be more of a joy to watch them bring down larger insects with their majors.
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Post by Smudge on Sept 4, 2012 12:26:49 GMT
Well its been over a week since I last saw my colony due to staying with my girlfriend while her parents are on holiday. I have to be honest its killing me, I really want to see my new major as its bound to have eclosed by now. I did ask my dad to check but he says he cannot see anything differant which means something probably is. Just one more week to go until I get to see them
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Post by Smudge on Sept 15, 2012 0:23:31 GMT
Oh wow it has been too long since I saw this colony and my how things have changed. There is so many more workers and one huge red headed major its head dwarfs the queens. I'm really not sure if this could be a super major as it is massive. It really doesn't make the queen look that big. il try and take some pictures soon. As to the rest of the colony there are many more workers and they have collected lots more seed for they're many more brood. They have also sealed up the entrance so I assume its ready for hibernation.
I have moved them to the other side of the dragon tank which is not as warm but will keep a close eye on them.
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Post by Smudge on Sept 17, 2012 22:00:56 GMT
Well I have put these girls in a colder spot to put them into hibernation. But there is still eggs being laid oh well cannot do too much harm I suppose. unfortunatly I decided to clean out the foraging area change the substrate and put in fresh seed. I used the sharp stand so the ants stand out a bit more even though the entrance is still closed. unfortunatly I left the top off as to let the moist sand dry a bit, and an earwig got in and tunneld into the nest. It has been swarmed twice but as the Barbs don't have anything in the way of weaponry except their jaws which can only do so much to the earwigs armoured exoskeleton. It has lost a leg and a pincher to the two large majors but it managed to get away. It is now huddled up in the rubbish accumalation chamber. Gets attacked evey now and again by one of the small workers. But it is futile it just gets flicked off every now and again. It only has a matter of time before the inevitable happens so I will keep a close eye.
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Post by Smudge on Sept 25, 2012 22:15:04 GMT
Welll my messors still refuse to hibernate even with moving to a colder area the seed count in the nest out numbers the population 3 fold. I have another large major on the way as another large pupae appeared over night.
Other than that business as usuall.
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Post by Smudge on Nov 1, 2012 18:46:26 GMT
The queen and workers are fine not a lot of activity with this colony they never seem to forage and when they do there are only 1 or 2 at a time not what I was expecting from a species that is supposed to have long food highways. In the next few days I will have another 2 large majors which I hope will boost they're activity.
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Post by Smudge on Nov 17, 2012 18:52:26 GMT
There seems to be a bit more activity in nest at the moment. Though none above surface. I have not seen any new brood for a while but expect that to pick up once it starts to get warmer.
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Post by Smudge on Nov 28, 2012 16:23:17 GMT
Not much activity lately 1 or 2 foragers but more activity in nest rather than out. Which is normal I have found for this colony.
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Post by Smudge on Jan 16, 2014 2:38:06 GMT
This colony is still doing extremely well I currently do not know how many ants there are but its a lot. There's a good mix of all castes in the nest and they are always active even now in winter. I will be posting again regularly on how they progress. Also more pictures.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 9, 2014 18:31:22 GMT
How is your colony doing these days Smudge?
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