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Post by crockatt on Apr 22, 2014 14:46:25 GMT
Its been about a month since I have seen any foragers, and cannot see any movement in the nest (but I never did as it is a worm world and they seem to be in the middle) even this past week when we have had lovely weather and the nest has been nicely warmed, there has been nothing and I cannot check the tunnel under the stone anymore as I would mean moving a lot around to access it, I only hope that they well inside the nest and I see them soon
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Post by crockatt on Apr 25, 2014 21:27:55 GMT
Finally spotted a single ant, she seemed to be digging tunnels, there was no foraging, but the inside of the nest has a bit of condensation when it warms up, so maybe they are drinking that, hope they get busier soon.
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Post by crockatt on May 2, 2014 16:41:38 GMT
Still no foraging, getting a little frustrated at the lack of activety, but keep watching, am thinking about maybe getting another colony as I have empty nests and I did enjoy my nigers and maybe if I have 2 colonies, It might just stop me pulling this one apart to check for live.
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Post by Driver Ant on May 2, 2014 16:55:49 GMT
Still no foraging, getting a little frustrated at the lack of activety, but keep watching, am thinking about maybe getting another colony as I have empty nests and I did enjoy my nigers and maybe if I have 2 colonies, It might just stop me pulling this one apart to check for live. In case this colony has died off it would be a good idea to get 1 or 2 more up and running.
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Post by crockatt on May 2, 2014 17:56:57 GMT
Have already set up a new nest, now to see if I can get a new colony ordered
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Post by crockatt on May 15, 2014 22:01:58 GMT
Still no signs off live, beginning to give up hope, if they are alive they are deep in the nest out of sight, and what they are eating/drinking is a mystery, will wait a while long, then may have to go digging
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Post by crockatt on May 16, 2014 22:25:49 GMT
Was having a good look at the nest tonight and although there is tunnels, I could see no signs of live, decided to bite the bullet and check under the stone where I know there is a chamber, was greeted by 2 inquisitive workers, but they quickly got bored and headed back underground, the last time I moved the stone a few workers came to the surface, so the colony are either deep in the middle of the wormworld, or slowly dieing off, am frustrated to say the least, hopefully it is the first option rather than the later, but I guess time will tell.
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Post by crockatt on May 27, 2014 22:05:06 GMT
Its coming up to 2 months since I have seen any foragers, at this time of year there should be a lot more going on by now, I think come the weekend if there is still nothing, then I am going to dig into the nest to see if the queen is alive.
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Post by crockatt on Jun 3, 2014 21:49:55 GMT
Well finally got round to digging into the nest, was very disheartened to see not a single ant come and investigate what was happening when I removed the stones on top, so to be honest I was expecting to find anything, but just as I was giving in, I spotted the queen !!!! Alive but not very plump looking, and with her, a lone worker, I decided to put them in a test tube, I put a small ball of cotton wool with honey/water on it and the worker went straight for it, they are now in a quiet dark place, will check in 3 days or so, would like to leave it longer but from experience the cotton will start to mould, I have no idea why this colony has been failing, there were a nice amount of workers in the nest coming out of hibernation and they started foraging, but alas something must of gone wrong, never mind queen hope has surprised me before, she may do it again, even though I half expect to find her dead next time I check. On the upside I now have a empty set up.
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Post by messor2894 on Jun 4, 2014 15:22:07 GMT
try find another lemani queen I have 8 and just laid 200 plus eggs but she still has a chance so do not give up :-)
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Post by crockatt on Jun 8, 2014 22:08:24 GMT
All was well when I went to change the cottonwool, the queen looked abit rounder, and she has her worker, so time will tell if she decides to lay again, I will keep my fingers crossed.
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Post by crockatt on Jun 10, 2014 17:24:52 GMT
Just checked hope and her worker and all seems well, not sure if I seen an egg or not !!!, I have been putting honey/water in the test tube, but there is also the water in the bottom of the tube, question, would I be ok to remove the honey/water , (hopefully they have had a fill) and just leave them be for a couple of weeks?
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 10, 2014 17:40:25 GMT
Your better off giving them a few dead flies now as this will help make the queen lay eggs. They probably have filled their crops with honey for now.
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Post by crockatt on Jun 10, 2014 18:27:27 GMT
Great thanks wood
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Post by crockatt on Jun 10, 2014 18:45:04 GMT
Managed to quickly catch a fly and place it in the tube, I am 99% positive that there is an egg, I noticed the worker at it so will leave it a few days again, before I check and remove the fly.
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