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Post by Stutheant on Jul 23, 2013 9:29:05 GMT
Hello,
Leading up to the 28th June I watched my Manica Rubida Queen (MR) go about its business collecting food. Then it vanished... And has not been seen since. Now the advice I got was it is simply in a chamber laying eggs. I believe it already had an egg with her and I presume it took that with her.
Because I haven't seen her I am worried in case she has died. When do you think I should give up? I still heat and water the formicarium. And I am hoping a worker pops out any second...
Cheers
Stuart
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Post by crockatt on Jul 23, 2013 10:17:42 GMT
do not give in yet, my lemanii queen did the same and now I have a worker foraging every few days, but I have never seen the queen since she went to ground months ago, keep leaving food and water and check for the food being moved/taken and watch for any workers, you may miss activety if they forage at night.
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Post by Stutheant on Jul 23, 2013 11:09:36 GMT
Cheers, so there could be action before hibernation time?
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Post by crockatt on Jul 23, 2013 11:24:52 GMT
Just checked my journal and my queen went to ground in April and I didn't see anything till a month later, but when she dug in she had cocoons and larvae, if your one only had an egg, it could be a couple of months till you see anything. Unfortunately its a very frustrating waiting game.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jul 23, 2013 15:48:56 GMT
I have this same kind of problem Stuart with mine, as some days I see them in the nest chambers; and then they vanish for ages. It can be very frustrating, as not all ant species do this "hide and seek" thing, but Manica rubida does this a lot.  Just hope for the best, and if you haven't seen any signs of life after about a month then might be the time to worry and search the nest, like I did on my journals. |
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Post by Stutheant on Aug 20, 2013 20:29:11 GMT
OK, almost a month later. I have been leaving titbits of food out but still no sign. No food eaten... No surface broken.
My other manica brood turned into a worker, (however the worker died) considering this was bought same time as the 'AWOL' Manica surely there should be an active worker?
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Post by Wood~Ant on Aug 20, 2013 21:07:32 GMT
I had the same problem, it seems this species don't like to forage well if the colony is small.
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Post by Stutheant on Sept 18, 2013 0:16:19 GMT
Well, the story thus far. No sign of the Queen since July, and my other Queen has 2 active workers. So I gently pull back the soil where I suspected she would be . Yep she had died. It was humid and kept warm, but only the back end was left! So I have removed the soil and after hibernation the colony doing well can move in! End of a Saga!
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