|
Post by crockatt on Dec 12, 2014 20:25:37 GMT
All the cocoons have now hatched making 4 worker ants and there is a nice pile of eggs, I thought I was going to get my usual break over the winter, but I guess I will be taking care of this little colony.
|
|
|
Post by crockatt on Dec 20, 2014 1:01:08 GMT
All going well there is a small pile of larvae and eggs, and all looking and feeding well, the time taking for the eggs to change to larvae and then to cocoons is a lot quicker than I am used to, the warmth really makes a difference.
|
|
|
Post by crockatt on Dec 30, 2014 22:17:05 GMT
There is now about another 5 cocoons and about 6 larvae about to turn, at this rate I might have a nice small colony to put into my spare farm come spring.
|
|
|
Post by crockatt on Jan 7, 2015 21:34:36 GMT
I have moved all into a new clean test tube, the other one was getting mouldy, unfortunately I have lost one of the worker ants, she seems to have gotten a leg tangled up in the cotton wool. All else is well, just waiting for more new arrivals.
|
|
|
Post by crockatt on Jan 8, 2015 21:30:19 GMT
Quick check tonight to pop in a small spider I caught and worker numbers are back up to 4 again, and more to join soon I hope.
|
|
|
Post by crockatt on Jan 14, 2015 19:20:09 GMT
All good, now up to 8 workers and still some cocoons left, and there is now a small egg mass
|
|
|
Post by crockatt on Jan 24, 2015 22:55:09 GMT
We are up to 12 workers 2 or 3 larvae, and a small egg pile, its getting a bit more tricky to feed them, as there are more trying to escape the tube when I move the cotton wool, even the queen ran for it tonight, think I will dig out the empty farm and see its ready to go,when the weather warms a bit.
|
|
|
Post by crockatt on Jan 30, 2015 20:58:37 GMT
All good everything growing well, test tube looking grubby, have brought out my spare farm and am try to bring it up to room temp ( its been in the garage) and think I will pop the tube in and see how it goes.
|
|
|
Post by crockatt on Feb 5, 2015 20:51:19 GMT
Had moved the test tube into the spare farm, and they have moved out , although are sitting ontop still, but all seems well, am feeding them on top till it warms up and they forage a bit better.
|
|
|
Post by crockatt on Mar 9, 2015 16:04:33 GMT
The colony is now in its permanent home and have dug underground, haven't seen much movement, but I am sure all is well underground.
|
|
|
Post by crockatt on Mar 20, 2015 12:49:01 GMT
I see a lone forager now and again, will just have to see how the summer goes, this is a converted worm world, so will not see much for a long time.
|
|
|
Post by crockatt on Apr 15, 2015 17:11:06 GMT
Sadly I found the lone forager dead against the cotton ball of honey/water, and I am unable to see, into the nest, I think I am jinxed with keeping lemani, I never seem to do well with them, but I will wait and see what happens.
|
|
|
Post by crockatt on May 18, 2015 17:52:57 GMT
I have seen nothing of this colony since I found the dead forager, I decided tonight it was time to dig, I found the queen (very thin) but nothing else, I had thought the colony was big enough to move into a proper home, but apparently not, have moved the queen back into a test tube with food and water, but I am sure I have read here that once they a queen has failed with her colony she probably will not succeed again, we will see
|
|
|
Post by crockatt on May 20, 2015 19:36:51 GMT
Had a quick look this evening and she has 2 eggs, I give her this, she is a trier, here's hoping she can succeed again.
|
|
|
Post by crockatt on May 26, 2015 12:05:32 GMT
The queen now has a small pile of eggs, am going to leave her now for a couple of weeks and see what happens.
|
|