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Hibernating
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2015 18:51:58 GMT
It has become apparent with the help of anthill members that this queen has been wrongly identified as C.ligniperda when in actual fact is C. herculeanus. The title of this journal has been corrected, along with the posts and videos. My apologies to members for any confusion.
Of the 4 recent pupae, 2 failed due to possible dehydration and of the 2 workers that eclosed 1 died for unknown reasons although admittedly that may have also been due to the same problem. I have now removed the heat mat, which was cooled slightly with 3 pieces of cardboard and was placed under the floor of the vivarium, and out of direct contact with the test tube nest. Even though the heat was low and was only heating a quarter of the test tube nest it was still obviously too warm for this colony resulting in lost workers. The eggs and larvae however were evidently unaffected by the assumed high temperature. The heat mat is now placed outside of the back wall of the vivarium, as advised by a forum member, and is now heating the air instead of the floor. The temperature is roughly 23-24 degrees and the colony seems to be behaving normaly. There is a pupae present and small larvae and both the queen and worker tend to them constantly. The test tube nest has been replaced and stopping the fresh water reservoir is a piece of aqua filter cotton instead of ordinary cotton wool. I've had good results using this in my C.vagus colony, the aqua filter cotton doesn't go mouldy and allows for very good prolonged evaporation making the water last longer without going bad.
The C.herculeanus is in the test tube at the top, the one below it is C.ligniperda.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2015 14:00:00 GMT
I have given this colony away to a friend so this colony is now closed.
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