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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2015 12:34:38 GMT
For the second time I have observed C.cruentatus workers gathering up what I thought was cotton wool and disposing of it. However this time it looks as if the 'cotton wool' is actually attached to one of the larvae at it's bottom end. Could it be that what I'm actually seeing is the larvae shedding it's skin? I've read that they do this several times during development. Yesterday this stuff seemed to be with the eggs so maybe the workers are stripping cotton wool from the stopper as some sort of nesting material? I'm really not sure which explanation is correct. Any thoughts anyone? |
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Post by Wood~Ant on May 4, 2015 13:34:11 GMT
It is true that larvae will moult in stages of development, usually about 4 times in most ant species. Then they pupate on the final moult. If soil or other types of substrate are not available, then other materials may be used to aid the larvae to pupate, especially in species which make a cocoon.
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2015 14:02:32 GMT
It is true that larvae will moult in stages of development, usually about 4 times in most ant species. Then they pupate on the final moult. If soil or other types of substrate are not available, then other materials may be used to aid the larvae to pupate, especially in species which make a cocoon. Right so that's what they're doing. Thanks for that  |
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2015 20:52:14 GMT
Does anyone have any insights as to why my Camponotus cruentatus larvae failed to spin cocoons? Could it have been a deficiency in their diet perhaps? I'm pretty confident that the humidity was correct and the temperature wasn't too high.
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Post by Thebugman on May 11, 2015 21:37:31 GMT
I've read when I was interested in keeping Harpegnathos venator (hopefully will get them some day!) that toilet roll helps with their brood spinning cocoons, so I will try to place some in there to see if it has any affect, but I'm doubtful it will. It may be down to humidity, so I am going to place some dry substrate so the ants can use it to dry their test tube and make an appropriate entrance size. I will also put a test tube with no water in it to see if they would prefer it dry, either way sometimes I think its best to try various things and observe what the ants like the best, that's how I learn to keep my colonies.
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2015 21:54:06 GMT
I've read when I was interested in keeping Harpegnathos venator (hopefully will get them some day!) that toilet roll helps with their brood spinning cocoons, so I will try to place some in there to see if it has any affect, but I'm doubtful it will. It may be down to humidity, so I am going to place some dry substrate so the ants can use it to dry their test tube and make an appropriate entrance size. I will also put a test tube with no water in it to see if they would prefer it dry, either way sometimes I think its best to try various things and observe what the ants like the best, that's how I learn to keep my colonies. I have read that they do prefer drier nests than other Camponotus spp. so yes your probably right. |
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