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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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Post by Stutheant on Aug 20, 2013 20:49:46 GMT
After a few weeks of Ant Bread I give my Messor B some beef (or ham). They love it. I noticed today (as I have changed bulbs from a spot bulb to a standard bulb which spreads heat rather than points in) that the workers were bringing the brood to the surface to heat them up. There is a huge larvae down there somewhere, this is large and when I moved them into there new home NOT one, not even the queen could carry this, so I presume this is a supermajor! In my last colony of MB I had 2 super-majors, brilliant and they where not scared to go for my fingers when I went too close to the nest entrance.
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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 Stutheant on Jul 24, 2013 11:11:34 GMT
Actually looking closely at the shredded cotton wool I notice a cocoon has also been buried ... hmmm
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Post by Stutheant on Jul 24, 2013 11:09:30 GMT
Hello, Two questions; First I have a Camponotus Ligniperdus, she is currently living in a test tube with some brood AND 2 cocoons. OK, I have placed a bit of food in there and suddenly she started to tear the cotton wool blocking the water and burying the food (or at least covering it). Is she storing it or simply not wanting it in there. Second, I notice some really nice images of ants. I have a Macro Lens (105mm Sigma on a Canon 5D for those in the know). What lighting has been used to take those shots? Thank you in advance, Stuart
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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 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 Stutheant on Jul 20, 2013 18:58:48 GMT
Ok, thank you. what other species do you know in the lake district?
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Post by Stutheant on Jul 17, 2013 12:05:55 GMT
I live in the Lake District, are the Formica species found there? What about on open farm land? And will I have missed the flights (I am watching the Niger colonies in my garden carefully, and when I see them preparing I will take a wander either into the fields or into the Lake District itself!)...
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Post by Stutheant on Jul 3, 2013 11:23:01 GMT
On the same subject I have a Camponotus micans queen. She arrived with 1 worker and a naked cocoon. That was 6 months ago ish). The naked cocoon vanished at the same time the worker 'went mad' and left the nest to stand on a rock until it too vanished (still cannot find its corpse). However the queen has a new brood (about 5 eggs), is this normal? I have never seen her eat yet!! What a fascinating little creature!
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Post by Stutheant on Jul 3, 2013 0:38:25 GMT
Helpful, thank you.
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