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Post by TenebrousNova on Sept 28, 2018 19:08:28 GMT
A worker has died, but a few more have eclosed to replace her. There's now 21 in total.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Oct 1, 2018 16:50:17 GMT
The 22nd worker has eclosed today! The colony is still doing great, I'll have to think about moving them soon. Here's the newcomer:
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Post by TenebrousNova on Oct 10, 2018 23:22:59 GMT
Today there's 24 or 25 workers, it's hard to tell because the test tube is getting a bit dirty. The queen is still laying eggs.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Oct 12, 2018 13:08:05 GMT
Today I at last moved this colony into that acrylic formicarium I've had reserved for them for ages. I positioned the test tube so it was forming a slope with the opening right by the entrance to the nest and it wasn't long before the workers had thoroughly explored the chambers within. By a stroke of fortune the queen managed to trip over and roll all the way down the test tube and into the nest (She's fine, I expect her thick hairs cushioned the impact!). It wasn't long afterwards until the workers followed her inside. Now that I can see them in a clean, more spacious set up, I've been able to count 26 workers in total plus a nice amount of brood in all stages. Here's a few callows with the brood: The queen quickly settled down. She is waiting to be fed with sugar water.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Oct 16, 2018 21:16:02 GMT
The colony has settled in nicely! Here's the queen's chamber, where most of the xiangban workers spend their time: I've always loved the colours and markings on them.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Oct 19, 2018 20:02:41 GMT
Today there is a total of 28 workers. They've been taking their usual crickets and sugar water but last night when I offered them a bit of apple, they seemed to love it. Here's a photo of the whole colony (With a small cameo of my C. herculeanus, who live next to them): The queen is so photogenic, I couldn't resist taking another of her: Callows feeding each other: Brood pile:
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Post by TenebrousNova on Oct 20, 2018 18:06:19 GMT
Today there are 29 workers. So close to 30!
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Post by TenebrousNova on Oct 22, 2018 14:16:22 GMT
And now there are 30 workers. The colony has really surpassed my initial expectations, since I failed the last time I tried keeping this species.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Oct 23, 2018 23:33:44 GMT
Just took this photo of the workers chewing on what's left of the cricket I gave them this morning.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Oct 28, 2018 15:52:25 GMT
There's now 32 workers.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Oct 31, 2018 19:02:07 GMT
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Post by Wood~Ant on Nov 1, 2018 7:47:08 GMT
I wish my colony had more brood and workers like yours, as 33 beats mine which only has 12 workers with 7 eggs and no mature brood.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Nov 1, 2018 9:20:09 GMT
I wish my colony had more brood and workers like yours, as 33 beats mine which only has 12 workers with 7 eggs and no mature brood. I hope your colony grows, too. Perhaps your xiangban queen will surprise you like the fedtschenkoi did?
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Post by TenebrousNova on Nov 21, 2018 16:39:07 GMT
There's been little change lately. One more worker has eclosed, making 34 in total, but development has definitely slowed down...perhaps I should move them closer to the heat mat for the winter.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Dec 3, 2018 14:26:47 GMT
To my surprise, the queen is laying eggs again! There's still 34 workers but a few of the cocoons are getting darker.
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