shadowynne
Nurse Ant
Posts: 84
Country: UK
Pets: Many, many pets...
Favourite Ant: Lasius flavus
Likes: 63
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Post by shadowynne on May 27, 2018 7:42:36 GMT
Hey there
Well now I am back again I suppose I should wade in with the questions!
I have a formica sanguinea queen who just will not thrive. She has never produced any brood and she had a few workers but they have now died off leaving her alone. I have offered her every food stuff I can think of and she has never shown any interest in any food offerred. She is (and her workers) are always active but never seem intact with any food offered. She must be eating something as I have had her over a year, but I never see her with food, and no brood production.
Also, since she is now worker-less is this (non) colony doomed? Am I now the owner of a single pet ant? Not really complaining I guess as she is big, active and beautiful, but I would like her to be happy and the queen of a mighty sanguine dynasty!
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Post by jeoff82 on May 27, 2018 9:04:05 GMT
Hey there Well now I am back again I suppose I should wade in with the questions! I have a formica sanguinea queen who just will not thrive. She has never produced any brood and she had a few workers but they have now died off leaving her alone. I have offered her every food stuff I can think of and she has never shown any interest in any food offerred. She is (and her workers) are always active but never seem intact with any food offered. She must be eating something as I have had her over a year, but I never see her with food, and no brood production. Also, since she is now worker-less is this (non) colony doomed? Am I now the owner of a single pet ant? Not really complaining I guess as she is big, active and beautiful, but I would like her to be happy and the queen of a mighty sanguine dynasty! Formica sanguinea form a colony by temporary social parasitism by being accepted by a Formica fusca or other servformica species. They can also rejoin their own colony and form another colony that way. What I think you should do is offer the queen some Formica fusca cocoons and maybe a worker or 2 and keep a close eye on them.
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shadowynne
Nurse Ant
Posts: 84
Country: UK
Pets: Many, many pets...
Favourite Ant: Lasius flavus
Likes: 63
|
Post by shadowynne on May 27, 2018 9:52:57 GMT
I was wondering about this, I know that they are slavers of fusca, I just need to source some fusca!
Food is still a mystery though. I have tried all manner of insect, honey/maple/sugar water, all types of seeds, pollen, protein/fruit jellies (out of desperation), fish food, and egg yolk.
No interest was shown in any of these.
Do you think adding fusca brood would stimulate the feeding response?
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Post by tatufmetuf on May 27, 2018 10:09:32 GMT
yeah, at worse she will eat them, I would try to add fusca brood
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Post by Wood~Ant on May 27, 2018 10:40:54 GMT
I was wondering about this, I know that they are slavers of fusca, I just need to source some fusca! Food is still a mystery though. I have tried all manner of insect, honey/maple/sugar water, all types of seeds, pollen, protein/fruit jellies (out of desperation), fish food, and egg yolk. No interest was shown in any of these. Do you think adding fusca brood would stimulate the feeding response? Fusca workers do often feed their captors, but sangs are quite capable of living without "slaves" and can feed themselves. Being hunters they like insect prey that is still alive, but not enough to cause a threat. Mine will accept honey water or sugar water, but more often leave the actual foraging to their black fusca cousins to do.
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