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Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 28, 2019 15:18:50 GMT
I was sorely tempted by this species and got them from Clavata.co.uk. They arrived today! Camponotus rosariensis is native to South America (Argentina and Paraguay specifically). Although a little smaller than Camponotus chilensis, which are black with shiny gold hairs, C. rosariensis is a radiant gold all over! I ordered a single queen with brood but this one came with her first worker. There are no larvae or pupae, but several eggs that the pair are jealously protecting. Queen:  Queen with worker:  As always, feel free to comment!  |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Feb 28, 2019 17:31:31 GMT
Lovely looking colour, I might get this species sometime if they look this good. Gold and red from what your photos show?
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Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 28, 2019 18:10:01 GMT
Lovely looking colour, I might get this species sometime if they look this good. Gold and red from what your photos show? Yes, she does indeed have a little red on her, particularly on the thorax and underside. Additionally, she does in fact have a medium sized larva that I failed to notice earlier as well as a newborn one.  She cautiously approached a droplet of sugar water but soon started to drink it.  |
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Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 28, 2019 22:07:32 GMT
When I offered them a small dead cricket, the queen was quick to start attacking it. I expected this since in my experience, almost all Camponotus queens are fierce in the founding stage. When the worker saw that it was safe, she started to follow her example.  |
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Post by Zarbi on Mar 1, 2019 13:39:42 GMT
Really clear photos, excellent job on the close up shots.  |
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Post by TenebrousNova on Mar 1, 2019 15:14:21 GMT
Really clear photos, excellent job on the close up shots. That's very kind of you, Zarbi! |
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Post by TenebrousNova on Mar 6, 2019 2:57:43 GMT
The rosariensis queen and her worker made short work of that cricket and left almost nothing behind. I've counted six eggs and two larvae. I swear that both larvae have already grown a little bigger.   On another note, I'd like to take the opportunity to wish Wood~Ant all the best when his colony arrives (On Wednesday I'd imagine?). |
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Post by clavata on Mar 6, 2019 11:52:34 GMT
Stunning pictures! |
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Post by TenebrousNova on Mar 6, 2019 15:24:16 GMT
Stunning pictures! Thank you, Fred! |
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Post by TenebrousNova on Mar 8, 2019 19:28:29 GMT
Can't find the worker today because she's hiding somewhere in a deep hole she's dug into the cotton. If the idiot ends up causing a flood and killing her mother and the brood, this journal will be very short lived.
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Post by clavata on Mar 8, 2019 20:35:40 GMT
Perhaps try offering a small outworld? This usually stops workers from digging into the cotton! It gives them something to “run around in” and stops them concentrating on digging out |
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Post by TenebrousNova on Mar 9, 2019 16:07:30 GMT
Perhaps try offering a small outworld? This usually stops workers from digging into the cotton! It gives them something to “run around in” and stops them concentrating on digging out I still couldn't see any sign of the worker but I did see the queen pulling at the cotton, which led to my suspicion that the worker wasn't even there anymore. I prepared a new test tube, tipped the two larvae into it and used a needle to pick up and move the eggs. The queen went into it herself. I then took out the cotton from the old test tube and pulled it apart and indeed, the worker wasn't there, neither were there any remains. The only conclusion I can think of is that the worker somehow escaped and unless she turns up somewhere, this queen has suffered a massive blow since she's now alone. Unless she manages to raise those larvae into new workers I don't have much hope now. |
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