|
Post by Wood~Ant on Jul 23, 2019 6:49:48 GMT
Nice video, but as ants don't have eyes like us as they don't have eyelids, the pupa that looks like it opens its eye is just an optical illusion.
|
|
|
Post by 1moldavite on Jul 23, 2019 11:39:39 GMT
I'm just glad that her brood is developing nicely,out of all the different ant species I've had I only have one that can be classed as a successful colony and that's the Nodas,but when I got them there were already about forty workers with the queen,I am really hopeful this Queen is going to be my second success and produce a large colony for me.
|
|
|
Post by 1moldavite on Jul 26, 2019 13:23:54 GMT
I was rather concerned for my Queen yesterday as the temperature was really high,and I noticed that her behaviour was not normal,as soon as I had put a few drops of water in they evaporated almost instantly,I hope my noda colony is fine ,but I'm guessing since they nest in soil it possibly could have been cooler for then,this is why I have decided as soon as my Queen has a few workers I'll introduce them into a more natural set up with the option of nesting in soil or under a stone,of course they may just decide to stay in the test tube,but at least they will have a means of getting out of the heat,it is cooler today and her behaviour is back to normal,but I do feel she will benefit from a natural set up when she has a couple of workers to help her.
|
|
|
Post by 1moldavite on Jul 27, 2019 21:52:38 GMT
I was very busy today and I have only just checked om my ants only to find my Queen now has company,her first worker is here running back and forth in the test tube,but keeping close to the queen,since both cocoons appeared more or less at the same time I can guess it will be a matter of days for her second worker to make an appearance,funnily enough the Queen has never attempted to climb up the sides of the enclosure so it makes me wonder if this species has trouble holding on to plastic or glass,anyway as you have probably guessed I'm over the moon,I will post a video soon.
|
|
|
Post by 1moldavite on Jul 28, 2019 14:26:22 GMT
I've just noticed that now my Queen has two workers,the latest one lighter in color than the other,so I presume she was born in the last two to three hours.
|
|
|
Post by 1moldavite on Jul 28, 2019 16:36:15 GMT
Looking at the color of that cocoon,it will not be long before worker number three will be putting in an appearance,this video is of the Queen and her two daughters,I have to apologize for the grainess of the video.
|
|
|
Post by 1moldavite on Aug 7, 2019 14:53:23 GMT
She now has three workers and they are all looking well.
|
|
|
Post by 1moldavite on Aug 18, 2019 1:50:59 GMT
I have now placed the test tube in my messors old habitat,what I'm finding now is that the queen or workers have been leaving the test tube to investigate the habitat,but there is always at least one of the ants stay in the test tube with the brood,be it a worker or the queen,then they all eventually end up back in the test tube,I'm also finding that if I pick up the test tube to closely view how the brood is progressing when I place it back in the habitat any workers that were out on their travels will run back into the test tube straight away to guard the brood and Queen,I don't lift the test tube too much though,I am guessing they like their new surroundings,but are still happy to nest in the tube for now,this habitat is not going to be their final home either,but there is only three workers with the queen but she still has lots of brood.
|
|
|
Post by 1moldavite on Aug 22, 2019 1:31:38 GMT
Checked on the colony today to see a new very pale worker,this one seemed slightly longer than the previous workers,I'm happy that they seem to be doing fine
|
|
|
Post by 1moldavite on Aug 25, 2019 20:16:18 GMT
Just on a off chance I decided to try them on protein jelly so I picked a strawberry flavour one and left it in overnight,when I woke up this morning I noticed it had a small chunk missing so I guess they like it.
|
|
|
Post by 1moldavite on Aug 31, 2019 12:57:44 GMT
The workers have now blocked of the exit of the test tube with soil leaving just enough of a gap for the ants to get in and out,and when I opened the lid to the enclosure the ants acted in a way that I knew for certain if I got too close I would be stung as they darted out of the test tube,time to start putting their food in using tweezers then.
|
|
|
Post by 1moldavite on Sept 17, 2019 22:59:53 GMT
It's official I have no idea how many workers there are now,I tried counting them but there are so many places they can hide under. I saw four in the test tube and another on top of the wooden branch then some of the moss moved, but when I looked I couldn't see a ant but they can hide under the moss. Needless to say the colony, although small, is doing well.
|
|
|
Post by 1moldavite on Nov 16, 2019 10:29:19 GMT
Sadly these are the only ant colony I have left and now they may be in trouble as it seems some type of fungi is growing in the enclosure and I'm not sure if it's a danger to them,quite a few are growing they look like mushroom type plants that are white with a brown dot in the centre,but are very breakable when touched,I'll try to post a picture later today,but I am worried for my ants and it would be impossible to move them to a new enclosure,does anyone know if this situation is bad for my ants
|
|
|
Post by TenebrousNova on Nov 16, 2019 10:49:33 GMT
I'd have to see the photo first.
|
|
|
Post by 1moldavite on Nov 17, 2019 11:39:09 GMT
I went to take a photo but these mushrooms had died off as fast as they appeared and there were no signs of my ants but they could just be in the soil nest hopefully they are okay
|
|