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Post by Wood~Ant on Feb 17, 2009 14:49:44 GMT
Today I noticed my Camponotus ligniperda queen tearing open a cocoon, and then one of the workers pulling out the pupa. This worker kept tugging at the pupa, carefully cleaning it and licking it until all of the pupal skin and bits of cocoon were removed. At first the pupa remained motionless, but gradually she began to tentatively move her legs. After an hour she was standing up and resting after the long ordeal of being born. This new baby can be seen here close to her mum the queen, as like all callow ants she is much paler than the rest of her sisters
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