|
Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 12, 2011 17:43:50 GMT
That is fine, the more the merrier.
|
|
|
Post by odesssus on Feb 12, 2011 17:58:17 GMT
oh yes I know now queens and ants know best. I do as little as I need to these days. put them in the tank give them a bit of food and water and don't do any thing else.
|
|
|
Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 12, 2011 18:19:10 GMT
This evening does seem to be eventful. The darkest pupa has been licked intensively and moving its legs...It is now uncurled and moving slightly. Happy birthday, Number Two.
|
|
|
Post by Jenny on Feb 12, 2011 19:10:06 GMT
It's like a busy night in the maternity ward
|
|
|
Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 12, 2011 19:21:53 GMT
Indeed! She has now just managed to clamber to her feet. I imagine that for a callow ant, the first hour feels like waking up from a very deep sleep, which explains the grogginess.
|
|
|
Post by Wood~Ant on Feb 12, 2011 19:34:52 GMT
Indeed! She has now just managed to clamber to her feet. I imagine that for a callow ant, the first hour feels like waking up from a very deep sleep, which explains the grogginess. It usually takes 24 hrs for a newly eclosed Messor barb callow to find her feet around the nest, but as her chitin hardens she will soon be rushing around as a 2nd little helper for her mum I am really happy to hear this news, as just 3 months ago these newly mated queens had yet to found their dynasty, but the good news is that now so many have ;D
|
|
|
Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 12, 2011 19:42:25 GMT
This is their set up. It should be alright for them. I have put them in their cupboard now. I think they have had enough excitement for one day, and being pushed through the letterbox this morning probably didn't help. Good thing that Wood packages his ants so well.
|
|
|
Post by odesssus on Feb 12, 2011 19:46:46 GMT
what seeds are they. I've got some millet will that do?
|
|
|
Post by Wood~Ant on Feb 12, 2011 19:46:47 GMT
The soil looks a bit dry, so make sure it is damp enough for them to dig into without it collapsing. Keep a lid or something on top to prevent escape, for as Jen will tell you, these girls love to go walkabout around the house if given too much freedom
|
|
|
Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 12, 2011 19:49:36 GMT
Hehe, the queen almost ventured out during her travels but I made sure that she couldn't. There is a lid, yes. I'll spray the soil a bit now.
|
|
|
Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 12, 2011 19:57:04 GMT
Thank you. The containers are easily accessible, as my family likes to have a Chinese during the week. The soil is now damp enough for them to safely dig in to, I also took the seeds out during this to prevent germination. I am using a plastic milk bottle lid to store the seeds. I do not know what kind they are, I just bought them from a pet shop. They are the kind that you feed to Finches and other small birds.
|
|
|
Post by odesssus on Feb 12, 2011 22:39:25 GMT
now both of my messor queens have larva as well as the new one from woodant.
|
|
|
Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 13, 2011 10:28:35 GMT
Oh no...I have just checked them, and saw no sign on the callow. Then I found that during the night, a tiny amount of water had condensed...the callow was drowned.
|
|
|
Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 13, 2011 10:57:31 GMT
The body was in a few pieces when I found it, otherwise I would have tried.
|
|
|
Post by Wood~Ant on Feb 13, 2011 11:08:05 GMT
She may have died while trying to have a drink, but as these ants come from fairly dry regions of Spain they tend to avoid wet places as a rule. Sadly accidents happen, but as long as the queen and her brood remain fine then her colony should prosper; and I think her older daughter is a bit wiser and won't get herself into the same situation as the callow did. Still, sorry to hear about her loss of such a young worker who never lived long enough to help raise the family
|
|