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Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 25, 2011 20:05:50 GMT
I'll put them on the heat mat tomorrow, along with the Lasius Niger. Interestingly, as I was having toast earlier I decided to give the Messors a little bit of the crust, dampened slightly. The queen and workers have had their heads glued to it for the better part of an hour now, so I assume they might like it.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 25, 2011 21:51:47 GMT
Okay, looks like I am onto something after all- a small portion of the crust has been mostly chewed off, and they are still chewing. ;D I think its wonderful how such problems can be solved so simply as a piece of toast.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 26, 2011 10:26:20 GMT
Woke up earlier, the queen is carrying around a chewed bit of crust with her. Might have to try them on brown bread or seed bread sometime.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Feb 26, 2011 10:34:10 GMT
Bread and cake is a good substitute for "ant bread" which is the pulp of seeds chewed up by the adult ants. If using an oily spread on your bread or toast, offer something like sunflower oil or olive oil spread which has natural vegetable oils rather than real butter. Although animal fats won't do them any harm, as Messor are seed collectors they do go for the more oily seeds.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 26, 2011 12:53:25 GMT
I'll keep that in mind. Do Messors mind their bread getting a bit old, or should it be changed every few days? I have taken them off the heat mat just now, I'm sure those two maturing pupae are browner than before.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Feb 26, 2011 16:23:18 GMT
Bread or cake will do either one of 2 things. It will either get very hard and dry after about 3 days, or it will get soggy and start to grow mould or fungi. Remove uneaten food of any kind after 3 days and all should be fine.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 26, 2011 21:12:21 GMT
Thank you so much for your help and advice. One of the two pupae are now almost ready for hatching judging by their brownness, due to the day's sitting on the heat mat. I expect workers three and four within the next few days, assuming there are no unforseen problems of course.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 27, 2011 9:39:43 GMT
One pupa should hatch within 24 hours (Or by this evening), and the other should hatch sometime tomorrow. The heat mat is definitely helping them along.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 27, 2011 21:22:54 GMT
As promised, Worker Number Three is now being licked as she slowly moves her legs. For some reason, my Messors always seem to hatch in the evening, and always when I'm watching. This one was in her pupa state minutes before being licked, when she suddenly uncurled. I had a image in my mind's eye of a android being activated, which sort of suited the moment. ;D Happy Birthday, Worker Number Three! And with luck, Number Four will be here with us sometime tomorrow.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Feb 28, 2011 7:17:56 GMT
Worker Three is now a active callow, with her pupated fourth sister due to hatch sometime today or tomorrow at most.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Mar 2, 2011 15:18:32 GMT
Worker Four is now on her feet. A few of the Messor eggs have started hatching, and two new pupae are present. I'm pleased with progress so far.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Mar 2, 2011 19:34:38 GMT
Worker Four is now on her feet. A few of the Messor eggs have started hatching, and two new pupae are present. I'm pleased with progress so far. That is excellent news, ;D so now this colony should really get going over the next 7 months throughout Spring and Summer. As it gets warmer each month give a small increase of food each week or so
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Post by TenebrousNova on Mar 2, 2011 19:59:43 GMT
Food is still an issue here, as I have yet to find a seed that they will touch. They do not touch freshly killed flies or mosquitoes either. Right now however, I have persuaded them to nibble at a bread crumb. I make the crumbs a tiny bit damp to make it easier for them to chew, so I don't know if they are genuinely eating or simply sucking the moisture out.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Mar 3, 2011 7:07:51 GMT
Looks like they have been eating at the bread after all. Fourth Worker is still not walking, but still lying on her side and sometimes moving her legs. I consider this unusual as my Messors so far are usually up and about by 24 hours. I hope she's alright. The queen is also showing signs of wanting to dig (Biting at the cotton), so when I get back from school I'll put their bottle in a dirt set up and see what they think this time.
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Post by TenebrousNova on Mar 3, 2011 15:34:07 GMT
Worker Four still isn't walking, but in the same pose as before. She is alive, and I can't see any physical injury. I gave her a tiny tap, and it got her on her feet, but she laid down again soon after. Maybe she is just waiting for her skin to harden and darken before she starts moving.
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