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Post by Smudge on Feb 23, 2012 22:09:48 GMT
Right here we go at the start of last week, I purchased a Messor Barbarus queen and a ytong nest from antstore. Due to the cold weather they were unable to send them out. But on Tuesday I received an e-mail saying they had been sent, so I am expecting them tomorrow or possibly Saturday. When they arrive I'll take some pics and post more on the set up and how the queen is looking. Fingers crossed its tomorrow
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Post by Smudge on Feb 24, 2012 15:50:21 GMT
My suspicions were correct she has arrived healthy, maybe a little travel sick, and sluggish from the temperature but shes in her new home with some cut up mini meal worms and some seeds. She is very healthy looking and to my suprise when she arrived she already had a nice little clutch of eggs. ;D soon I will have a little mini colony which will grow and grow and grow. I have placed the ytong nest on top of my bearded dragon vivarium, where the nest can absorb heat from the bulb through the roof. Typically she hasn't really wanderd in to far only the first chamber on her left which is right above the bulb. Will post more when anything else happens.
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Post by Zarbi on Feb 24, 2012 16:31:00 GMT
It's a good sign if she already has laid eggs, it means you should have workers by late April or early May.
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Post by IceWhyte on Feb 24, 2012 16:55:58 GMT
Do you have any pictures of your set up?
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Post by Smudge on Feb 25, 2012 4:47:36 GMT
I do and will post soon. you will have to excuse the poor picture quality as I have misplaced my camera and had to do it on my phone. Photos will be up in the next few days.
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Post by Smudge on Mar 1, 2012 10:25:30 GMT
Righto quick update: She has picked a different chamber in the nest now and has eaten some meal worm. She still has the same clutch of eggs which she is nurturing 24/7. Have to say she is a keen and very devoted mother. She seems to love the ytong set up as there is a thin layer of condensation which she drinks and is overly very happy hopefully in the next three weeks I will have my first workers.
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Post by Smudge on Mar 3, 2012 10:43:23 GMT
I have made a discovery. On checking on her yesterday I saw the clutch of eggs but laid separately beside it was the first larvae. On checking this morning she was cleaning all of them. What I'm thinking is maybe on moving her she lost some eggs and that's why the other eggs haven't developed quite yet. I promise to put some pictures up soon
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Post by Smudge on Mar 11, 2012 17:34:52 GMT
Checked yesterday I have my first pupae YAY! the queen is very active always switching chambers in the nest. The clutch of eggs are still the same but hopefully should start turning into larvae in the next few days very exited cannot wait for my first worker
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Post by Smudge on Mar 16, 2012 12:12:10 GMT
Rightio here we go! checked on her today the pupae is beginning to shift colour from the white to a yellowy brown colour. Her eyes are clear when I shine my LED light in. The queen is fine eating bits of miniature mealworm every now and again, and the clutch of eggs is growing. I do not mean in number but in size, so soon I should have a batch of larvae. Cool beans
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Post by Smudge on Mar 22, 2012 12:49:43 GMT
YES Ladies and Gentlemen the moment I have been waiting for has arrived. My first worker was born sometime last night she appears healthy though a little sluggish to start off as I would expect. The rest of the larvae is steadily growing one appears larger than the others but I'm not sure. There are 9 larvae in total and the queen already has another clutch of eggs, happy days!
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Post by Smudge on Mar 22, 2012 22:05:28 GMT
here we go I promised pictures sorry about the poor quality in the middle of moving and cannot find my camera so used my phone enjoy The tank with newly added queen The queen in her new home The nest as it is now with sand in the foraging chamber And finally queen with her newest worker which is just next to her head Hope you enjoy them and I do apolagise about the amount of condensation I put water in the chamber earlier to soak up through the nest and keep it moist always does it but will have gone by tomorrow.
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Post by Smudge on Mar 29, 2012 21:22:40 GMT
Just a quick update over the last few days their has been increased egg laying and development I now have a number of larvae and a good few pupae. It seems to have picked up with the addition of the first worker. Their has been quite a lot of movement as well with seeds appearing in the chambers when I go to check in the morning. One of the larvae is actually quite big for one of the first workers might have something to to with the mini meal-worm the queen has been tearing apart should have my second worker around mid-week next week.
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Post by Smudge on Apr 9, 2012 16:50:19 GMT
Quick update:
The colony numbers have increased to 3 workers, 1 Queen, God knows how many brood but a few pupae which will not be long in hatching.
Other than that been rather boring in the nest not a lot of activity as they have sealed themselves in with some sand.
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Post by Smudge on Apr 10, 2012 21:05:12 GMT
Right robbed my dads camera for a little while to get some descent pictures. Will upload soon. Other than that business as usual, all workers and queen are nurturing eggs and a few more seeds have been found in the nest near the entrance. There is no organisation with their seeds they leave them anywhere at the moment. Very messy ladies indeed haha. Looking forward to my newest worker hatching in the next day or two, cannot wait for the sudden outburst in workers in the nest so I can see them in full glory rather than act sheepishly.
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Post by Smudge on Apr 10, 2012 23:22:23 GMT
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