Deleted
Hibernating
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2012 13:27:11 GMT
Before anyone else asks - I am not selling any of these queens yet and do not want to exchange them for anything! The colony foundation stage is the most difficult stage for this species and I would always advise anyone wanting a colony not to buy a newly fertilized queen. I am hoping to have young colonies from these queens available for sale in early September.
|
|
|
Post by jameslovell on Jun 7, 2012 1:28:29 GMT
Hi Peter,
Most queens are usually fine together after nuptial flights esp if its only one night! I know red ants fight each other when kept together over a long period such as a few weeks in a confined space. I had a few together that tore each other apart.
The army ants only had one night together though, very aggressive females!
|
|
Deleted
Hibernating
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2012 23:30:18 GMT
The queens were all placed in clear plastic containers and the sides covered with a tube of cardboard. Some of the queens constructed chambers alongside the side of the plastic containers so I can see what is happening and most of them have already laid a nice cluster of eggs. Its going to be difficult to get any good photos but I will try and upload some later today.
|
|
|
Post by Zarbi on Jun 8, 2012 8:57:03 GMT
Hope you get a few nice photos Peter, as it would be nice to see these young ladies with their first egg clutch.
|
|
Deleted
Hibernating
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2012 11:52:14 GMT
Difficult to obtain any good photos due to the containers being not quite transparent. Have managed to take this one which shows the first cluster of eggs.
|
|
|
Post by TenebrousNova on Jun 10, 2012 12:27:18 GMT
Quite an impressive looking egg mass. I believe that these queens are quite renowned for producing large amounts of brood in a short space of time. Aren't the minors meant to develop quite quickly?
Your above post now links to the picture properly.
|
|
|
Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 10, 2012 13:29:24 GMT
I imagine that being large queens they will lay an egg mass of a proportionate size, as it certainly looks like a lot of eggs in with her Peter.
|
|
|
Post by jameslovell on Jun 12, 2012 17:41:24 GMT
I've read some stories and seen some pictures of these ants and they increase in numbers very rapidly!
|
|
Deleted
Hibernating
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2012 0:53:59 GMT
I was checking on the progress of one of the queens today and while I was looking at one I noticed that the brood seemed to be moving around - looking closer with a magnifier I could see that the first few workers have emerged!!! I will be checking the others in anticipation and posting some photos later.
|
|
|
Post by Wood~Ant on Jul 5, 2012 7:46:34 GMT
I was checking on the progress of one of the queens today and while I was looking at one I noticed that the brood seemed to be moving around - looking closer with a magnifier I could see that the first few workers have emerged!!! I will be checking the others in anticipation and posting some photos later. That was fast. It must be the tropical heat and humidity that makes the brood develop so quick ;D
|
|
|
Post by Welsh Ant on Jul 5, 2012 17:14:47 GMT
Look forward to seeing the pics of the newborn ants.
|
|
Deleted
Hibernating
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2012 14:09:50 GMT
On checking most of the queens now have their first workers. You can see some photos here: photobucket.com/theantmanThis is a critical time as to date I have not seen any workers out foraging and the queens must be getting quite hungry after a month without food and having raised a good sized brood.
|
|
Deleted
Hibernating
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2012 12:08:09 GMT
Looks like the young queens are now well established as whenever I put any food onto the top of the soil in the containers - within a very short time about 20-30 small workers are swarming all over it. I am aiming to excavate one of the colonies next week and will try and persuade them to move into a plaster observation nest so I will be able to see exactly what is going on 'inside'.
|
|
|
Post by deansyme on Jul 17, 2012 18:44:58 GMT
They sound like they are doing well mate
|
|