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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2012 13:52:21 GMT
I spent a few hours 'Anting' today and managed to find two new weaver ant queens. One had just recently landed as she still had her wings while the other was a few days ahead as she had removed her wings and already had two eggs. This species founds its colonies on open leaves which is a bit precarious as looking around the tree they were on I could see birds fluttering between the branches looking for food, lizards running along the trunk and plenty of spiders and parasitic wasps around all looking for a meal! Photos here: s1126.photobucket.com/albums/l607/theantman1/Weaver%20ants/ |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2012 20:13:51 GMT
Tidy... I wish I lived in your part of the UK.....(smiles innocently).
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2012 23:36:23 GMT
I left the queens on the tree as it is in my garden and I aim to record the colony foundation progress. Yesterday the queen with wings had disappeared - maybe flown on or fallen prey to some other creature. The queen with the two eggs had been busy and had a cluster of about ten eggs. The in the afternoon we had a horrendous tropical thunder storm with strong winds and very heavy rain. Looking out of the window I could see the tree where the queen was bending and swaying in the wind and the rain was hammering against the windows. I went out after the storm to find that the queen had managed to hang onto the leaf but all but two of her eggs had been washed away. Not only do they have to deal with a multitude of predators but also the weather!
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 8, 2012 7:48:13 GMT
The weather in Thailand sounds very similar to what we are now having in many parts of Britain. It must be a hard life for a new queen to get a colony started when you come to think about it.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2012 12:41:00 GMT
The weaver queens eggs started to hatch about two days ago and they have been very active using the larvae to spin a protective cover over themselves and their brood. Interesting as I always thought that they used the older larvae that were near to pupating to spin! The larvae they have been using are only a few days old! s1126.photobucket.com/albums/l607/theantman1/Weaver%20ants/ |
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jun 17, 2012 13:25:21 GMT
That queen is one fine healthy looking lady, and with her brood she should found a lovely colony soon by the look of it. I love this photo of her} |
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Post by TenebrousNova on Jun 17, 2012 13:29:19 GMT
Do the queens start weaving their nests themselves, or do they sit on a leaf in the open?
They look very vulnerable.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2012 14:52:50 GMT
They start their colonies by as you say ' Sitting on a leaf in the open' - although usually they choose a secluded spot and preferably a leaf that is curled over or covered with another leaf. The first 10-14 days seem to be the most dangerous for them as they have no protection at all! Once their eggs start hatching they will use the new larvae to spin a cover over themselves and their brood and if possible to fasten two leaves together. This silken chamber not only protects them from predators but also from the weather such as heavy rain which can wash their brood away.
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