Dean's Lasius nigers

[deansyme]

I have had my Lasius niger colony for 4 years now.
They currently have around 500 workers and growing fast.
They are kept in a ant farm from ant store connected to feeding tub.
I thought it was time to keep a journal for them and will add to it weekly.

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[deansyme]

Large increase in brood over last week, queen looking very plump. a lot of nest expansion going on too. Been well fed on sugar water and insects.

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[deansyme]

Right now I am sitting in my ant room with the light on, my Lasius niger in the 15 minute I have been there are rushing the brood, pupae, and eggs ( which surprised me most ) to surface of the nest. Its as if they think the light is sunlight as well as the heat from the living room coming in the open door, and basking the brood.
I have read that others had similar scenes with one of their colonies too.

There has been a massive increase in brood numbers over the last few weeks and may need to extend there nesting area soon.

Just fed them a bluebottle, honey, changed water and a piece of chicken nugget from my mcdonalds lol which they are going crazy over! My lemani also love chicken.

[deansyme]

While sorting some colonies out for transport I was watching my Lasius niger colony,who like to bring the brood to the surface of there nest as if they think sun is out.
To my amazement as they were doing this I spotted the queen there. She had come up too.

Now I am watching 'sunning herself surrounded by her guards.

Pretty chuffed

[deansyme]

All the larvae have now turned into pupae and I estamate over 150 - 200.
Still eating everything given to them and the queen has been busy laying.

[deansyme]

Worker number continue to grow by about 30-50 a month...the queen is still laying as lots of larvae and eggs.
Estimated size now 600 workers