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Post by deansyme on Jun 28, 2012 20:14:59 GMT
Today I recieved a Formica sanguinea queen from wood.
I took out the Lasius niger pupae she had ( do not trust those devils lol ), and gave her some lemani brood. She's an absolute beauty... I hope she does well.
Will update soon
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peanuts
Honey Pot Ant 
Posts: 40 
Likes: 1
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Post by peanuts on Jun 29, 2012 14:00:38 GMT
Are you going to make a journals comments thread or let people post on your journals?  |
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Post by deansyme on Jun 29, 2012 14:50:06 GMT
Post here if you want mate
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Post by deansyme on Jul 11, 2012 19:49:21 GMT
This morning the first adoptive callow started to enclose. I boosted her with lemani brood as the sanguinea queen needs slave workers to raise her brood.
When I got home I was greeted by a half enclosed worker running abiut with half the pupae attached still. Another was going around in circles ( quite amusing ) with only two right legs out, and another with just a head out.
They had already started to darken and seeeing the sanguinea queen was either incapable or just plain ignorent to the fact that they werent fully enclosed, I moved her to a new test tube.
I took all three out and carefully, making sure I didnt damage the ants semi soft exoskeleton, removed them from there pupae.
I have reintroduced the queen 5 mins ago and all 3 workers seem fine and shes licking them.
So alls well ends well, but maybe something for members to watch for....esspecially with slave species.
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Post by batspiderfish on Jul 12, 2012 2:06:33 GMT
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Post by deansyme on Jul 13, 2012 21:06:29 GMT
Pleased to announce that 2 of the 3 callows are fine, unfortunatly one didnt make it.
I hope the sanguinea queen lays some eggs now she has her slaves to help her.
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Post by deansyme on Jul 27, 2012 6:26:13 GMT
She now has 4 lemani workera but no sign of eggs yet.
Going to move the test tube to an empty cricket tub so the workers can forage, hopefully this may help.
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Post by deansyme on Aug 5, 2012 8:38:22 GMT
The 4 lemani workers are doing plenty of foraging and there are still 3 pupae cocoons to enclose. However still no sign of any eggs yet.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Aug 5, 2012 9:02:22 GMT
You may find that is getting a bit late in the year for her to produce eggs of her own; and as F. sanguinea are found predominantly in southern England here in Britain, you might have to give her a bit extra warmth if it gets a bit too cold up there in bonny Scotland. |
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Post by batspiderfish on Aug 5, 2012 12:29:06 GMT
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Post by Wood~Ant on Aug 5, 2012 13:07:13 GMT
Is F. sanguinea's presence weaker in the north? They can be found in a few parts of Scotland, this is true; but I doubt the accuracy of the map, as reports indicate this species is not as commonplace north of the border, and they are still found more easily in the south of England. |
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Post by deansyme on Aug 12, 2012 12:32:39 GMT
No new workers yet but queen is putting on wieght which is good to see.
Hope to get sanguinea workers soon as she only has 4 lemani workers at present.
This species only really needs slave ants when the queen is on her own, however many nests usually contain 10% of other formica workers at any one time.
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