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Post by UKantz on May 4, 2012 15:20:21 GMT
A few days ago a fellow member (dean) and I made a swap of queens I swapped my largest messor barbarus queen with eggs and larvae for 3 Formica lemani queens and 9 workers, which are due to be sent next tuesday. However since dean was on a ant hunting trip this weekend he said he was going to boost my colony before sending it off, so I am looking forward to seeing how many workers and how much brood I will get. I will keep this journal at least updated every week.
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Post by UKantz on May 7, 2012 17:07:38 GMT
Dean checked on what was the colony I chose only to notice that it only had 1 queens not 3, so he gave me other options and now I'm due to receive 2 queens and eggs
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Post by UKantz on May 11, 2012 15:11:07 GMT
After being posted on Wednesday they arrived today with many eggs! The 2 queen alliance is in tact and not only that, they have I would say around 100 eggs scattered around the test tube . The queens are healthy and reside on the damp cotton. They are now collecting all the eggs to stack up into a pile, after clumsey me was rolling them while unwrapping them. I will upload pictures soon! I would like to recommend dean highly in his service for the range of ants he sells, the prices he sells them at and how fast he posts them. Good job, I'm chuffed with my ants
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Post by UKantz on May 13, 2012 18:57:42 GMT
Checking on them today has revealed that the eggs have got larger and ready to hatch in the next 1-3 days and some possibly hatched already. You can definitely see which is the more dominant queen as she always sits on the cotton while the other is near, but always shys away when ever confronted. Next update will be in a weeks time
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Post by UKantz on May 16, 2012 15:11:34 GMT
I am a bit concerned that the majority of the eggs are still scattered around the test tube but both queens are still alive and well. I have placed the corner a heat mat underneath their pot which holds the test tube in the tissue to speed up the process of egg to adult.
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Post by UKantz on May 16, 2012 15:48:34 GMT
the 2 queen alliance Attachments:
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Post by UKantz on May 16, 2012 15:49:52 GMT
sorry for the poor quality Attachments:
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Post by UKantz on May 17, 2012 16:10:40 GMT
I just ordered there formicarium (a worm world) for the 2 queen alliance, I plan to cover the big air holes with sticky tape and punch smaller wholes with a pin. Then heat up a screw driver to make a whole to attach the tubing which will lead to the foraging pot.
When I have completed my set up I will post pictures.
I may be able to get some Formica fusca brood this Saturday (providing the weather is nice) on the Malvern hills to boost the queens to help with them when they move into the set up.
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Post by Wood~Ant on May 17, 2012 18:16:13 GMT
If you cover the holes with sticky tape, make sure the glue side is placed on the inside of the top to cover the holes so the ants won't get stuck on it. So you stick the tape under the lid instead of on the top.
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Post by UKantz on May 18, 2012 15:15:25 GMT
These queens are very prolific egg layers with 2 more batches of 6-8 eggs to add to the already existing 80-100 some of which are beginning to turn into small larvae already.
And yes wood that was my intention, I don't want any ants getting stuck ;D
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Post by UKantz on May 20, 2012 15:49:32 GMT
Today I had the chance to go upto the malverns and find some brood for my lems, and although it was about about 3:50 pm I found the old door mat nest lifted it up to find the last of the brood they were sunbathing. Unfortunaly due to it being not very sunny, and late in the day I only managed to get 5 pupae as most were gone and I didnt want to get bitten by these large ladies. There was much more larvae then pupae but didn't take many because you can't tell of there going to become queen or drones. So I've boosted the 2 queen alliance with 5 Formica pupae, sorry wood I didn't manage to get any for you, but I'll try next week for you and my lems.
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Post by UKantz on May 20, 2012 16:04:05 GMT
I took this picture shortly after boosting Attachments:
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Post by Wood~Ant on May 20, 2012 19:04:43 GMT
So I've boosted the 2 queen alliance with 5 Formica pupae, sorry wood I didn't manage to get any for you, but I'll try next week for you and my lems. Try changing the location a bit, like where they used to quarry the red granite that the Malvern Hills are made up of mostly. You should find lots of nests under stones and rocks if you've already found a F. fusca nest up there.
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Post by deansyme on May 20, 2012 19:09:34 GMT
Erm.... I know its not clear in picture but those pupae seem pretty big .... Hope not queens... I am looking at the pic on my phone so may be mistaken as can't see too well.
Dean
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Post by UKantz on May 20, 2012 19:32:26 GMT
Don't worry dean these pupae were the same size as the workers carrying them so there not queens, I'll try and take better pictures. ;D @wood I'm going to try and widen my search then.
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