How long can Lasius niger be left unattended

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jwatson16202

How long can Lasius niger be left unattended

Post: # 16847Post jwatson16202
Mon Feb 06, 2017 5:16 pm

Hi guys, I hope someone can offer some advice here. I have a Lasius niger queen in a test tube founding setup and right now she has a couple of larval stage brood. Based on this I'd expect the first nanitics to enclose maybe middle of march.

Unfortunately I'm going to be away for a week shortly after this and not sure how I should handle feeding them.
Would you recommend I leave the test tube in a basin of some sort with some food available? Or would that result in mould before I return?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Martialis
Posts: 1576
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2016 5:30 pm
Location: Indiana

Re: How long can Lasius niger be left unattended

Post: # 16848Post Martialis
Mon Feb 06, 2017 5:26 pm

jwatson16202 wrote:Hi guys, I hope someone can offer some advice here. I have a Lasius niger queen in a test tube founding setup and right now she has a couple of larval stage brood. Based on this I'd expect the first nanitics to enclose maybe middle of march.

Unfortunately I'm going to be away for a week shortly after this and not sure how I should handle feeding them.
Would you recommend I leave the test tube in a basin of some sort with some food available? Or would that result in mould before I return?

Any advice would be appreciated.
They should be hibernating right now. However, the ants should be fine without food for a week, as long as they have access to water.
Keeper of

Selliing:

jwatson16202

Re: How long can Lasius niger be left unattended

Post: # 16849Post jwatson16202
Mon Feb 06, 2017 5:33 pm

Yeh I'll make sure water is available, even if it's in a fresh tube, thanks.

jwatson16202

Re: How long can Lasius niger be left unattended

Post: # 18178Post jwatson16202
Fri Mar 17, 2017 4:20 am

Wish my ants luck guys
They're on their own for the next week

My queen is still in her test tube with no workers but I've attached her to a fresh test tube in case her water runs out (not much left)

My other colony with around 20 workers has been fed a cricket or 2, has access to 2 tubes of water and one of sugar water

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idahoantgirl
Posts: 1521
Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
Location: Idaho, USA

Re: How long can Lasius niger be left unattended

Post: # 18196Post idahoantgirl
Fri Mar 17, 2017 1:07 pm

queens do not need to be fed until a bit after the workers eclose. She will be fine
Proverbs 6:6-8

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile

jwatson16202

Re: How long can Lasius niger be left unattended

Post: # 18449Post jwatson16202
Thu Mar 23, 2017 10:35 am

idahoantgirl wrote:
Fri Mar 17, 2017 1:07 pm
queens do not need to be fed until a bit after the workers eclose. She will be fine
I hope you're right, I'll be home in about 20 hours so I'll find out then

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