I have 4 queens that I caught in June and July this year. They're in various stages of development. Two of the queens just have eggs, one queen has eggs and a small larvae, and the oldest queen has a third or fourth instar larvae (plus eggs). I've been feeding them drops of honey about once a week, which have been consumed within a day or so. I believe these are Camponotus queens but I'm not sure (https://imgur.com/a/h8d9ue9).
The problem is, I'll be leaving soon for just over a month. Do I need to do anything to care for the queens while I'm gone, or will they survive in my absence? I thought they might need feeding as soon as the workers emerge.
Thanks for your advice in advance. I'm brand new to ant keeping.
Leaving for 1 month, how to care for new queens?
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- RubyAntKeeper77
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Re: Leaving for 1 month, how to care for new queens?
I am a little bit surprised at how often you are feeding them, they should be fine to leave them for a month, most species of ant don’t eat until they have like 25 workers ish in the wild.
You could give them a little larger amount than you usually do. Just help them keep going.
You could give them a little larger amount than you usually do. Just help them keep going.
Why don’t more people like ants?
Is anyone from Wyoming who wants to sell ants?
You can email me about ants at Tucker.reynolds13@gmail.com
Is anyone from Wyoming who wants to sell ants?
You can email me about ants at Tucker.reynolds13@gmail.com
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Re: Leaving for 1 month, how to care for new queens?
Ok, thank you for the advice! Perhaps I've been overfeeding them. Is there any harm in that?
Re: Leaving for 1 month, how to care for new queens?
If there is too much food there could be a greater risk of mold. I don't know of any other risk though. Your queens should be perfectly fine when you come back. Plus if they are camponotus queens (which I think they are) workers take two months to form anyways. So depending on how long ago you caught them, There might not even be workers when you get back !
- jakew102938
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Re: Leaving for 1 month, how to care for new queens?
Source?RubyAntKeeper77 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 28, 2023 9:57 amI am a little bit surprised at how often you are feeding them, they should be fine to leave them for a month, most species of ant don’t eat until they have like 25 workers ish in the wild.
You could give them a little larger amount than you usually do. Just help them keep going.
1x Camponotus Nicobarensis
1x Camponotus Pennsylvanicus
1x Formica Fusca
1x Lasius Neoniger
1x Tetramorium Immigrans
1x Pheidole Bicarinata
1x Aphaenogaster Fulva
1x Camponotus Pennsylvanicus
1x Formica Fusca
1x Lasius Neoniger
1x Tetramorium Immigrans
1x Pheidole Bicarinata
1x Aphaenogaster Fulva
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