Question about Solepnosis Geminata
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Question about Solepnosis Geminata
How much does a queen lay, once a day?
Another note, are the eggs normally yellowish or no?
EDIT: Don't mind the second question, turns out that my eyes were playing a trick on me.
Another note, are the eggs normally yellowish or no?
EDIT: Don't mind the second question, turns out that my eyes were playing a trick on me.
'Have Fun.' - Gabe Newell
Re: Question about Solepnosis Geminata
Once the colony really gets rolling (which may take 3-6 months), is well-fed and at a good temperature (>25°C) a Solenopsis geminata queen can lay up to 11.000 eggs per week/about 1500 eggs per day. But the workers will only live for about 3-4 months (unlike Camponotus whichg can live for several years) which limits the growth a bit (but just a bit). Also the queen usually only gets 6-7 years old.
Someone at the antkeeping forum had a fully-grown (several years old) S. geminata colony that consumed about half a can of dog food per day.
Someone at the antkeeping forum had a fully-grown (several years old) S. geminata colony that consumed about half a can of dog food per day.
Re: Question about Solepnosis Geminata
Well that's not too reassuring for me, my queen has already laid 30+ eggs; and it's her first batch as well.
'Have Fun.' - Gabe Newell
Re: Question about Solepnosis Geminata
11,000 eggs per week?!?!? Per week???
11,000 X 3 months X 4 weeks= 132,000 fire ants! Or 4 months=176,000 fire ants! Trying to get out. With 11,000 ants dying every week after that!
Oh my gosh...
11,000 X 3 months X 4 weeks= 132,000 fire ants! Or 4 months=176,000 fire ants! Trying to get out. With 11,000 ants dying every week after that!
Oh my gosh...
Re: Question about Solepnosis Geminata
I thought it was an exaggeration; now my queen has now laid, 40 or more eggs as her first batch.
'Have Fun.' - Gabe Newell
Re: Question about Solepnosis Geminata
No it isn't. Although the egg-laying rate highly depends on the temperature, at 22°C and below even Solenopsis geminata colonies are growing rather slow.
There's a nice AC video series where you can watch the growth of a Solenopsis geminata colony.
October '13, colony doesn't even fill a single large Omni Nest:
https://youtu.be/G72OYo75zIE
Same colony in January '14:
https://youtu.be/lgJFqLDn6go
And the best thing, Solenopsis invicta (red imported fire ants, which is essentially pretty much the same) has developed strains in some US areas that are POLYGYNOUS (not just during founding but permanently).
Re: Question about Solepnosis Geminata
Another Q: What's the exact amount of indefinite time required, for the shells to enclose?
'Have Fun.' - Gabe Newell
Re: Question about Solepnosis Geminata
You mean the time it takes for an ant to develop into an adult? That highly depends on the temperature (and the supply of proteins) but usually about 4 weeks from egg to worker.
Some small ants can do it faster and larger ants (most Camponotus, Myrmecia, etc.) often require 6-10 weeks.
Some small ants can do it faster and larger ants (most Camponotus, Myrmecia, etc.) often require 6-10 weeks.
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