To me they look like different castes, but they are actually different ages?idahoantgirl wrote: ↑Mon May 21, 2018 2:09 pmI can definetly tell younger workers from older ones in my mature tetramorium colony. The older ones are smaller than the younger ones, only by 1/2 to 1 millimeter, but it is very noticeable to the eye.
Formica workers that grow with colony size?
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Re: Formica workers that grow with colony size?
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25
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Re: Formica workers that grow with colony size?
In tetramorium, yes it is just age. Other species do have casts though. It just has to do with how much food the colony had at the time of that ant's development.AntsDakota wrote: ↑Mon May 21, 2018 5:00 pmTo me they look like different castes, but they are actually different ages?idahoantgirl wrote: ↑Mon May 21, 2018 2:09 pmI can definetly tell younger workers from older ones in my mature tetramorium colony. The older ones are smaller than the younger ones, only by 1/2 to 1 millimeter, but it is very noticeable to the eye.
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
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
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Re: Formica workers that grow with colony size?
Colony age, not worker age*
Arthropods with adult forms like insects stop growing larger after they hit their adult stage (ants at least have stretchy gasters.)
Arthropods with adult forms like insects stop growing larger after they hit their adult stage (ants at least have stretchy gasters.)
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.
- idahoantgirl
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Re: Formica workers that grow with colony size?
Yes. I meant that my older workers tend to be smaller since they developed during a time of less food. But yeah the ants themselves dont "grow " after they eclose.Batspiderfish wrote: ↑Tue May 22, 2018 10:22 amColony age, not worker age*
Arthropods with adult forms like insects stop growing larger after they hit their adult stage (ants at least have stretchy gasters.)
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
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
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Re: Formica workers that grow with colony size?
Tetramorium colonies that I've seen have both large and small workers.Batspiderfish wrote: ↑Tue May 22, 2018 10:22 amColony age, not worker age*
Arthropods with adult forms like insects stop growing larger after they hit their adult stage (ants at least have stretchy gasters.)
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25
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Re: Formica workers that grow with colony size?
Isn't this topic supposed to be about Formica?
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25
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