Formica workers that grow with colony size?

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AntsDakota
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Re: Formica workers that grow with colony size?

Post: # 36202Post AntsDakota
Mon May 21, 2018 5:00 pm

idahoantgirl wrote:
Mon May 21, 2018 2:09 pm
I 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.
To me they look like different castes, but they are actually different ages?
"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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idahoantgirl
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Re: Formica workers that grow with colony size?

Post: # 36230Post idahoantgirl
Tue May 22, 2018 9:50 am

AntsDakota wrote:
Mon May 21, 2018 5:00 pm
idahoantgirl wrote:
Mon May 21, 2018 2:09 pm
I 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.
To me they look like different castes, but they are actually different ages?
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.
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

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Batspiderfish
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Re: Formica workers that grow with colony size?

Post: # 36231Post Batspiderfish
Tue May 22, 2018 10:22 am

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.)
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.

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idahoantgirl
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Location: Idaho, USA

Re: Formica workers that grow with colony size?

Post: # 36233Post idahoantgirl
Tue May 22, 2018 1:09 pm

Batspiderfish wrote:
Tue May 22, 2018 10:22 am
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.)
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.
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

AntsDakota
Posts: 1283
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:22 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Formica workers that grow with colony size?

Post: # 36243Post AntsDakota
Tue May 22, 2018 6:57 pm

Batspiderfish wrote:
Tue May 22, 2018 10:22 am
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.)
Tetramorium colonies that I've seen have both large and small workers.
"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

AntsDakota
Posts: 1283
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:22 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Formica workers that grow with colony size?

Post: # 36536Post AntsDakota
Tue May 29, 2018 7:37 pm

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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