Formica queen died - a worker is now producing eggs
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 4:24 pm
One of my Formica colonies with about 50 workers lost their queen about 3 months ago. I'm not sure why she died, perhaps old age. I'm not sure how old she was as I collected her with about 25 workers up in the mountains a little over a year ago.
I have still kept the colony and shortly after the queen died, I noticed there was what appeared to be new brood. A few weeks later, some pretty large larva and pupa developed and eventually male alates eclosed. This process has continued, and male alates continue to eclose.
This is what infertile queens/workers give you, male alates. I did find it interesting though that once the queen died, there was a volunteer, or volunteers, to attempt to take over the role of egg layer.
I have still kept the colony and shortly after the queen died, I noticed there was what appeared to be new brood. A few weeks later, some pretty large larva and pupa developed and eventually male alates eclosed. This process has continued, and male alates continue to eclose.
This is what infertile queens/workers give you, male alates. I did find it interesting though that once the queen died, there was a volunteer, or volunteers, to attempt to take over the role of egg layer.