Queen stopped taking care of her eggs a week after being caught, why?

[zsluyter]

I caught a queen ant in mid August, a couple days later in her test tube she started laying eggs. But then after a week she stopped tending to them, why is this? Is it due to hibernation season coming up?

[idahoantgirl]

What do you mean by "stopped tending to them?"

[zsluyter]

She laid her eggs one day in a small group and then the next week they were all gone. Both of my queens did the same thing. Some of the eggs were turning into larve and then just “disappeared”

[UnrealSparks]

How often were you checking on them? Were the test tubes placed in a dark and quiet place?

[zsluyter]

I checked them once every week, they were in a dark wooden box in a warm closet. They both have AC test tube setups.

[UnrealSparks]

Do you know what species are they?

[zsluyter]

I think lasius, not 100% sure.

[StormDancer]

Post pics for someone to ID, they might be social parasites.

[zsluyter]

Any picture I try to post says the file is too large to post.

[StormDancer]

You'll need to use a hosting site like photobucket.