Simple question - surprisingly hard to find the answer
Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2017 9:40 am
Hi all. This is my first post on this forum so please forgive me it if is not up to standard. I just have one question for which i cant seem to find the answer...
Recently i caught a lasius niger queen and, because the numptual flight occured before my testubes etc arrived but after my main formicarium arrived, i placed her inside the soil formicarium and made a small tunnel to get her started. The next day she had settled in, sealed it off and Now has several eggs.
My question is this, i have been keeping the soil moist for her and i know that during this period (before gen 1 of the workers mature) she will not eat, and lives off of her wing muscles, but does she need to drink?
If so, can she survive from drinking the moisture in the soil or do i need to give her something extra?
I really dont want to have to disturb her but i would rather that than have her dehydrate. Thank you for any help you can offer.
(Ok so it was two questions not one)
Recently i caught a lasius niger queen and, because the numptual flight occured before my testubes etc arrived but after my main formicarium arrived, i placed her inside the soil formicarium and made a small tunnel to get her started. The next day she had settled in, sealed it off and Now has several eggs.
My question is this, i have been keeping the soil moist for her and i know that during this period (before gen 1 of the workers mature) she will not eat, and lives off of her wing muscles, but does she need to drink?
If so, can she survive from drinking the moisture in the soil or do i need to give her something extra?
I really dont want to have to disturb her but i would rather that than have her dehydrate. Thank you for any help you can offer.
(Ok so it was two questions not one)