Workers dying, dead in nest.
Moderator: ooper01
-
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2018 5:13 am
Workers dying, dead in nest.
Hi Guys,
About two weeks ago I’ve connected the test tube ( queen + 15 workers ) to my new formicarium. By uncovering the test tube and covering the formicarium nest the ants moved about three days later.
I fed them live and dead fruitflies and self made sugar water in the outworld.
Now, for the past four days, about 5-6 workers died/are dead inside the nest. There is pretty much no activity. I’ve put sugar water, dead fruitflies and a new covered test tube outside but they still don’t move/do anything.
A friend told me I have to force them into the test tube but that would mean more stress to the ants. What do you think I should do?
In this picture you can see the outworld, with a new test tube, water, fruit flies and sugarwater
In this picture the nest ( normally covered in red foil ) with the queen, eggs and ( dead ) workers
Thank you for your help
About two weeks ago I’ve connected the test tube ( queen + 15 workers ) to my new formicarium. By uncovering the test tube and covering the formicarium nest the ants moved about three days later.
I fed them live and dead fruitflies and self made sugar water in the outworld.
Now, for the past four days, about 5-6 workers died/are dead inside the nest. There is pretty much no activity. I’ve put sugar water, dead fruitflies and a new covered test tube outside but they still don’t move/do anything.
A friend told me I have to force them into the test tube but that would mean more stress to the ants. What do you think I should do?
In this picture you can see the outworld, with a new test tube, water, fruit flies and sugarwater
In this picture the nest ( normally covered in red foil ) with the queen, eggs and ( dead ) workers
Thank you for your help
Re: Workers dying, dead in nest.
They are probably dying to stress an or are unable to find the food you gave them. That colony is way too small to be put in that formacarium. At that stage, you should probably keep them in a testube or a miniature nest. Normally, ants prefer to be jammed packed rather than spacious.
-
- Posts: 1283
- Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:22 pm
- Location: South Dakota
Re: Workers dying, dead in nest.
Are you watering the nest? It looks pretty dry to me.
"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
Re: Workers dying, dead in nest.
I was also going to say water. I believe that is what happened to my colony, they were not moist enough and essentially dried up and died, poor ladies.
Nylanderia Sp.
Pheidole Sp.
Founding - Cremagastor & Solonopsis Invicta
Pheidole Sp.
Founding - Cremagastor & Solonopsis Invicta
-
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2018 5:13 am
Re: Workers dying, dead in nest.
I did moisturize the nest, that’s why they decided to enter it in the first place.. But maybe not enough. Now what should I do:
- Leave them, keep moisturizing, food nearby
- Force the queen, eggs and workers that remain into a test tube
Please let me know, appreciate your feedback
- Leave them, keep moisturizing, food nearby
- Force the queen, eggs and workers that remain into a test tube
Please let me know, appreciate your feedback
Re: Workers dying, dead in nest.
you shouldn't have moved into that nest the colony is too small for that right now
-
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2018 5:13 am
-
- Posts: 1283
- Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:22 pm
- Location: South Dakota
Re: Workers dying, dead in nest.
I would move them into a test tube and not check them for a very long time.
"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
Re: Workers dying, dead in nest.
try to move them back into the test tube, dry out their nest and make an entry point back into a test tube or make it somewhat uncomfortable fo rthem but not too uncomfortable, you want to make them move on their own accord
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests