The AntsCanada Ant Forum's

AntsRule wrote:So my two workers died..Any Idea Why? They have a bunch of cocoons still. I am giving them some honey in case they were malnourished.

This happens with Camponotus sp. They can be a tricky to keep in captivity.
Ive had a few get to the 2-4 worker range and then crash. Had some get a few eggs or pupa then crash. Then some just keep truckin no matter what happens.
In my experience, there is about a 50% chance any queen will make it through founding. Then on top of that, Camponotus sp. in particular have about a 40% chance of making it in a glass or plastic tube, as apposed to a setup with digging medium and such.
So a 40% chance out of a 50% chance makes it 20% chance of making it at all.
These aren't proven numbers per say, but my estimate from my experiences.

I will do the best I can! Thanks everyone!

So now I am paranoid, I gave them a sizeable drop of honey and I am going to let them sit for a week

AntsRule wrote:So now I am paranoid, I gave them a sizeable drop of honey and I am going to let them sit for a week

I've had that feeling this year alot.

Same here as soon as I saw six nantics I saw a big mold spot. I'm so scared cause now I had to open the cap of their setup to try and make them move and they get so anxious when I get close and dart all around

ARRRRGGGGG! The next worker died!!!!! Another is hatching now though, is there anything else I can do?

Hi there, I have been following your progress and it is exciting to see the nanitics but sad to have them perish. I have recently captured a Camponotus Novaeboracensis, well it has been 2 months now, and my Queen Camponotus has 3 nanitics and 5 more pupating and a handful of larvae. I hope my ants live, I tend to disturb her some bit too, but it is justified. I turn on the light, taking photos with flash and I feed her and the workers, I use to "tooth pick with honey drop" it technique but now I just use a syringe, easier to poke through the cotton, versus take cotton out and dabbing a honey droplet via toothpick. After reading your journal I hope Queen Novaeboracensis species of Camponotus is more resilient, I did find her on the sidewalk in a semi busy street in the downtown city.

Congrats!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA The workers died mid-hatch! I want too scream!

any updates?