Prenolepis Imparis journal

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GyneNoob
Posts: 38
Joined: Sun May 01, 2022 11:08 am
Location: Midwest united states

Prenolepis Imparis journal

Post: # 92750Post GyneNoob
Wed May 25, 2022 8:19 pm

On April 23 while at work I was moving a birdbath and a winged ant crawling on the ground caught my eye. I quickly put the birdbath top back on the pedestal and gently picked her up by her wings. I rushed into the office and grabbed a cup from the kitchen and placed her inside. I put some plastic wrap over the top of the cup and picked some holes in it.
https://i.imgur.com/SWIHp0X.jpg
I had just gotten my order in of a starter pack from AntsCanada with test tubes, and test tube portals. I got a tube ready and placed the queen inside.
https://i.imgur.com/Cb5vYQh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Cb5vYQh.jpg
From watching ants canadas video on nuptial flights in north America I mostly knew she was a Prenolepis species given she was out so early in the year.
She seemed to settle in the tube quite easy. She was cleaning herself but kept her wings. I know some species can keep their wings well into the egg laying stage, but I had to wait to see if she was fertile. I gave her some sugar water and drank quite a bit.
https://youtu.be/o4-EKPgmsx8

I gave her a tiny piece of an earthworm on the 28th. She kept stinging the worm bit or maybe spraying it? But not sure if she ever ate any of it.
https://i.imgur.com/Wg10kCM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4zH2fHU.jpg

I checked on her the next day on April 29th
https://i.imgur.com/6UhxyNN.jpg
She has eggs! There were about 3 or 4 of them.
https://i.imgur.com/sDcrKMd.jpg

Kept an eye on her everyday.
The egg pile kept getting bigger.
This is may 6th, looked to be around 10 eggs.
https://i.imgur.com/AT6a4VP.jpg

On May 11th there was around 12 to 14 eggs.
https://i.imgur.com/M3uQ5n4.jpg

Here on May 22 the eggs have started to morph into larva!
https://i.imgur.com/BAiqS67.jpg

Then today the larva are looking bigger.
https://i.imgur.com/ohK0SGo.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/fW9cDpm.jpg
And she still has her wings.
https://youtu.be/CE3jbB9tS8k
Founding colony of Prenolepis Imparis,
Colony of Tapinoma Sessile,
Founding colonies of Tetramorium immigrans

GyneNoob
Posts: 38
Joined: Sun May 01, 2022 11:08 am
Location: Midwest united states

Re: Prenolepis Imparis journal

Post: # 93056Post GyneNoob
Fri Jun 03, 2022 7:38 pm

https://i.imgur.com/0aq5Jhb.jpg
Picture of My Queen today. Larva are getting bigger. Queen still has her wings.
Founding colony of Prenolepis Imparis,
Colony of Tapinoma Sessile,
Founding colonies of Tetramorium immigrans

AntsNW
Posts: 39
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 10:50 pm
Location: Washington

Re: Prenolepis Imparis journal

Post: # 93149Post AntsNW
Sun Jun 05, 2022 7:12 pm

Hey, good catch!
Yeah it makes sense that she wouldn’t eat her earthworm. I’m sure you know way more about the species than me but Prenolepis are fully claustral. Besides the initial honey water, any more food might just stress her out and create an unsafe environment for her eggs.
She looks great though!
Good job and good luck!
Keeper of:
Camponotus Pennsylvanicus-- 1 queen, 8 workers
Lasius Niger queen

GyneNoob
Posts: 38
Joined: Sun May 01, 2022 11:08 am
Location: Midwest united states

Re: Prenolepis Imparis journal

Post: # 93168Post GyneNoob
Mon Jun 06, 2022 4:46 pm

Thanks!
I'm trying to not disturb her but I can't help taking a peak once in a while. One of the larva looks close to being a pupa. Also looks like she laid more eggs.
Founding colony of Prenolepis Imparis,
Colony of Tapinoma Sessile,
Founding colonies of Tetramorium immigrans

GyneNoob
Posts: 38
Joined: Sun May 01, 2022 11:08 am
Location: Midwest united states

Re: Prenolepis Imparis journal

Post: # 93169Post GyneNoob
Mon Jun 06, 2022 7:20 pm

Here's some pictures from today.
https://i.imgur.com/iqJ3QQ3.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6gbjXaI.jpg
Founding colony of Prenolepis Imparis,
Colony of Tapinoma Sessile,
Founding colonies of Tetramorium immigrans

AntsNW
Posts: 39
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 10:50 pm
Location: Washington

Re: Prenolepis Imparis journal

Post: # 93197Post AntsNW
Tue Jun 07, 2022 7:47 pm

Hey that’s great! She looks like she’s making a ton of progress.
Yeah I’m pretty sure everyone in the ant keeping hobby has the hardest time not peaking on the ants. I’m guilty of checking on them way to much :lol: .
Keeper of:
Camponotus Pennsylvanicus-- 1 queen, 8 workers
Lasius Niger queen

GyneNoob
Posts: 38
Joined: Sun May 01, 2022 11:08 am
Location: Midwest united states

Re: Prenolepis Imparis journal

Post: # 93491Post GyneNoob
Wed Jun 15, 2022 12:02 pm

Updated pics.
https://i.imgur.com/3sTd9Fo.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/aEeMlVc.jpg
Looks like 3 maybe 4 if the larva are now pupa. Sorry the second picture is being tagged as inappropriate, it's just a blurry of of the pupa.
Last edited by GyneNoob on Wed Jun 15, 2022 12:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Founding colony of Prenolepis Imparis,
Colony of Tapinoma Sessile,
Founding colonies of Tetramorium immigrans

GyneNoob
Posts: 38
Joined: Sun May 01, 2022 11:08 am
Location: Midwest united states

Re: Prenolepis Imparis journal

Post: # 93801Post GyneNoob
Tue Jun 21, 2022 11:15 am

Two of the pupa have eyes now. They're so adorable!
https://i.imgur.com/YPTmBvN.jpg
Seems to be more and more eggs in there as well.
Founding colony of Prenolepis Imparis,
Colony of Tapinoma Sessile,
Founding colonies of Tetramorium immigrans

GyneNoob
Posts: 38
Joined: Sun May 01, 2022 11:08 am
Location: Midwest united states

Re: Prenolepis Imparis journal

Post: # 94074Post GyneNoob
Wed Jun 29, 2022 10:46 am

The first niantics are here!
https://i.imgur.com/t65TQfq.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mDJdckV.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/I4X5JJI.jpg
Took 61 days from laying to adult.
I'm so excited!
Time to start planning the setup.
https://youtu.be/FXa1fyzbkf4
https://youtu.be/LRDYnhp1Q2g
Founding colony of Prenolepis Imparis,
Colony of Tapinoma Sessile,
Founding colonies of Tetramorium immigrans

User avatar
Antloverhuman
Posts: 1135
Joined: Wed May 19, 2021 3:38 am
Location: Delhi, India

Re: Prenolepis Imparis journal

Post: # 94075Post Antloverhuman
Wed Jun 29, 2022 11:30 am

Congratulations!!
I know its the best feeling when finally your hard work pays off and you get a young budding colony of your own!
Ants I have-
camponotus compressus colony- the shadow warriors.
Pls just let me have a tetramorium colony

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