ID Lethargic Queen with Transparent Workers in Houston, TX

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matityahu
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Sep 05, 2023 2:46 pm
Location: Houston

ID Lethargic Queen with Transparent Workers in Houston, TX

Post: # 100218Post matityahu
Tue Sep 05, 2023 3:01 pm

Size: ~4mm
When: Found Jun 23
Where: Suburbs of Houston
Appearance: Very black, head and thorax are roughly the same size. Workers are extremely small with large heads relative to their gasters. The workers are red/orange colored but almost see-through. Antennae are short and don't really appear to have elbows.
Behaviour: Very lethargic. Allows cotton to get pretty dirty, tends to just sit on egg pile in cotton without moving. At one point I saw both workers and the queen nibble at a large egg/pupa, since nothing hatched from it I'm guessing they were eating it. Ignores light completely. If she is eating the pupae I'm wondering what I can do to encourage the growth of the colony. Her water is depleted and I set up and connected a new tube but she doesn't move into it.
Picture(s):
After two workers: https://imgur.com/vsWA0Cf

Tritonspaceants
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2021 11:52 pm
Location: Bangalore,India

Re: ID Lethargic Queen with Transparent Workers in Houston, TX

Post: # 100646Post Tritonspaceants
Mon May 13, 2024 8:40 am

I hope this colony is still alive. Can you get a top shot of the queen? Send one you have, or else try to take a pick now, if she's not completely covered in workers/dissapeared into her formicarium.
Ants: Clumsy Lily(Carebara sp? Monomorium sp.?), Silverfish(Camponotus persius). Intermediate ant keeper!

Tritonspaceants
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2021 11:52 pm
Location: Bangalore,India

Re: ID Lethargic Queen with Transparent Workers in Houston, TX

Post: # 100647Post Tritonspaceants
Mon May 13, 2024 8:54 am

Or a clearer shot of her workers?
Ants: Clumsy Lily(Carebara sp? Monomorium sp.?), Silverfish(Camponotus persius). Intermediate ant keeper!

Tritonspaceants
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2021 11:52 pm
Location: Bangalore,India

Re: ID Lethargic Queen with Transparent Workers in Houston, TX

Post: # 100648Post Tritonspaceants
Mon May 13, 2024 10:43 pm

did she found claustrally or semi-claustrally?
Ants: Clumsy Lily(Carebara sp? Monomorium sp.?), Silverfish(Camponotus persius). Intermediate ant keeper!

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