Myrmicinae - Formica rufa, Eggs not growing.

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Craoul
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Sep 02, 2018 4:08 am
Location: Stockholm

Myrmicinae - Formica rufa, Eggs not growing.

Post: # 49105Post Craoul
Sun Sep 02, 2018 4:17 am

Caught my first ant queen this summer and my queen ant is still alive, however the eggs has not been growing. Its been soon 3 months sens she laid the eggs and i was woundering if this is normal?
i provide with a bit of honey and fruitflies, She seem to take it and is beeing "active" around the eggs.
She is in a test tube in a small plastic box, i have not coverd the end with cotton to prevent formic acid spraying herself to death, with another test tube nearby if she would change du to some humidity changes.
the box is keept in dark. check on her top once a week.
(First time ant keeping)

/Daniel

TheRealAntMan
Posts: 620
Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2017 5:59 pm
Location: Chicago, Illinois

Re: Myrmicinae - Formica rufa, Eggs not growing.

Post: # 49117Post TheRealAntMan
Sun Sep 02, 2018 8:03 am

Formica Rufa is a temporary social parasite meaning she 6-10 cocoons from a host colony (like Formica Fusca or Formica Lemani or even some Lasius species) to start her colony.
An ants' strength can be rivaled by few animals compared to relative body size.

Craoul
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Sep 02, 2018 4:08 am
Location: Stockholm

Re: Myrmicinae - Formica rufa, Eggs not growing.

Post: # 49227Post Craoul
Mon Sep 03, 2018 10:08 am

There is about 10-12 eggs there they are bunched up and she can move them as one unit.
What should i do so make them grow? Should i introduce a smaller worker from outside or what should be my aproch?

TheRealAntMan
Posts: 620
Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2017 5:59 pm
Location: Chicago, Illinois

Re: Myrmicinae - Formica rufa, Eggs not growing.

Post: # 49230Post TheRealAntMan
Mon Sep 03, 2018 10:23 am

She'll need about 6-12 pupae from other Formica sp in your area.
An ants' strength can be rivaled by few animals compared to relative body size.

Craoul
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Sep 02, 2018 4:08 am
Location: Stockholm

Re: Myrmicinae - Formica rufa, Eggs not growing.

Post: # 49386Post Craoul
Tue Sep 04, 2018 10:50 am

Ah, now i understand what you'r saying.

KimNorway
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 3:45 am
Location: Norway

Re: Myrmicinae - Formica rufa, Eggs not growing.

Post: # 49565Post KimNorway
Thu Sep 06, 2018 3:12 am

There is reports of Lasius genus too, so you could try Lasius neoniger pupae as well.

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