Large Larvae

[VerticalPlains]

So, I have a Formica Fusca (or some genus of Formica) queen, and she has laid her first brood which are all in their pupae stages right now. But when I picked up the test tube about a week ago after checking something I found a bit strange.
There was a larvae in the back of the testable that had been buried under cotton, she barely ever tends to it unlike the larvae (at the time) in the front.
A week later I decided to check on it after getting a bit anxious and now it is absolutely massive, about a third or even half of the queens body and growing. It can be clearly seen when you look at the test tube from the side. Does anyone know what this is?

I can't provide pictures, my phone broke recently on a trip and the only camera I have is on my computer (it isn't that good).

[idahoantgirl]

It's possible that your queen may not be mated and is raising males... but without pics it's impossible to tell

[VerticalPlains]

It's possible that your queen may not be mated and is raising males... but without pics it's impossible to tell

Ok, I really hope that isn't the case...

[AntsOfOntario]

So, I have a Formica Fusca (or some genus of Formica) queen, and she has laid her first brood which are all in their pupae stages right now. But when I picked up the test tube about a week ago after checking something I found a bit strange.
There was a larvae in the back of the testable that had been buried under cotton, she barely ever tends to it unlike the larvae (at the time) in the front.
A week later I decided to check on it after getting a bit anxious and now it is absolutely massive, about a third or even half of the queens body and growing. It can be clearly seen when you look at the test tube from the side. Does anyone know what this is?

I can't provide pictures, my phone broke recently on a trip and the only camera I have is on my computer (it isn't that good).

Is she a winged queen?

[VerticalPlains]

So, I have a Formica Fusca (or some genus of Formica) queen, and she has laid her first brood which are all in their pupae stages right now. But when I picked up the test tube about a week ago after checking something I found a bit strange.
There was a larvae in the back of the testable that had been buried under cotton, she barely ever tends to it unlike the larvae (at the time) in the front.
A week later I decided to check on it after getting a bit anxious and now it is absolutely massive, about a third or even half of the queens body and growing. It can be clearly seen when you look at the test tube from the side. Does anyone know what this is?

I can't provide pictures, my phone broke recently on a trip and the only camera I have is on my computer (it isn't that good).

Is she a winged queen?

No

[AntsDakota]

So, I have a Formica Fusca (or some genus of Formica) queen, and she has laid her first brood which are all in their pupae stages right now. But when I picked up the test tube about a week ago after checking something I found a bit strange.
There was a larvae in the back of the testable that had been buried under cotton, she barely ever tends to it unlike the larvae (at the time) in the front.
A week later I decided to check on it after getting a bit anxious and now it is absolutely massive, about a third or even half of the queens body and growing. It can be clearly seen when you look at the test tube from the side. Does anyone know what this is?

I can't provide pictures, my phone broke recently on a trip and the only camera I have is on my computer (it isn't that good).

The larva is most likely ready to pupate, and she is not tending to it because a pupating larva doesn't need to be tended to, as it has already acquired all food it needs to reach full size. Workers of this species are normally at least half the size of the queen.

[AntsDakota]

So, I have a Formica Fusca (or some genus of Formica) queen, and she has laid her first brood which are all in their pupae stages right now. But when I picked up the test tube about a week ago after checking something I found a bit strange.
There was a larvae in the back of the testable that had been buried under cotton, she barely ever tends to it unlike the larvae (at the time) in the front.
A week later I decided to check on it after getting a bit anxious and now it is absolutely massive, about a third or even half of the queens body and growing. It can be clearly seen when you look at the test tube from the side. Does anyone know what this is?

I can't provide pictures, my phone broke recently on a trip and the only camera I have is on my computer (it isn't that good).

Is she a winged queen?

Just because she is a winged queen doesn't mean she's not mated. AntsCanada once had a Lasius neoniger colony with a winged queen, and sometimes unmated queens loose their wings, on instinct.

[VerticalPlains]

So, I have a Formica Fusca (or some genus of Formica) queen, and she has laid her first brood which are all in their pupae stages right now. But when I picked up the test tube about a week ago after checking something I found a bit strange.
There was a larvae in the back of the testable that had been buried under cotton, she barely ever tends to it unlike the larvae (at the time) in the front.
A week later I decided to check on it after getting a bit anxious and now it is absolutely massive, about a third or even half of the queens body and growing. It can be clearly seen when you look at the test tube from the side. Does anyone know what this is?

I can't provide pictures, my phone broke recently on a trip and the only camera I have is on my computer (it isn't that good).

The larva is most likely ready to pupate, and she is not tending to it because a pupating larva doesn't need to be tended to, as it has already acquired all food it needs to reach full size. Workers of this species are normally at least half the size of the queen.

Ok, I didn't know that about larvae or the size of the workers. The only reason I was worried is because it was larger than the rest of the larvae and is buried under a good amount of cotton by her trash area. I wasn't sure if it was just a dead larvae or not until it grew a bit. Im going to check on it again next week or so, I don't want to disturb the queen.

[AntsOfOntario]

So, I have a Formica Fusca (or some genus of Formica) queen, and she has laid her first brood which are all in their pupae stages right now. But when I picked up the test tube about a week ago after checking something I found a bit strange.
There was a larvae in the back of the testable that had been buried under cotton, she barely ever tends to it unlike the larvae (at the time) in the front.
A week later I decided to check on it after getting a bit anxious and now it is absolutely massive, about a third or even half of the queens body and growing. It can be clearly seen when you look at the test tube from the side. Does anyone know what this is?

I can't provide pictures, my phone broke recently on a trip and the only camera I have is on my computer (it isn't that good).

Is she a winged queen?

Just because she is a winged queen doesn't mean she's not mated. AntsCanada once had a Lasius neoniger colony with a winged queen, and sometimes unmated queens loose their wings, on instinct.

I never said that. I asked a question.

[Beginner]

I have two formica fusca queen ant they both laid eggs but stopped they both only have 5 or 6 egg that are pupae already but stopped laying eggs why ?