9 replies to this topic

[YsTheAnt]

Last season I caught some Pogonomyrmex subdentatus queens, which now have workers. My largest colony, with ~15 workers, is starting to consume larvae for no apparent reason.

They have plenty of seeds and I do see some surviving larvae eating them. There are loads of smaller larvae, but once they get to the pre pupa stage they are almost all eaten.

They are kept in a dirt setup with a humidity gradient and at 90-94F. I check on them 1-2 times a day for 1-2 mins. I will start reducing this time to once every few days now.

Any advice on how to fix this would be appreciated.

Edited by YsTheAnt, January 24 2019 - 7:34 PM.

[sirjordanncurtis]

Are the larvae being completely eaten by the workers, or is it that the larvae are getting killed, and then eaten as a result of this later on? 
 

[YsTheAnt]

Are the larvae being completely eaten by the workers, or is it that the larvae are getting killed, and then eaten as a result of this later on?

The workers are eating the larvae while they seem to be alive.

[Rstheant]

Have you tried feeding different proteins, such as mealworms and crickets? Maybe the workers want some fresh meat instead.

[YsTheAnt]

Have you tried feeding different proteins, such as mealworms and crickets? Maybe the workers want some fresh meat instead.

Yeah, but they seem to like seeds more. Also, I don't see why this would be making the workers kill the larvae, workers don't need protein. They need the protein FOR the larvae.

Edited by YsTheAnt, January 25 2019 - 5:05 PM.

[CoolColJ]

population control?

Killing larvae to feed larvae -

Edited by CoolColJ, January 25 2019 - 5:16 PM.

[Rstheant]

I don’t know? Maybe ask nurbs, drew or FSTP, the Pogonomyrmex kings?

[anttics]

This has happen in some.of my colonies. When humidity was too low. They will eat all larva once it got to a certain size. I think they are defective due to low humidity. The workers seem to notice this defects, and kills the larva. I have been where you are it sucks. Make sure humidity is at 80 to 100 %. Make sure yoy explain the setup they are in.

Edited by anttics, January 26 2019 - 9:22 AM.

[YsTheAnt]

This has happen in some.of my colonies. When humidity was too low. They will eat all larva once it got to a certain size. I think they are defective due to low humidity. The workers seem to notice this defects, and kills the larva. I have been where you are it sucks. Make sure humidity is at 80 to 100 %. Make sure yoy explain the setup they are in.

I hadn't thought of this, but maybe you are right! I have hydrated their setup. They have loads of smaller brood, so hopefully the colony can recover.

[YsTheAnt]

Despite increasing the humidity they continue to raise the larvae up to pre pupa or pupa and kill them. I think it might be due to stress. I am now going to leave their nest alone.