4 replies to this topic

[BeginnerAntKeeper]

I have a Tetramorium Walshi queen which managed to raise a single worker but ever since then has had barely any brood besides about 3 eggs which don’t seem to be hatching. I do feed them every so often but the queen doesn’t seem to want to lay new eggs. Does anyone know the problem here? Am I not feeding her enough?

[smares]

We need more information. How often do you feed them and what do you feed them? What is the temperature? Are you keeping them warm? What is humidity like?

[BeginnerAntKeeper]

We need more information. How often do you feed them and what do you feed them? What is the temperature? Are you keeping them warm? What is humidity like?

I feed them at irregular intervals and usually mealworms with occasionally sugar crystals. They never seem to be able to finish the mealworm or the sugar(maybe too much?). I live in the tropics so temp and humidity is usually high.

[smares]

It is hard to pinpoint the exact problem but some things to consider are: is it too warm or too humid? Are you disturbing them too often/ shinning lights on them? Has anything changed since the last worker enclosed? Maybe watch wild colonies and consider there natural environment for clues. I am assuming the are being kept in a test tube set up?

[BeginnerAntKeeper]

No, the colony has been at a stable state since the worker eclosed, with none of the eggs seemingly able to hatch into larvae. I don’t know where any nearby Walshi colonies are. I don’t check them that often, however I do have larger colonies in that setup that I feed once every 3 days so perhaps I need to move them? I do not think it is too warm as my ant box(where all my ants are) is in a sheltered location with no AC.