11 replies to this topic

[Aliallaie]

Hello
So I have come to realize nanitic ants don’t live long, maybe 2 months at best. I have a camponotus chromaiodes colony inside a mini hearth with ventilation, food, water, etc. queen has been great she laid new eggs few days ago. Today I noticed 3 ants dying and other workers surrounding them. I assume they are the nanitics. Is it normal 3 of them die at once. Anyone know? Also there is no mold or anything I’ve made sure of that. Please let me know.
Thanks.

[AntsDakota]

For now I would assume that those nanitics just happened to die at the same time. Yet if this turns into a mass die-off, then perhaps you should check what food you've been giving them. Insects from outside and honey could possibly be contaminated with pesticides.

[Aliallaie]

Thank you for your reply. As far as food I only give them worms from pets-mart, nectar and the THA liquid food. I’m really careful what I feed them.

[AntsDakota]

For now I would assume that those nanitics just happened to die at the same time. 

Then this is what I'd assume. There is also the extremely minute chance that this is some sort of disease, but probably not.

Edited by AntsDakota, September 16 2019 - 12:24 PM.

[Amazant]

What are the symptoms of the way they died, were they on their backs and twitching a little back or just curled up and dead?

[Aliallaie]

They would stumble a bet side ways and curl up. Not on they’re back. While doing so other ants would slowly drag them. Nothing unusual or odd behavior.

[Aliallaie]

I didn’t see any unusual twitches or spasm. For example when my other colony died from mold their entire death was unusual. They would spas out or run around really fast and curl up and die.

[Amazant]

Interesting, one of my colonies queen fell on her side then rolled up twitching also that mold outbreak seems interesting.

[Aliallaie]

Did the queen die??

[Aliallaie]

I believe The mold outbreak was because there was no ventilation in the nest and it was a wooden nest.

[Amazant]

Yeah she died two days later but the workers were all fine.

[Aliallaie]

Damn that’s unfortunate.