Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Dean's Camponotus pennsylvanicus journal


  • Please log in to reply
4 replies to this topic

#1 Offline dean_k - Posted May 9 2015 - 7:58 PM

dean_k

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 845 posts
  • LocationWaterown, Ontario, Canada

I caught this queen on 8th May, 2015.

 

I was taking off from my car and something big was circling around my shoe. It turned out to be a camponotus queen.

 

And today 9th, she laid 2 eggs. It's not absolutely certain that she is fertile but the signs are good. I originally thought she was just a dealate that was rejected from her original nest.

 

I notice that the eggs are orange in color which is new to me.

 

IMG_0653_zpszh0oz6oz.jpg


  • AntTeen804 likes this

#2 Offline Pulliamj - Posted May 11 2015 - 4:50 AM

Pulliamj

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 217 posts
image.jpg

This is one of mine.

Edited by Pulliamj, May 11 2015 - 4:52 AM.

  • AntTeen804 likes this

#3 Offline Crystals - Posted May 11 2015 - 6:04 AM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,048 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

I often catch Camponotus herculeanus, and I find about 1 in 5-7 will lay orange eggs as compared to the pale yellow eggs.  I am not sure if it was their diet from the colony, or some other reason.

 

I would have to hunt for my notes, but I kept track of those that laid orange eggs.  I believe about 1/4 did not do that well and had few workers even after 2 seasons, while the other 3/4 were the ones that had so many workers that they were the first to require an outworld.

 

I look forward to seeing how she does over the next year.  First workers are always the slowest.  :D


"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies


#4 Offline dean_k - Posted May 11 2015 - 6:47 AM

dean_k

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 845 posts
  • LocationWaterown, Ontario, Canada

May 11, 2015

 

The queen laid one additional egg and attempted to block her chamber exit but failed due to lack of substrate. I've always felt the attempt to block founding chamber exit as a sign of fertility.

 

IMG_0675_zpsefrbzsh5.jpg


  • AntTeen804 likes this

#5 Offline dean_k - Posted May 12 2015 - 7:00 AM

dean_k

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 845 posts
  • LocationWaterown, Ontario, Canada

May 12, 2015

 

More eggs and they got bigger. I guess they will soon turn into larvae.

 

The queen is still trying to block the chamber exit.

 

IMG_0711_zpsajjrqxyd.jpg


  • Trailandstreet and AntTeen804 like this




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users