82 replies to this topic

[Bardusquus]

6/3/2015

An update on my test tube colonies that are growing fast. 

Edited by Bardusquus, June 12 2015 - 3:30 PM.

[dermy]

They are looking good.

[Bardusquus]

They are looking good.

Yep. I'm surprised though that the brachymyrmex larva didn't pupate yet.

[Jonathan21700]

Nice!

[Bardusquus]

Nice!

Thanks

[AntsTexas]

i did not know u could put 2 or more s. invicta queens together

[Bardusquus]

i did not know u could put 2 or more s. invicta queens together

Solenopsis invicta are polygynous. But to keep the colony small it's best to start with one queen.

[Bardusquus]

i did not know u could put 2 or more s. invicta queens together

Though S.invicta, when the colony grows big enough, will start killing off queens (by the workers). The most dominant queen survives.

[AntsTexas]

cool

[Bardusquus]

UPDATE: The S.invicta queen in one of the substrate enclosure pupa looks like its about to eclose. It's only one worker though.

Edited by Bardusquus, June 9 2015 - 9:41 AM.

[Myrmicinae]

 

i did not know u could put 2 or more s. invicta queens together

Solenopsis invicta are polygynous. But to keep the colony small it's best to start with one queen.

 

 

Some S. invicta populations are polygynous, but I believe that most are monogynous.  In general, S. invicta queens will cooperate during the founding stage (i.e., pleometrosis) but, as the colony grows, the workers will only tolerate a single queen.

[drtrmiller]

Some S. invicta populations are polygynous, but I believe that most are monogynous.  In general, S. invicta queens will cooperate during the founding stage (i.e., pleometrosis) but, as the colony grows, the workers will only tolerate a single queen.

 

True.

 

However, I have not personally observed the workers becoming hostile, but rather the queens becoming hostile to other queens present within the same nest.

Edited by drtrmiller, June 9 2015 - 1:48 PM.

[Bardusquus]

 

Some S. invicta populations are polygynous, but I believe that most are monogynous.  In general, S. invicta queens will cooperate during the founding stage (i.e., pleometrosis) but, as the colony grows, the workers will only tolerate a single queen.

 

True.

 

However, I have not personally observed the workers becoming hostile, but rather the queens becoming hostile to other queens present within the same nest.

 

 

 

 

i did not know u could put 2 or more s. invicta queens together

Solenopsis invicta are polygynous. But to keep the colony small it's best to start with one queen.

 

 

Some S. invicta populations are polygynous, but I believe that most are monogynous.  In general, S. invicta queens will cooperate during the founding stage (i.e., pleometrosis) but, as the colony grows, the workers will only tolerate a single queen.

 

Well mine happen to be polygynous.  All the S.invicta queens I have captured have been polygynous. Including from different areas. I'm surprised the pupa in the substrate enclosure with the lone queen didn't eclose today. Hopefully tomorrow might be the day (I have observed more pupa, though new, in the enclosure.) I also set dates in which the test tube queens pupa will eclose.

[Bardusquus]

6/11/2015

This single queen I'm having high hopes for. It's blurry because I'm using a phone and a magnifying glass. She has a nice pile of pupa and larva and 3 of

them look to be turning a bit orange with the gaster turning gray.

Edited by Bardusquus, June 12 2015 - 3:29 PM.

[Bardusquus]

BIG UPDATE: The queen above has one nanitic/mimim! 6/12/2015

 

Looks like the others are on their way too, as well as the other test tube queens.

I'll take a photo once all the workers eclose so it's easier to identify workers when they harden.

 

EDIT: here's the photo.

Edited by Bardusquus, June 12 2015 - 5:06 PM.

[Bardusquus]

A small update; 6/13/2015

Here we have the queen behaving like a major, cutting up the cricket leg.

[dermy]

Looks like they are doing well.

[Bardusquus]

Looks like they are doing well.

You and your short phrases.

[dermy]

 

Looks like they are doing well.

You and your short phrases.

 

I know I'm the worst aren't I

 

Anyway good luck with the Colonies, keep us updated.
 

 

One more thing:

 

Hahaha!

[Bardusquus]

 

 

Looks like they are doing well.

You and your short phrases.

 

I know I'm the worst aren't I

 

Anyway good luck with the Colonies, keep us updated.
 

 

One more thing:

 

Hahaha!

 

k huney