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Pale ants

Started By ant man , Jul 17 2015 3:37 PM

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3 replies to this topic

#1 Offline ant man - Posted July 17 2015 - 3:37 PM

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Hi, in my formicarium I noticed some of my ants are much paler than the others and have longer antenna. I would like to know what/why this is and if I should do anything about it. My species is formica fusca. please reply thanks!

#2 Offline Alza - Posted July 17 2015 - 3:40 PM

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Newly born ants are light in color, and darken over time.

#3 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted July 17 2015 - 5:18 PM

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Yes, as Alza said, when workers eclose from pupae their exoskeleton is still relatively soft and light for a few days but after a few days it till harden and turn into the normal dark color.

#4 Offline drtrmiller - Posted July 17 2015 - 7:03 PM

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The technical term for this phenomena that occurs in all newly molted insects is scleritization (learn more).

Edited by drtrmiller, July 17 2015 - 7:09 PM.

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