44 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

Does anyone know what this might be? It looks like some sort of tumor. I can see the insides of it moving back and forth in a pattern identical to the way the insides of healthy queen's gasters move.

 

[dspdrew]

After doing a little research, I think it might be tumor-like, but caused by a parasite.

[Ants_Texas]

My gosh that is nasty. You should keep it and see what comes out of there..

[gcsnelling]

Parasitic nematode most likely.

[FeedTheAnts]

Congrats Drew! You found the first ever queen with two gasters. I must warn you though, something does seem slightly off with the color of the second one.

[Dnail]

is she dead?

Edited by Dnail, March 25 2018 - 7:44 PM.

[dspdrew]

is she dead?

 

Not yet.

[LC3]

You should try infecting another Myrmecocystus with whatever is in that thing. Then make a journal on it or some sort of documentation. 

[Zafak]

Could it be an ant decapitating maggot that got turned around and went the wrong way, forcing the queen's body to extend outwards?

 

https://en.wikipedia...iki/Pseudacteon

[dspdrew]

Yeah, I've been thinking it looks more like a fly-type larva than a nematode. Really, it doesn't look like any kind of larva to me. It's just big blobs of something churning inside that thing. Only time will tell.

[FeedTheAnts]

pop it pop it pop it pop it pop it......

[Zmagz]

I think it is fly larva, a long time ago AntsCanada made a video on his lasius queen having a fly larva emerge from the ant and it had a similar looking yellow-orange color

[LC3]

http://www.formicult...tumour/?p=86653

^Poll on what you think is inside that thing.

[PwnerPie]

Pop it! You might be able to save the queen! One of my queens died laying one of these fly larva, but it came from her gaster, since its not in her gaster..the ant may survive! Kill the larva tho!

Edited by PwnerPie, March 27 2018 - 10:12 AM.

[Barristan]

I the name of Alfred Buschinger aka German ant pope Mercurius I request the opening of the tumor as ordered by his holy decree:

 

Er ist anscheinend der Admin und Betreiber „dspdrew“ des formiculture Forums. Man sollte ihn auffordern, den „Tumor“ zu öffnen. Was sich darin
bewegt, könnte man so leicht zuordnen.

 

Barristan, loyal servant of his holiness.

[dspdrew]

A few days ago, the queen died and the orange thing fell off.

 

 

 

 

It was still moving inside for a day or two, but has since stopped. I watched it for a while, and didn't see anymore noticeable movement. A few days later though, the size and the shape of the white portion has changed.

 

Here are some stacked microscope images of it.

 

 

 

This one shows the end where it was attached.

 

 

 

There doesn't seem to be any signs of anything on the queen where it was attached.

 

 

 

I will keep it and see if anything becomes of it. If nothing changes after a few weeks, I'll open it up and see what's inside.

[Dnail]

wait for it... wait for it....

[sgheaton]

This is incredibly awesome..... Keep us posted!

[gcsnelling]

Whatever emerges be sure to preserve it, it could be of some value.

[dspdrew]

Just a quick update. Whatever is in that thing, it's definitely still alive and moving around, just very slowly.