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Formica Queen unable to lay eggs

formica post-hibernation

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#1 Offline Whitelotus - Posted March 9 2020 - 9:57 AM

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I am not certain if anyone has had this happen before but, one of my Formica queens after hibernation has refused to lay eggs for what has been a few weeks now. 

Sadly all of her workers have died during hibernation and were unwilling to eat prior to hibernation, and during the hibernation period. The Queen is all that remains sadly and just sits in her test tube. Any advice on this sort of occurrence?


  • Antennal_Scrobe likes this

#2 Offline Antennal_Scrobe - Posted March 9 2020 - 12:07 PM

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That sort of stuff just happens sometimes in this hobby, and she may well die. Your situation almost certainly isn't your fault; it happens to everyone. Best case scenario, she burned through her fat stores, and you can replenish them by giving her a tiny bit of honey or a cricket leg to eat. The loss of her workers may also be the cause, so if you feel confident in your ability to locate an identical or closely related Formica colony, you could steal a few wild cocoons and give them to your queen. Sadly, she may have just experienced some inexplicable failure of the reproductive system. Good luck and I hope she pulls through!


  • Ants_Dakota likes this

Currently keeping:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica punctiventris, Formica subsericea

Formica pallidefulva, Aphaeogaster cf. rudis

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Camponotus nearcticus

Crematogaster cerasi

Temnothorax ambiguus

Prenolepis imparis


#3 Offline AntsDakota - Posted March 9 2020 - 12:25 PM

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I think brood boosting would be the best option. She probably had become at least somewhat dependent on her workers.
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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version


#4 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted March 9 2020 - 5:26 PM

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I have had many colonies refuse to lay eggs after winter. I agree with AntsDakota on this one, especially with formica.


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

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Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#5 Offline Whitelotus - Posted March 27 2020 - 10:56 PM

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So after leaving my Formica Queen with a selection of various foods for a week and a half, I checked up on her and she has a new clump of eggs so she is still fertile at this point. :)


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#6 Offline Canadant - Posted March 28 2020 - 12:39 PM

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Took me three years to get them through the winter. Their tough to start. Mine are soooooo skittish too.

Glad to here she chose to make a colony. Better on a full stomach I guess.
"You don't get what you want. You get what you deserve".

#7 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted March 28 2020 - 1:41 PM

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Most things are


There is a important time for everything, important place for everyone, an important person for everybody, and an important ant for each and every ant keeper and myrmecologist alike


#8 Offline AntsDakota - Posted March 28 2020 - 2:02 PM

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Took me three years to get them through the winter.

Do you mean you attempted hibernation with three colonies?


"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version






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