I have just decided to create a journal on my Camponotus planatus colony because I have grown to love this species so much and they are one of my most interesting Camponotus species in my opinion. I also have plenty of pictures of this queen and colony as they have grown.
July 20, 2017
I captured this queen when I was on vacation on the east coast of southern Florida. At first I did not know exactly what genus she was because she seemed so unusual for Camponotus. She was 8 millimeters and brown with a silver gaster. Very small when compared to a 14-millimeter C. floridanus queen. This species is not found where I live.
July 23, 2017
July 23 is when I brought her home, along with my other queens that I caught on that vacation.
After waiting over a week, the planatus queen had still not laid any eggs while all the other queens I caught all had eggs. I was starting to get worried that she would never lay and end up dying.
August 10, 2017
She finally laid her first egg on this day.
September 24, 2017
By this time, her first egg had turned into her first pupa and she had two eggs and one small larva.
October 3, 2017
The first nanitic eclosed on October 3rd. That journey from egg to nanitic took a very long time, which I do not think is normal with this species. This queen just had a rough and slow start.
The nanitic was very small, of course. Just over 3 millimeters in length.
November 2, 2017
This is when they started to really grow. Four larvae and six eggs in this picture. I think there was also a larger larva at this time that happens to not be in this picture.
November 18, 2017
3 pupae and several eggs and larvae!
November 30, 2017
Four workers now.
December 16, 2017
Still 4 workers, but one pupa and some larvae and eggs.
A good size comparison with my finger in this picture.
December 27, 2017
This is basically where they are now. 5 workers and some larvae and eggs. The queen is continuously laying eggs which is good news.
Edited by Aaron567, August 6 2018 - 1:26 PM.