12 replies to this topic

[Jimmydave937911]

Hi all,

Please see the attached picture. My Lasius Niger queen laid her eggs about 2.5 weeks ago. Should they now be bigger and at larvae stage or are these in fact larvae themselves? It’s my first ever brood so not entirely sure if what I’m seeing is normal?

Thanks

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[Jimmydave937911]

Any thoughts on this guys?

[Serafine]

Could be either. Probably small larvae.

[ANTdrew]

Looks normal to me. Just stay patient. Patience is needed in all aspects of ant keeping.

[AntaholicAnonymous]

Looks like right on the edge of getting into the larvae stage to me.

I wouldn't worry too much just make sure you leave her alone. She knows what to do all you can do is to give her the time she needs

[Kaelwizard]

The first batch of eggs will always take the longest to develop. Once there are workers constantly tending them and the queen is fed more, they will develop faster. I think Lasius species have a very long egg to worker time for the first batch from what I've heard.

[AntsDakota]

Lasius always take a super long time in the egg stage. It’s completely normal.

[Jimmydave937911]

Sorry guys. Another post about my brood :-D As I’ve mentioned this may or may not be my queens first lot of eggs, but I do know for sure she can’t have had many before. I believe I found her in her initial chamber after last years nuptial flight.
Firstly apologies for the poor quality picture but it’s the best I could do using the zoom on my phone and a magnifying glass! She now seems to have had 2 separate lots of eggs. You can see the cluster near her mouth and the more in focus eggs at the front. My question is, the eggs at the front of the picture that are a bit more spaced out, is this normal? I thought they were meant to be all clumped together?

Thanks again guys

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[ANTdrew]

Looks good to me. Don’t check her too much. Once a week is plenty.

Edited by ANTdrew, June 2 2020 - 9:39 AM.

[Jimmydave937911]

Roger that Drew, I’ll be honest... this is the Queen I’m trying to transfer to my founding colony! But she’s not having any of it :-D

Edited by Jimmydave937911, June 2 2020 - 9:11 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Founding queens are usually very stubborn about leaving their tube. From what I’ve heard, these are more stubborn than most. Just trust her judgement and don’t force anything until workers arrive.

[Kaelwizard]

She is just tending one pile of eggs at a time. It is easier for her to tend one small pile at a time than the absolutely humongous pile of eggs next to her all at once.

[Jimmydave937911]

No I’m not pushing anything, trying to tempt her down the path with plenty of moisture, some honey and darkness! So far she’s a stubborn old queen!