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Edited by TechAnt, June 4 2020 - 2:51 PM.
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Pheidole Queen Freaking Out! Help!
Started By
TechAnt
, Jun 4 2020 2:47 PM
7 replies to this topic
#1
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Posted June 4 2020 - 2:47 PM
TechAnt
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I am really concerned, I found one of my four Pheidole polygonus colony queens curled up in a ball freaking out in the vinyl tubing connecting the nest to the outworld (images below). I don’t know what she is doing, but she eventually got back up. Then she did it again, curling up in a ball, the workers surrounded her seemingly not knowing what to do. I don’t know what to do either. Does anyone have any idea what is happening and/or how to fix it? Right now she is walking around normally in the tubing, which is covered in black paper, so that is probably why she is there.
My Ants:
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen
#2
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Posted June 4 2020 - 2:51 PM
AntsDakota
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That’s their natural response to light. They’ll settle down once you cover them again. Also can’t see the pics.
"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
#3
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Posted June 4 2020 - 2:53 PM
BitT
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I'm still new to Ant Keeping but some suggestions. Have you fed them any wild insects recently, is it possible they could have gotten some pesticides? Or maybe she has parasites like mites or something that could be irritating her? How old is the colony, is she still a new queen?
Edit -
Oh, nevermind, AntsDakota probably knows more than me. XD Though I've never seen any of my queens curl up over light before? Just kinda run around.
Edited by BitT, June 4 2020 - 2:54 PM.
#4
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Posted June 4 2020 - 2:53 PM
TechAnt
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That’s their natural response to light. They’ll settle down once you cover them again. Also can’t see the pics.
Thing is, the queen already was in that pose when I moved the black paper.
My Ants:
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen
#5
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Posted June 4 2020 - 2:54 PM
TechAnt
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I'm still new to Ant Keeping but some suggestions. Have you fed them any wild insects recently, is it possible they could have gotten some pesticides? Or maybe she has parasites like mites or something that could be irritating her? How old is the colony, is she still a new queen?
She has been there since the colony was founded, I have fed no wild insects to them, I keep my room pesticide free where I keep them. If you read my signature, they have 200 workers, so maybe a few months. Possibly mites, but I did not see anything attached to her.
My Ants:
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen
#6
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Posted June 4 2020 - 2:55 PM
AntsDakota
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Oh I can see the pics now. Looks like she’s laying an egg. Definitely not something you should worry about.
- Valkyrie04 likes this
"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
#7
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Posted June 4 2020 - 2:56 PM
TechAnt
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Oh I can see the pics now. Looks like she’s laying an egg. Definitely not something you should worry about.
Oh, thanks!
Wait- I ACTUALLY MISSED THE FIRST TIME I SAW THIS COLONY LAYING AN EGG! *Sad screaming noises*
- Canadant and AntsDakota like this
My Ants:
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen
#8
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Posted June 10 2020 - 2:52 PM
steam_funk
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It looks like she's just cleaning her gaster, its normal and a sign that she is still able to care for herself.
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