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Camponotus cf. sayi not laying?

Started By Solenoqueen , Aug 8 2020 11:16 AM

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7 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Solenoqueen - Posted August 8 2020 - 11:16 AM

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I caught 2 Camponotus cf. sayi about a month ago, and they haven’t laid a single egg! I’m a bit concerned since the Crematogaster I caught with them already have larvae, and I keep them all the same, rest tube setup. I heard that desert Camponotus are quite possibly the slowest Camponotus to start, but a month without laying eggs concerns me quite a bit. Thanks.

#2 Offline AntsDakota - Posted August 8 2020 - 11:21 AM

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They could just be duds. 'Dud' meaning they either didn't mate or are genetically unfit to raise a colony (in the wild such queens quickly perish).

Antkid12 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

#3 Offline Antkid12 - Posted August 8 2020 - 1:15 PM

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LocationFairfax, Virginia

I agree with AntsDakota, wait a bit longer to see if she lays anything. My Camponotus neacticus took 3 weeks to lay a few eggs.

Edited by Antkid12, August 8 2020 - 1:16 PM.

Ants I have: Tapinoma sessile(2 queen colony). RED MORPH Camponotus neacticus(now has pupae!), Tetramorium immigrans (x3), Aphaenogaster sp, Temnothorax sp, ~~Brachymyrmex sp.~~ possibly infertile , Ponera pennsylvanica, and Pheidole morrisi!

Other insects: Polistes sp. Queen

Ants I need: Pheidole sp., Trachymyrmex sp., Crematogaster cerasi , Dorymyrmex sp. Most wanted: ~~Pheidole morrisii~~

#4 Offline Solenoqueen - Posted August 10 2020 - 6:11 PM

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I agree with AntsDakota, wait a bit longer to see if she lays anything. My Camponotus neacticus took 3 weeks to lay a few eggs.

Update:

Just checked up on them, and one of them laid an egg and the other two! Wish me luck! I'm pretty psyched since these are the first Camponotus I've kept that I caught myself.

TechAnt likes this

#5 Offline TechAnt - Posted August 10 2020 - 6:53 PM

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LocationLos Angeles, California

I agree with AntsDakota, wait a bit longer to see if she lays anything. My Camponotus neacticus took 3 weeks to lay a few eggs.

Update:
Just checked up on them, and one of them laid an egg and the other two! Wish me luck! I'm pretty psyched since these are the first Camponotus I've kept that I caught myself.

Congrats, hopefully they are not males. But I doubt it.

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

#6 Offline Aaron567 - Posted August 10 2020 - 6:55 PM

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Sometimes Camponotus queens can take ages to lay eggs. I personally have never had a unmated queen lay any eggs, so I think your chances are pretty good if yours have finally just laid.