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Camponotus queen laid, ate the eggs, then never laid again...

Started By Antliebe , Sep 2 2020 8:19 PM

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#1 Offline Antliebe - Posted September 2 2020 - 8:19 PM

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Hi all,

We have a Camponotus queen that laid eggs a few months ago.  We looked at her too much and she sadly ate her eggs.  We only look at her once a week now so she isn't disturbed.  She has not laid again and wondering if we missed her chance.  Does anyone have tips on making her comfortable enough to lay again?  She is in a test tube set-up with a red paper surrounding it.  We keep her in a dark desk drawer too.  Anything else we can try?  She is one of our favorite because she was the first to lay.  

 

Thank you in advance! 


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#2 Offline M_Ants - Posted September 2 2020 - 8:23 PM

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Maybe give her a snack. A cricket leg and some honey might give her an energy boost to try laying again.


Edited by M_Ants, September 2 2020 - 8:23 PM.

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Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about

#3 Offline Cali_Ant - Posted September 2 2020 - 9:16 PM

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Keep your ants warm partially and leave her alone for a while in a dark place. Give her a little drop of honey for energy. Check on her every 3 weeks instead of every week. Make sure she has water 24/7 in her test tube. Camponotus ants are very slow growers. It take about 2 months from egg to worker so you’ll need a lot of patience for these ants to grow.


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#4 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 3 2020 - 11:19 AM

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You will need to give her a bit of protein. However, if that does not work, than you might just have a queen with bad genetics. I have had those before.


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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 Manitobant - Posted September 3 2020 - 11:27 AM

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She may be waiting until after hibernation since its currently quite late in the year.
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My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#6 Offline BlueLance213 - Posted September 3 2020 - 8:15 PM

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I had a similar problem, and did pretty much what Ant_Cali mentioned, I got 2-3 fruitflies, a small drop of honey and placed them on some foil and put them inside her tube, and left her alone for a month before checking in and she has laid new eggs, still waiting for them to hopefully become larva etc.

 

I would also suggest not having her in a drawer as the movement from opening and closing it really freaks mines out so I opted to put her inside a heated carboard box where I could open the lid if/when I needed to check on her, and kept the box away from my daily life so I don't disturb her. Even after she lays eggs I would continue to keep the contact to a complete minimum as I have heard Camponotus have a huge habit of eating their own brood.

 

Mines started laying again after her first nanitics died, so fingers crossed you are lucky and it works out well!


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