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My queen stopped laying eggs


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#1 Offline ArmyAntz - Posted September 5 2020 - 5:37 AM

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Hi all,

 

I have a colony that is around the 50 worker count. The colony has been steadily growing since July - they are kept at 87 - 91 degrees, have enough protein, sugar and hydration. 

 

But a couple weeks ago I noticed the queen just stopped laying eggs. The last time I saw a batch of eggs was August 22. The newest generation of workers hatched over a week ago and since then there have been no new eggs. 

 

This alarms me because the only brood I can see inside the nest now are two or three big major larvae - these have stayed larvae for nearly a month without pupating so I'm thinking there's something wrong with them.

 

Do you think the queen is not laying eggs due to stress or some other reason?



#2 Offline Spazmops - Posted September 5 2020 - 5:46 AM

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What species are we talking about here?


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Co-owner and founder of Mountain Myrmeculture and The Menagerie Discord Server

Ants I have:

1 Formica fusca group- 0 workers

1 Tetramorium immigrans colony-20 workers

1 Dorymyrmex insanus- 1 queen, used to have workers

 

1 large P. occidentalis colony- around 50 workers, plenty of brood

 

 


#3 Offline ArmyAntz - Posted September 5 2020 - 6:00 AM

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Solenopsis. I don't have a macro lens so I'm not confident as to what exactly, but I think it's either Solenopsis invicta or xyloni.



#4 Offline Spazmops - Posted September 5 2020 - 8:31 AM

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It’s likely she just lays eggs in batches, or taking a break. I wouldn’t worry unless the population starts declining.


Co-owner and founder of Mountain Myrmeculture and The Menagerie Discord Server

Ants I have:

1 Formica fusca group- 0 workers

1 Tetramorium immigrans colony-20 workers

1 Dorymyrmex insanus- 1 queen, used to have workers

 

1 large P. occidentalis colony- around 50 workers, plenty of brood

 

 


#5 Online ANTdrew - Posted September 5 2020 - 9:19 AM

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That seems odd for Solenopsis. Try reducing disturbances, but I can’t say much else beyond that. Some queens are just duds, unfortunately.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#6 Offline ArmyAntz - Posted September 5 2020 - 10:30 AM

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I thought it was odd since there's always lots of brood. I'll just have to hope she took a break for whatever reason.






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