18 replies to this topic

[William. T]

Hey guys!

 

Today I have found a  Pheidole queen attacked by T. Sessile workers. I freed her, only to find she has three legs! The others must have been ripped off. However, she looks healthy. I have currently have her in a test tube. Should I keep her or feed her to my T. Sessile?
 

[dermy]

Keep her, she will still be able to have a colony as long as her internal lady parts are still in order.

[Foogoo]

I've always wondered about insect leg amputations, do they feel pain or stress? Or is it no difference as long as they can eat and function?

[dspdrew]

Keep her, she will still be able to have a colony as long as her internal lady parts are still in order.

 

Yeah, queens don't really even need legs.

[Myrmicinae]

 

Keep her, she will still be able to have a colony as long as her internal lady parts are still in order.

 

Yeah, queens don't really even need legs.

 

 

I wonder if there are any undescribed ant species out there with naturally legless queens. 

 

If this queen was attacked by T. sessile, there is also the possibility that she was injured by chemicals, unfortunately.

Edited by Myrmicinae, June 18 2015 - 7:09 PM.

[AntsNY]

I had a Camponotus pennsylvanicus queen that was attacked once by a major worker and sprayed with formic acid.

 

I separated her immediatly.

 

She had no apparent injuries and seemed totally healthy and fine. She was well fed.

 

She died randomly two days later.

[dspdrew]

 

 

Keep her, she will still be able to have a colony as long as her internal lady parts are still in order.

 

Yeah, queens don't really even need legs.

 

 

I wonder if there are any undescribed ant species out there with naturally legless queens. 

 

If this queen was attacked by T. sessile, there is also the possibility that she was injured by chemicals, unfortunately.

 

 

Are you sure chemicals of Dolichoderinae are harmful? I always thought they were more of a deterrent.

[William. T]

The queen looked "stretched" by the T. Sessile on the legs. As of now, she is well but is making random jerking motions.

[James C. Trager]

There are no naturally legless queens among ants. I can't imagine how that would ever be a good adaptation for a queen ant, whose mobility is quite useful to her for finding the perfect conditions in the nest for egg development.

[dspdrew]

Don't the workers drag her to where they want her a lot of the time? Founding a nest would certainly be a problem.

[William. T]

She is still alive and well. Should I boost her?

[Myrmicinae]

There are no naturally legless queens among ants. I can't imagine how that would ever be a good adaptation for a queen ant, whose mobility is quite useful to her for finding the perfect conditions in the nest for egg development.

 

Don't the workers drag her to where they want her a lot of the time? Founding a nest would certainly be a problem.

 

I imagine that dispersal could still be effective, if the workers carried new queens on emigrations.  Not very economical, but interesting to contemplate nonetheless. 

Edited by Myrmicinae, June 19 2015 - 9:34 AM.

[Myrmicinae]

Are you sure chemicals of Dolichoderinae are harmful? I always thought they were more of a deterrent.

 

 

That is a good question.  I was under the impression that dolichoderines also employed chemical weaponry, but I do not know this for certain.

[cpman]

 

There are no naturally legless queens among ants. I can't imagine how that would ever be a good adaptation for a queen ant, whose mobility is quite useful to her for finding the perfect conditions in the nest for egg development.

 

Don't the workers drag her to where they want her a lot of the time? Founding a nest would certainly be a problem.

 

I imagine that dispersal could still be effective, if the workers carried new queens on emigrations.  Not very economical, but interesting to contemplate nonetheless. 

 

 

That's essentially what army ants do...

[William. T]

The queen is curled up but alive. Should I put Pheidole workers in the fridge with her and after 5 minutes introduce them?

[AntsTexas]

I've always wondered about insect leg amputations, do they feel pain or stress? Or is it no difference as long as they can eat and function?

i found a half winged female running around on my driveway a couple days ago (half was there and the other half was eaten maybe)

[dspdrew]

I often find queens running around without gasters. Their gaster probably was turned into some larger animal's lunch.

[William. T]

She died.

[BrittonLS]

I often find queens running around without gasters. Their gaster probably was turned into some larger animal's lunch.

Yeah, I've found quite a few this way. I figured that was probably an important part to be missing.