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pleometrotic Camponotus castaneus (Discontinued, failed to reach pupae stage)

camponotus castaneus funny

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#1 Offline OiledOlives - Posted August 7 2021 - 7:18 AM

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I caught a flight of Camponotus castaneus around 2-3 months ago and collected a couple queens. A majority of the queens that I put in tubes did not lay eggs or shed their wings, so I decided to put them all in a tub and let them do their thing. I noticed that they were not fighting, so I decided to add a tube in there as well. After a week, around half had shed their wings, and after two weeks, eggs started to show up. 

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  • casta queen tub.jpeg
  • casta queen+eggs.jpeg
  • casta queens.jpeg
  • casta queensb.jpeg

Edited by OiledOlives, January 12 2022 - 7:12 AM.

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#2 Offline OiledOlives - Posted September 3 2021 - 5:50 PM

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they now have two decent sized larvae and 1 egg


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#3 Offline OiledOlives - Posted October 16 2021 - 1:44 PM

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9 left, decided to put them in test tubes because their setup was smelling horrible. They are in groups of 1 (3) 2(1) and 4 (1) now


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#4 Offline ANTdrew - Posted October 16 2021 - 5:06 PM

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What do all the numbers mean?
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#5 Offline OiledOlives - Posted October 18 2021 - 3:18 PM

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3 groups of 1, 1 group of 2, and 1 group of 4 


Edited by OiledOlives, October 18 2021 - 3:18 PM.


#6 Offline Mdrogun - Posted October 19 2021 - 1:28 AM

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they now have two decent sized larvae and 1 egg

What really stounds out to me about this quantity of brood, which I assume has at least somewhat changed/developed since this posting, is that it is actually less brood than my single castaneus queen produced on her own. On a side note, where are things now? Do these queens have nanitcs? Anyways, Even if C. castaneus are truly pleometrotic, which I am skeptical of, I would guess that this kind of behavior is something you have managed to induce in captivity that doesn't happen in the wild. For good reason, obviously. Doesn't make sense to 'cooperate' with other queens if you're gonna end up with a smaller nanitic force anyways.

Do keep us updated on how this goes, though! Curious to see how long these queens last together, etc. etc.


Currently Keeping:
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis

Pheidole pilifera

Forelius sp. (Monogynous, bicolored) "Midwestern Forelius"
Crematogaster cerasi

Pheidole bicarinata

Aphaenogaster rudis

Camponotus chromaiodes

Formica sp. (microgena species)

Nylanderia cf. arenivega


#7 Offline OiledOlives - Posted October 19 2021 - 12:48 PM

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They've since eaten all of their brood, and I've separated the queens (see above posts). I definitely should have treated them as semi claustral for better results though.



#8 Offline OiledOlives - Posted January 12 2022 - 7:10 AM

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Ended up failing, as only three queens are left. Will not attempt this again next year.


Edited by OiledOlives, January 12 2022 - 7:10 AM.






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