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Beheading of Pheidole Callow

Started By Leptomyrmx , Mar 21 2022 10:01 PM

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1 reply to this topic

#1 Offline Leptomyrmx - Posted March 21 2022 - 10:01 PM

Advanced Member

Members
286 posts

LocationSydney, Australia

Recently I was checking on my Pheidole, who are doing quite well at ~150 workers, 6-10 majors and a male. Then I noticed something strange. A major's head, on the floor of their formicarium. And furthermore, she looked like she'd just eclosed.

I've seen random Pheidole major heads in the wild before, but never callows.

Is this something I should be worried about?

My Ants:

Colonies: Camponotus humilior 1w, Opisthopsis rufithorax 11w, Aphaenogaster longiceps ~5w, Pheidole sp. ~235w ~15m, Iridomyrmex sp. 2q 1w, Brachyponera lutea 6w, Crematogaster sp. ~20w, Podomyrma sp. 1w

Queens: Polyrhachis cf. robinsoni, Polyrhachis (Campomyrma) sp. (likely infertile)

Previously Kept: Colobopsis gasseri, Technomyrmex sp., Rhytidoponera victorae, Nylanderia cf. rosae, Myrmecia brevinoda/forficata, Polyrhachis australis, Solenopsis/Monomorium

Key: Q = Queen, W = Worker, M = Major

Youtube Channel: Ants of Sydney - YouTube

Patreon (for YouTube channel): https://www.patreon.com/antsofsydney

#2 Offline azzaaazzzz00 - Posted March 22 2022 - 9:47 AM

Advanced Member

Members
544 posts

LocationBogota, NJ

I don't know much about Pheidole but the major probably eclosed incorrectly so the workers decided to kill and eat her, leaving the head. Again I don't know for sure.

Leptomyrmx and ColAnt735 like this

Been keeping ants since January of 2021

Always try new things, even if its hard, hard is not impossible. We are smart and it's good to be smart but not too smart for your own good.

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