7 replies to this topic

[ctantkeeper]

while traveling, i collected two queens which i believe to be pheidole pilifera (not confirmed yet). one is currently being reared in an atom style b and has a small amount of brood as well as a single worker. the other is being raised in a atom style a and has been ignoring her brood since she was moved from her test tube setup. after several days of neglect, all of her brood has molded!!! is there anyway i can salvage this colony?

[Tpro4]

if the queen was doing well in test tube, leave her in there

[ctantkeeper]

ok, i will make sure to do that

[drtrmiller]

As you are well aware, once claustral queens have invested most their energy in rearing their first brood, they have nothing left to start over.  The only way to ensure possible success of the colony would be to boost with pupae from another nest of the same species, or at very least, another Pheidole sp.

[ctantkeeper]

do i have the option to move her into a test tube and feed her through the founding process (this was my original plan)

[ctantkeeper]

do i have the option to move her into a test tube and feed her through the founding process (this was my original plan)

that is, if i cannot find Pheidole sp. brood

[Mdrogun]

I would take 1 pupae from the other pheidole colony and give it to the failing queen right before it hatches. This way the queen does not need to take care of the brood and you know the pheidole are the same species.

[drtrmiller]

Feeding a claustral queen that has lost her brood is a losing battle.  Few if any foods are suitable replacements for the nutrient stores she lost.