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Queen not laying more eggs, Maryland, 9/1/2025

Started By Antdaddy , Sep 1 2025 5:51 AM

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3 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Antdaddy - Posted September 1 2025 - 5:51 AM

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I caught a queen a few months ago, but she only laid 3 eggs that are currently ants and has not laid more. I have another queen of the same species, and the same thing is happening. I don't know the species, but it is all black. Should I be worried? 


#2 Offline Stubyvast - Posted September 1 2025 - 8:37 AM

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It could be almost time for hibernation. Some queens overwinter through the cold season before laying eggs at all, so this could be something like that. It's possible the queens laid eggs prior to hibernation to produce some nanitics, and will get back to work next spring. I wouldn't worry too much.


Manica invidia (1 queen,  ~200 workers)

Manica invidia (1 colonies, 1 queens plus 3 workers)

Lasius niger (single queen, ~200 workers - naturalistic, predatory set-up)

Lasius americanus (1 colony, ~10 workers)

Tetramorium immigrans (3 colonies, 3 queens, ~ five workers each | 1 colony, 1 queen, ~1200 workers)

Formica aserva (aserva queen, ~15  ​Formica neorufibarbis workers)

 

"And God made...everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. 

And God saw that it was good." - Genesis 1:25

 

#3 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 1 2025 - 9:02 AM

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Do an ID thread first, then we can access the situation.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#4 Offline cooIboyJ - Posted September 2 2025 - 7:15 AM

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It might be a species that needs heat for it’s brood to develop and maybe the queen doesn’t want to lay eggs because of lack of heat though as ANTdrew said we will need an ID.

The ants go marching.

 

Currently keeping:

Brachymyrmex patagonicus

Nylanderia vividula

Forelius pruinosus

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