30 replies to this topic

[AntRealm]

Hi everyone,
I decided to start this journal to share some of my ant experiments and observations.
I’m not a professional
Some of these tests are simple, some are random, but I thought they might be interesting for you too.

I’ll keep updating this thread with new observations and experiments as I go.

[cooIboyJ]

Hi everyone,
I decided to start this journal to share some of my ant experiments and observations.
I’m not a professional
Some of these tests are simple, some are random, but I thought they might be interesting for you too.

I’ll keep updating this thread with new observations and experiments as I go.

I have been planning to do something similar to this for a while, just not random experiments, instead Brachymyrmex polygyny and how far it streches. Good luck for your experiments!

Edited by cooIboyJ, September 29 2025 - 6:53 AM.

[Zhuge]

I am actually doing this right now because of my science class (I'm not in class)

[AntRealm]

Hi everyone,
I decided to start this journal to share some of my ant experiments and observations.
I’m not a professional
Some of these tests are simple, some are random, but I thought they might be interesting for you too.

I’ll keep updating this thread with new observations and experiments as I go.

I have been planning to do something similar to this for a while, just not random experiments, instead Brachymyrmex polygyny and how far it streches. Good luck for your experiments!

thanks

[AntRealm]

This is my second experiment on mating in a closed environment, but this time with a new species that I am not exactly sure about. If anyone knows, I would be happy to get some guidance.

I placed about 5 queens and 2–3 males (all the males were large) inside a small terrarium. All of them came from the same colony. I tried to create a natural environment by simulating wind and rain.

Day 1: Nothing notable happened.

Day 2: When I checked the terrarium, I noticed a detached wing and immediately realized what had happened. I lifted the stones to see underneath, and I saw that one of the queens had shed her wings!

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[AntRealm]

However, what caught my attention was a dead female. Not a normal death… her thorax was completely perforated. I really don’t know how they decided to eat their own sister; it was very sad, even though I had provided them with food.

I think this female was the youngest queen, as the area under her mandibles was slightly pale. I also suspect that since they were separated from the main colony, this behavior was a way to conserve resources.

What are your thoughts?

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Edited by AntRealm, September 29 2025 - 8:29 AM.

[Zhuge]

What species is this? Kinda looks like a tetra from the pictures

[AntRealm]

What species is this? Kinda looks like a tetra from the pictures

I’m not sure,
but I’ve uploaded more photos.
Maybe you can figure out what species it is.

[Stubyvast]

So the one queen successfully bit off her wings! I hope that means she's fertile, though.

Did the male die? I think that would be a good way to know, as the males normally die after mating.

[cooIboyJ]

This is my second experiment on mating in a closed environment, but this time with a new species that I am not exactly sure about. If anyone knows, I would be happy to get some guidance.

I placed about 5 queens and 2–3 males (all the males were large) inside a small terrarium. All of them came from the same colony. I tried to create a natural environment by simulating wind and rain.

Day 1: Nothing notable happened.

Day 2: When I checked the terrarium, I noticed a detached wing and immediately realized what had happened. I lifted the stones to see underneath, and I saw that one of the queens had shed her wings!

When trying to mate in a closed environment, try your best to catch a ground mating species, that will improve your chances by a lot.

[Zhuge]

 

What species is this? Kinda looks like a tetra from the pictures

I’m not sure,
but I’ve uploaded more photos.
Maybe you can figure out what species it is.

 

Sorry I'm bad at giving correct ids. but i think its a tetra

[AntRealm]

So the one queen successfully bit off her wings! I hope that means she's fertile, though.
Did the male die? I think that would be a good way to know, as the males normally die after mating.

Yes, one died.

[Zhuge]

If tetras willingly inbreed that will be a big discovery

[cooIboyJ]

So the one queen successfully bit off her wings! I hope that means she's fertile, though.

Did the male die? I think that would be a good way to know, as the males normally die after mating.

Don't know much about this stuff, but I'm pretty sure that the males will still die even if they are not successful in mating.

[Zhuge]

makes sense because they don't have fat stores like the queens

[Stubyvast]

True. kind of the dregs of the colony until they're used up in nuptial flights, so they probably don't have much in terms of pampering and food stores. Poor guys.

[AntRealm]

One day has passed.

I gave it a few pupae from its own species (from a different colony), and it accepted them. However, it still hasn't laid any eggs yet.

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[Zhuge]

woah that queen has a tetra body and a really big head

i take back my id

[AntRealm]

This morning I woke up and noticed that one of the pupae had emerged.
But the more interesting part was that right after the first pupa emerged, the queen laid an egg.
Just one 😧

I also observed a really fascinating behavior that reminded me of cats.
You might have seen how when a mother cat picks up her kitten, the kitten goes completely still.
When the queen tried to pick up the newly emerged worker, I saw almost the exact same reaction.
When it was released, it stayed motionless for about 10 seconds before getting up again.

I don’t know if this behavior is normal or not, but it’s the first time I’ve seen it.

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[AntRealm]

Update
The queen has 5 eggs now
She was the only queen who managed to survive.
Three other pupae are also about to emerge.