4 replies to this topic

[AntRealm]

Why are the new workers smaller than the previous ones, (even though I gave them enough protein)?

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Edited by AntRealm, October 13 2025 - 3:38 AM.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

Why are the new workers smaller than the previous ones, (even though I gave them enough protein)?

M

My guess is maybe because it's the end of the year and they are slowing down because of hibernation, The workers feeding the larva is becoming less consistent.

[malcolm212]

that's a real concern we need to research on it

Edited by malcolm212, October 26 2025 - 11:24 PM.

[rptraut]

Hello AntRealm;

 

This looks like a small Tetramorium colony to me.    My Tetramorium colonies never really go into a full-on diapause like Camponotus, where they stop all colony activity.    They slow down, depending on the temperature, and they continue to raise brood at a slower pace.   You can see from the various sizes of the larvae, that the queen has laid fewer eggs and the colony will raise them, probably with the minimum amount of inputs, and produce workers of smaller size during the diapause period.   Your colony looks healthy and the size difference in the new workers really isn't that dramatic.   It's not unusual for Tetramorium to produce workers of different sizes.

RPT

[AntRealm]

Hello AntRealm;

This looks like a small Tetramorium colony to me. My Tetramorium colonies never really go into a full-on diapause like Camponotus, where they stop all colony activity. They slow down, depending on the temperature, and they continue to raise brood at a slower pace. You can see from the various sizes of the larvae, that the queen has laid fewer eggs and the colony will raise them, probably with the minimum amount of inputs, and produce workers of smaller size during the diapause period. Your colony looks healthy and the size difference in the new workers really isn't that dramatic. It's not unusual for Tetramorium to produce workers of different sizes.
RPT

Thanks for the explanation