Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Relocation of Brood


  • Please log in to reply
2 replies to this topic

#1 Offline antmaniac - Posted November 24 2015 - 4:57 PM

antmaniac

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 507 posts

Interestingly, I found my Pheidole pile up their brood, in particular the pupae in the straw leads to the outworld. The straw is unlikely the most favourable location as it is dry, made with plastic and unsecure. Furthermore, there are still plenty of space in the formicarium with both wet and dry areas remain vacant.

 

Other observations are:

  • The queen has also moved to the spot.
  • The temperature is relatively warm these days.
  • Two big size (possible major worker) larvae are developing.
  • Lots workers and the colony is quite active, hungry for food all the time.
  • The bottom most chamber in the formicarium is used as rubbish dump.

 

From the above observations, possible causes and reasons of this relocation I can think of are:

  • The decomposition of the rubbish dump caused the hot air rise upward, so the ants moved the brood to that warmer location to accelerate the brood development.
  • They need to protect the larvae of major worker, therefore the queen is there to act as a guard and the brood piles are used as sandbags.
  • Better ventilation at that location.
  • To keep the formicarium cool.
  • With lots workers, they are more aggressive and want to be closer to the outworld to get more food.
  • Less light sensitive at that spot.

 

So what you guys think?


Edited by antmaniac, November 24 2015 - 5:26 PM.


#2 Offline swagman - Posted November 25 2015 - 7:46 AM

swagman

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 14 posts
  • LocationGermany

It is most likely temperature. I have observed that with many species.

I think a plastic tube or straw will warm up much faster than say ytong or plaster.  


  • antmaniac likes this

#3 Offline antmaniac - Posted November 25 2015 - 12:43 PM

antmaniac

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 507 posts
That make sense, thanks for the input.




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users