8 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

I have tried for a while now to boost my Camponotus yogi colony (queen and two workers) with pupae of much larger species, and every time the pupae ends up dying. I have never seen any aggression towards any of them. A few times I even carefully removed the pupa from the cocoon using some precision tools and a microscope, but soon after it starts to eclose, it slowly dies. Anybody have any idea why this would keep happening?

[Crystals]

The only time I have seen eclosing pupae die (with no agression from host) is when they can't get their feet untied.

I mostly see this in Formica, but I have seen it in Camponotus as well.  Once the colony gets over 10 workers, there always seems to be at least one that knows they have to free the feet.

Otherwise they just lie upside down and die in 12-36 hours.

[dspdrew]

I thought it might have something to do with the other workers and queen not helping them eclose, but I just don't see how that would make them die.

 

I also forgot to mention that a lot of these never even came out of the cocoon before dying.

[Mathiacus]

You can boost with a different species?!

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[Crystals]

You can boost with different species within limits.

Camponotus with Camponotus, Formica with Formica, etc.  It isn't foolproof though, sometimes there is a big enough difference that will prevent the ants from accepting one another.  Scent, size, shape, hairiness, etc will all affect the acceptance of the ants.

[Mathiacus]

I wanted to ask about this yesterday but it seemed like a silly question. I wrongly assumed that it wouldn't be possible. Thankyou for the information. I hope I can get proficient enough at raising queens to experiment with this.

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[123LordOfAnts123]

The humidity might be too low. Healthy pupae in good humidity can usually wiggle free of their pupal skin even without help.

[dspdrew]

You can boost with a different species?!

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As long as they are of the same genus, it's possible. The only known two different genera that will accept each other are Formica and Polyergus, even though some people claim they have done it with other similar genera like Messor and Pogonomyrmex.

[ParaStatic]

I have never had any issues boosting camponotus with any other camponotus of randomly collected brood. Only thought I would have is they are somehow damaged, or perhaps the collected brood have a genetic issue.