6 replies to this topic

[NikolaBale]

I was wondering what does ant larva eat because some of my larva is beginning to turn orange (some larva like 50%) and at first i thought what's wrong whit them and then i asked a friend he didn't know and said maybe its from something they ate but ... this was confusing to me because there is nothing i gave them to cause them to turn this colour and he implied that its maybe honey and also he wasn't sure about that and I'm not either.So ... do larva eat honey ?? Or maybe there is another answer to why my larva are turning orange ?

Thank you !

Edited by NikolaBale, May 9 2017 - 2:29 PM.

[Spamdy]

Please state species and pictures. Pretty sure its larvae btw.

[Serafine]

Yes, larvae also drink sugars. If you give your ants purple liquids (food color) you will get purple (or probably more like pink) larvae.
The orange coloration could come from something that contains carotenoids. Did you give them any fruits or fruit juice?

Edited by Serafine, May 9 2017 - 3:52 PM.

[NikolaBale]

Yes, larvae also drink sugars. If you give your ants purple liquids (food color) you will get purple (or probably more like pink) larvae.
The orange coloration could come from something that contains carotenoids. Did you give them any fruits or fruit juice?

it has been stated that larva need to eat protein (bugs) so i know now they eat sugars but can they still grow from it or is the growth slowed down ?

Edited by NikolaBale, May 9 2017 - 10:49 PM.

[NikolaBale]

Please state species and pictures. Pretty sure its larvae btw.

they are turning orange just picture it in your head (simple)

[Leo]

maybe what the queen (or workers maybe) regurgitated from their social stomachs for the little babies

[Serafine]

it has been stated that larva need to eat protein (bugs) so i know now they eat sugars but can they still grow from it or is the growth slowed down ?

Ant larvae mostly consume protein because that is what they use to form their organs, their muscles and their skeletons when they pupate. But of course they need some sugar to keep their systems running.
Basically protein is a building material, while sugar is a power source (that is a VERY basic explanation but it's right in the grand scheme of things).
That's the reason adult ants barely need any protein (and why ant colonies are not much interested in protein when they have no larvae).

Also adult ants cannot digest solid food as they lack the mouth parts required to crunch solid matter. Larvae do have mouth parts required for chewing and they are actually used matter processors as they break up solid food and then feed adult ants with drops of concentrated liquid protein.

Edited by Serafine, May 10 2017 - 4:40 AM.