31 replies to this topic

[Gregory2455]

Fake repletes, as in they are kind of repletes, but they are still able to walk around and perform some tasks.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Ants%202010/Prenolepisimpariswakingupbrood.jpg

You can see some normal workers on the sides, while the majority of these are repletes.

Edited by Gregory2455, January 15 2015 - 11:12 PM.

[DesertAntz]

I find it strange that they are foragers though. Wouldn't they be easy meals for other predators? 

[Gregory2455]

I think the were moving colonies. Or, moving the replete to a satelite nest. Does anyone know if Prenolepis imparis make satelite nests?

[Mercutia]

I would imagine they do. In my backyard there are many P. imparis colonies and I suspect just on size, that they all may be one colony. I wouldn't be surprised if separate colonies merged as they have been know to be polygynic and very docile to each other.

[Gregory2455]

Yeah, then they were just moving their cargo,

[AntsAreUs]

Just waiting for the snow to melt and I will be on my way to catching these awsome ants that manage to forage in the freezing fall...

[James C. Trager]

Prenolepis has true repletes, and a second special sort called lipergates (from Greek, meaning fat workers). If you see a worker with very swollen gaster full of liquid food on the ground with other foragers, that is a true (temporary) replete. The lipergates are recently matured workers who, during fall and the following spring, and cool spells in summer, are fed massive quantities of food, which they convert to body fat. This fat is converted to baby food to feed the late summer brood which includes the huge female alates and a large number of small males. After they lose this weight, the former lipergates become foragers above ground.

 

Picture by ace ant photographer Alex Wild of Prenolepis alates: 

http://www.alexander...pis/i-WnwL4Hn/A

Edited by James C. Trager, January 19 2015 - 8:59 AM.

[Gregory2455]

I am seeing very freshly dug founding chamber like holes in the ground. Is it possible they flew this early and I missed it?

[AntsAreUs]

I am seeing very freshly dug founding chamber like holes in the ground. Is it possible they flew this early and I missed it?

If it is warming up then yes extremely possible, I don't know when to start!

[dspdrew]

It was pretty warm for the past week, so it's possible. I just can't drive out to the mountains and check every day, so when there is no sudden jump in temperatures, they could fly any one of those warm days and we would never know.

[Foogoo]

I am seeing very freshly dug founding chamber like holes in the ground. Is it possible they flew this early and I missed it?

 

Think you can get some pictures?

[Gregory2455]

Maybe.