9 replies to this topic

[Will230145]

My Lasius Neoniger queen has had eggs for about 2 weeks and hasn’t had any larvae or pupae yet!
I don’t know why they won’t grow anymore.
I was also wondering if they will eat seeds, i know they will eats seed husks, but I don’t know about seeds.
Any help appreciated!

Edited by Will230145, February 25 2018 - 11:02 AM.

[Hunter]

I'm not sure on seeds as most lasius don't have large mouth parts for it

[Will230145]

Is it normal for a founding queen to have around 20 eggs already? She does not have any workers yet, and I thought they only layed around 10 eggs their first batch.

[LC3]

I'm not sure if any ant eats seed husks without eating the seed inside. Seed husks aren't very edible or nutritious.

As for queens laying 20 eggs and not 10, there's no specific predefined number for the amount of eggs laid in most species, in the case of Lasius 20 sounds about right. Also assuming this is at room temperature two weeks is too early for pupae or larvae. Lasius should take around 2 or so months to get their first workers. 

[Will230145]

I have her on a heating cable.

[LC3]

First batch of eggs/workers always seems to take a bit longer for whatever reason. The heating cable might speed the process up about a week or so. Regardless 2 weeks is still way too early for pupae. They may start to develop into first instar larvae soon though.

[Will230145]

Ok, thanks! I might just put seeds in their outworld when she has worker to see if they will eat them.

[MegaMyrmex]

I don't believe that the workers eat seeds, but it's always a good idea to try and see what they prefer. As for the eggs my crematogaster queens had the same problem- 2 weeks, no brood, only eggs, and after a few days on the heat map, the entire population exploded, and with a prolific species like lasius neoniger I'm pretty sure that the eggs will hatch pretty soon.

[Will230145]

I have heard people say that if it takes longer for the egg stage the larval stage and pupae stage go by really fast!
Does this have any truth to it?

[MegaMyrmex]

In my experience it happened with my crematogaster. The queens had eggs for well over 2 weeks but when I began heating them, they quickly developed and pupation took between 4 to 6 days.