4 replies to this topic

[Stroomschok]

I have to starting Polyrhachis dives colonies. After months of no problems whatsoever, somehow suddenly they are super agitated, all outside their nests and attacking members of their own colony (wtf?!)

 

They are both between around 50 workers with 2 queens each, though each lost about 10 the last day.

 

The housing are test tubes inside a box with hemp fibers for building. 

 

They have enough food (give them about 20 live Drosophila hydei every two days, enough sugars (small tube with watered down honey), the whole setup is on top of a heat mat (which they like), and I added moisture to the substrate yesterday to see if that was a problem (it never was and didn't do anything now either).

 

I have no idea what's going on and am getting quite worried, especially since today I also got a queen walking outside.

[Martialis]

Can you post pictures of their setup?

[Stroomschok]

 

Both are on small 7W heatmats. They've been perfectly happy and productive continuously for 5 months, suddenly they both have issues at right the same time. First I thought they had invaded each other, but the barrier is still 100% intact.

Edited by Stroomschok, February 27 2018 - 9:14 AM.

[Gabraime]

May be cause they are not polygynous queens.

[Martialis]

Get them off the heat pads. 

 

They are also an arboreal species. They NEED vertical space in order to build their nest. This really isn't that suitable for them.