10 replies to this topic

[StayLoki]

My queen recently laid an 7+ eggs after capture and providing her with high quality protein.
How long until I should I wait to expect her first nanitics?

I realise every sp. is different and I should expect diff results, but what is 'normal'??

[Scrixx]

Well you said yourself that each species is different but you didn't tell us what species you have.

 

My Solenopsis invicta took 3 weeks for her first nanitic. About 5-6 weeks for my Pogonomyrmex rugosus and P. subnitidus. Myrmecocystus mexicanus, M. mimicus, M. navajo were about 7-8 weeks. I read Camponotus may take as fast as 6 weeks or as long as 3 months. 

 

Temperature and humidity will play a huge factor in how fast the larvae develop. 

[StayLoki]

I guess I was questioning the weeks part!
I mean thought it could take that long, but I wasn't sure what to expect.
If eggs were laid, I should expect a month or more until they hatch?
Man that's a lot of time to mess**** up for her lol

[AntsAreUs]

My queen recently laid an 7+ eggs after capture and providing her with high quality protein.
How long until I should I wait to expect her first nanitics?

I realise every sp. is different and I should expect diff results, but what is 'normal'??

Generally it depends on the size of the workers that are being raised (not always). Also may we know what genus you have?

[StayLoki]

Lasius flavus
They are marginally smaller than the sp you guys are keeping so maybe not as long to enclose??
I totally get that larger size needs more time and more resources to develop..
She's laid at least 7 that I can count, over 2days, and I'm not sure when to expect her first workers...

[dermy]

Lasius flavus
They are marginally smaller than the sp you guys are keeping so maybe not as long to enclose??
I totally get that larger size needs more time and more resources to develop..
She's laid at least 7 that I can count, over 2days, and I'm not sure when to expect her first workers...

This can depend greatly on more than just species, such as temperatures and how constant they are. [if you can get it a bit higher than room temperature it can help speed it up greatly]

[KBant]

The bigger they are the longer they take. Just try not to disturb too much, provide heat and have patience.

[Dnail]

my Polyrachis dives take a a month for nanitic

[StayLoki]

hmmm thank you for the advice!!
I'm trying to let her be, but it's so hard not to check her out lol it's really amazing to be able to peek into an ants world

[sericultivist]

Small species like Lasius shouldn't take too long as long as you keep her comfortably warm, but every queen is different. I made the mistake of not keeping my Camponotus queens warm and it took them almost 9  months to get their first nanitics because they went into hibernation with 2nd instar larva. Once they were out of hibernation I put them on heat the larva grew to almost full size in less than 2 weeks, and I had nanitics another couple weeks or so later. 

[CoolColJ]

1-2 months has been the average for my queens, even some small species can take 2 months...