Skippy: Worm inside Lasius niger queen (31. Jul 2008 15:28)

Hi guys,

are you also wondered why fine queen dying sometimes in your excelent tubes , with all inclussive class feeding?
me too !!

... when some my queen die , I always (no exotic species ... there are on preparation) open gaster , and give them as food for other alive ants.

Today died one Lasius niger queen , I opened gaster and what I saw??!! some interesting organ , it looked like ball (of thread)

I picked it out from gaster and it was only HUGE worm about 5,5 cm of size !!! which killed her - there were not other organs , only worm

LS

gabranth: (31. Jul 2008 15:38)

its a parasite probably came from something she ate

Skippy: (31. Jul 2008 15:40)

yes I know , but also interesting to see , when you can see that worm , it looks impossible how it was in gaster , it is really big near queen

gabranth: (31. Jul 2008 15:42)

yep these types of parasites can grow to huge sizes

example

The Broad Fish Tapeworm -- This worm is found in large marine fish. It usually finds its way into humans through raw or undercooked fish. This is the largest tapeworm in humans, averaging 10 m long! Infection from this worm is minor, such as megaloblastic anemia, due to the worm's consumption on vitamin B12.

Surrealys: (31. Jul 2008 15:47)

I hate worms... They are so disgusting... *brrr*

derameisige: (31. Jul 2008 19:44)

It’s a roundworm, Nematoda. For information see here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nematoda
Ants are quite often parasitized by worms. For Lasius a genus Mermis is mentioned in the literature.
The German Ameisenwiki presents some information on ant-worms, including pictures:
http://www.ameisenwiki.de/index.php/Krankheiten_Parasiten
see “Nematoden” for such kind of worms. But there are others, and other groups of parasites and diseases, such as flatworms, tapeworms, fungi, bacteria, viruses, mites, ... too.

Ant parasites should not be distributed in foreign countries where they could infest and damage native ant species. Therefore foreign ants MUST NEVER be released into the open, their escaping MUST be thoroughly prevented.

derameisige

Skippy: (31. Jul 2008 20:05)

Ohh big thanks it looks that same on ameisenwiki :) now I know what is it. There is written it can be 7 cm long , so bigger that my worm on photo.
There is to see , it come out from ant when ant die , but my worm stayed in gaster and died too ... but it is not beautiful - hate ant-worms

I had on ants also these mites , and it is really big problem too ...

JimmyVe: (31. Jul 2008 21:32)

Worms are giving my the creeps, but it is really nice info.

highered: (1. Aug 2008 09:29)

How does one prevent their own ants from eating something with a parasite in it? Does diping the insect in boiling water first do the trick?

miszt: (1. Aug 2008 11:03)

Yep for 30s, or freeze them for 1hr+