Believe it ore not, it is always a risk to do it. Best time to do it is during hibernation.
Strange behaviour from ligniperda. Woke up to find their test tube in the heated foraging area was deserted and the colony had moved into the connecting pipe (which connects to un-used farm). All the caccoons are at the end which connects to the foraging area. The queen is halfway down the pipe with the brood and also curiously one caccoon.
I cleaned the test tube thoroughly. put in fresh water and cotton wool and replaced it.
The next day the ants moved the caccoons and some eggs back into the test tube, and 3 of them stand guard. (There are only 3 workers in this busy little colony) The queen is left alone in the pipe with some eggs and larvae there too.
This colony is very interesting. I almost am regretting the time when they finally dig themselves a nest.
mine ligniperda finally moved to the ytong setup( you can see it in pictures forum ) and have laid loads of eggs.they now have about 20 cocoons with the black dot on one end.
there are 10 workers in colony.
unfortunately I've had two herculaneus deaths in the last 24hours. I recently expanded their setup by connecting a new basin. one ant i found dead in the new basin yesterday night, this morning the body had been dumped into their honey dish for some reason?? And another body was being investigated by a worker. I am hoping the colony will survive.
I hope it to badman. They often dump dead workers in the honey dish. Try to clean up dead workers, don't leaf them to long in the out world.