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Mikey_Bustos: Crematogaster queen in Habitat Nest (20. Jan 2010 18:19)

I decided to wake up one of my Crematogaster queens from hibernation yesterday and placed her into one of my ant store's small Habitat Nests. She's settled in now. I truly hope she begins to lay eggs over the next few weeks!

Here she is wandering the Habitat Nest for a suitable nesting location shortly after waking up from the cold...

http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss350/mikeybustosphotos/crematogasterhabitatnest.jpg

http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss350/mikeybustosphotos/DSC04522.jpg

And here she is 24 hours later, creating a sort of pit for her to nest comfortably in.

http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss350/mikeybustosphotos/DSC04568.jpg

http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss350/mikeybustosphotos/DSC04567.jpg

http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss350/mikeybustosphotos/DSC04565.jpg

JimmyVe: Re: Crematogaster queen in Habitat Nest (25. Jan 2010 19:45)

Very nice Mikey. Good luck with this queen.

Mikey_Bustos: Re: Crematogaster queen in Habitat Nest (7. Feb 2010 16:20)

Someone once told me that Crematogasters typically take a long time to lay eggs. However, upon examination of photos I took of my Crematogaster queen housed in our Habitat Nest, I was surprised to see her bent over a pretty set of eggs, right on time a long with my other queens who have begun to lay, as well.

http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss350/mikeybustosphotos/DSC05174.jpg

http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss350/mikeybustosphotos/DSC05177.jpg

http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss350/mikeybustosphotos/DSC05178.jpg

jeffrey432: Re: Crematogaster queen in Habitat Nest (7. Feb 2010 17:50)

Nice pictures!
I hope that this colony will grow as big as your M yrmica rubra colony! :D
-Choosymoosy / Jeffrey432 ;)