JimmyVe: (2. Jul 2007 22:59)

Okay, that is true, she already had workers, sorry i forgot. ;)

I'm not sure how long it takes, depends on a lot of things, normally about 2-4 weeks.
You could try to take them away but i'm afraid they need to be taking care buy the queen. I'm not sure they would survive on there own.

Varban: (2. Jul 2007 23:53)

2-4 weeks for the puppae :| wow I thought it was a 5-10 days :(
I am not talking from egg to worker but puppae to worker :P

Bob: (3. Jul 2007 04:52)

strange behavior for a queen. From her behavior she seems like a very carnivorous queen. :p

mpir: (3. Jul 2007 11:25)

@Verban

I´m really sorry to hear that you have so much problem with M. barbarus queen. I also keep this ant specie and I can say that from day one it is one of the less problematic ant specie I´ve had.
I´ve just put some seeds into the tube and the queen was ok. From begining of March (she had no brood when I got her) untill now there are more than 20 workers and lots of brood. First workers were very small indeed but now they are getting bigger and bigger every day. I think one of the pupae that is about to hactch will be a solder as it has quite a big and square head. I´m still keeping them in test tube which is conected to plastic ice cream box. I will probably keep them there till next year when I will move them to ytong nest.

Bob: (3. Jul 2007 12:35)

mpir if you keep them in the test tube for a year, wont the test tube's water supply dry up by then? How do you keep up the test tube's water supply? Also is there a way for you to post a pic of your entire set up? (test tube connected to ice cream box).

mpir: (3. Jul 2007 15:10)

@Bob

The test tube is quite big (1 cm diameter) and I´ve put quite a lot of cotton between water and the ants as this ant don´t like lots of moist so the water is evaporating slowly. I think until now not even 10% of the water evaporated, so I think I should be ok till next year.

I will post some photos later today as I have photos at home and right now I´m at work. :oops: :wink:

Varban: (3. Jul 2007 18:35)

Bob: Yeah :( if only she ate the eggs instead. Another puppae is gone today :'( this is ridiculous!

Mpir: Did you put in just seeds? And what type did you use?

Bob: (3. Jul 2007 19:11)

varban if you can get your hands on some brood, the key is to put in a bit of pupae that way even if she consumes some of the pupae enough will make it to turning into workers. Also, if she is that carnivorous, try suspending in some a piece of dead insect. Maybe if her appetite is satisfied she will refrain from consuming pupae.

mpir: (3. Jul 2007 19:38)

@Bob

As I promised the photo of the set up. Only this set up on the photo is not mine. The batteries of my camera are dead and it would take hours to recharge so this is the photo I took at my friend's place. Mine set up is almost identical.

@Verban

Yes, I've thrown in some seed. It is a mix of seed that I bought in pet store for small birds. I've also put in some seeds that they especially like. I don't know how is this flower called in English so I will attach picture of it. They indeed go crazy for this seeds.

JimmyVe: (3. Jul 2007 20:04)

They in deed would like these seeds. ;) I must say my Messor barbarus queen did not accept seeds until the first workers came, i give her a fruit fly are two and did not disturb her to much (one time a week max.)
but Varban you need to try it out, if she will not accept seeds try some small insects. Not al queens are the same. ;) (some like seeds some not)

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