Bob: (14. Jul 2007 02:06)

I totally know where Varban is coming from. One of my two fire ant queens(the one with the smaller clutch of eggs) has it appears, eaten all her eggs :( which sucks because she is the one I am rooting on to survive(the other one seems fine). I am sad. :(

Varban: (14. Jul 2007 12:25)

Ok note to self never claim you are out of trouble until the very end.
This morning i check and hmm the worker is darker in colour but not moving :( and somehow i doubt she is sleeping. I am starting to reach a give up point at this stage :(

EDIT: Few hours later, the worker is still sort of moving. It's laying on its back and is moving it's feet in the air. Hopefully it will turn upside down soon and start working :)

K Kris: (14. Jul 2007 16:39)

I don't want to discourage you or anything, but this sounds exactly like the story I mentioned above.

I'm sure the solution is relatively easy but unfortunately we can only guess.

Varban: (14. Jul 2007 17:18)

Well it looks like it wasn't fully out of its puppae skin. The worker seems fine. It's alive :). Let's hope it will do for a while :D

JimmyVe: (15. Jul 2007 12:12)

Good news Varban, keep us informed. Hoop it works out well for you queen and worker.

Varban: (15. Jul 2007 16:13)

Good news Varban, keep us informed. Hoop it works out well for you queen and worker.

I am not taking any chances. Even if there is a worker I still have to see their so called desire to eat seeds. So installed two bottle caps (I am a poor student :p ) with 2 pieces of cotton. Both are soaked with sugar water in 1:3 proportion. Hope it's sweet enough :)
Hopefully this will keep the worker well feed until a 2nd is born when they will start foraging for the seends i kindly collected for them :).

Yes that is gras growing in the top left corner :D

JimmyVe: (17. Jul 2007 18:55)

Nice gras. ;)

I think i already told you, young colonies don't need seeds already you better give them small bugs. (fruit flies) Start feeding seeds when there are bigger workers. The smaller ones can not open the seeds very well.

Varban: (17. Jul 2007 22:12)

Nice gras. ;)

I think i already told you, young colonies don't need seeds already you better give them small bugs. (fruit flies) Start feeding seeds when there are bigger workers. The smaller ones can not open the seeds very well.

Got it, seends when i get the 1st major. In the mean time sugar water or the odd insect. Made a jar of sugar water as i need to tup up the cottons every day. I noticed some pulling on the cotton. Hope it wasn't there originally and its the worker who went to get some sugar.

In other news the 2nd puppae i had is turning brown and you will like this. Hasn't been eaten YET! I mean i stressing yet cause well you never know with my queen :P

sithmaster676: (18. Jul 2007 07:36)

i hope everything goes well for you and your colony.
sithmaster676

Varban: (18. Jul 2007 08:34)

Puppae is still there. My queen tends to sleep in the morning ^^
The temp is a bit low so she rests. Interesting