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Alby: messor killer queen (8. Mai 2008 11:47)

Could be possible that messor queen kill the borning ants??...there was a larvae that was becoming an ants coloured brown last day, and today I saw it his body without head...the queen need food, or can be stressed???...I keep her in the test tube closed in a closet...do you know the reason why???
thank you!!

JimmyVe: (8. Mai 2008 17:17)

Everything is possible. :) Was the worker alive are was it a naked pupa ? It would surprise me if she killed a living worker (of there own nest), if the worker was born dead it could be she snapped the head off.

Is there a reason for her to have stress ? If there ore no reasons i suppose she is not stressed, give her a small insects and see if she takes it. Keep her at a good temperature 25-30°c and in a dark place (like you are doing already).

Are there more workers ? Brood ?

Alby: (8. Mai 2008 20:21)

it wasn't live, there aren't other workers it was the first one...there's another brood that is taking the body of a adult ants...

in italy in these days is 25°, I can try with a little insect...how many times I have to let the food in the tube if she will not eat it?

miszt: (8. Mai 2008 21:17)

Messor queens are well known for being harder to raise a colony from than many other species, you may have just distrubed her one to many times, i'd recomend you put her sumwhere warm and dark, and leave her alone for 4-5 days at a time, checking on her only for a few seconds at a time, but at 4-5 day intervals

JimmyVe: (8. Mai 2008 21:26)

That sound best. When you check on her you can give her a little bug. If she did not touched it the next time you check (4-5 days after) you don't need to give a new one. You could try it again later on.

SteveUK28: (9. Mai 2008 09:41)

Hi Alby,
I started my messor with just a queen, and i did pretty much what miszt said.. but i just left her alone completly she had water in the test tube an pretty much needs nothing else untill she has workers. ive now got 4 workers and a nice pile of eggs n larve :D Ohh n she is now out in the light n tbh dont seem to mine it to much now she has workers.