ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Dr.House]

You just could go to your local pharmacy or medic and get a 10ml syringe to fill it up. Okay, you'll ned a long needle, but our pharmacy got one which is 15+ cm ... that should be enough.

[JimmyVe]

I don't think to dry is the answer. It is a Messor sp. if i remember right, they don't need it very moist. But if it drys out totally you better give them a new one.

[Varban]

You just could go to your local pharmacy or medic and get a 10ml syringe to fill it up. Okay, you'll ned a long needle, but our pharmacy got one which is 15+ cm ... that should be enough.

Yeah i know I am just too lazy to do that. Anyway it has enough water.

@Jimmy: messor barbarus actually but they are pretty much the same. Now we all know where the barbarus comes from

[Varban]

I am happy to report that at 23:13GMT my worker's leg started moving
I am so relieved as at at about 2300 I saw the queen pick up the puppae and doing stuff to it just like the last one she ate.
It seems she just removed the outer packaging to help the worker emerge. She is cleaning the little worker atm. The worker still can't stand on its own but at least she has a chance to live not to be eaten by mommy

Can i hope that the worker will start collecting seeds to feed itself and the queen or i am still far from trouble?

[K Kris]

The queen(s) and workers often help incipient callow (=newborn) workers out of their cocoon and skin.

A first hurdle seems to have been conquered. You're not totally out of trouble yet but the main thing is that the worker is there. She will start foraging soon and collecting food. Don't worry if you actually don't witness the foraging, she'll probably do it at night when everything's calm and quiet.

Congrats, by the way!

[Bob]

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]

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]

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]

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

[JimmyVe]

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

[Varban]

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

[JimmyVe]

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]

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

[sithmaster676]

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

[Varban]

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