ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Skippy]

Hi guys,

are you also wondered why fine queen dying sometimes in your excelent tubes , with all inclussive class feeding?
me too !!

... when some my queen die , I always (no exotic species ... there are on preparation) open gaster , and give them as food for other alive ants.

Today died one Lasius niger queen , I opened gaster and what I saw??!! some interesting organ , it looked like ball (of thread)

I picked it out from gaster and it was only HUGE worm about 5,5 cm of size !!! which killed her - there were not other organs , only worm

LS

[gabranth]

its a parasite probably came from something she ate

[Skippy]

yes I know , but also interesting to see , when you can see that worm , it looks impossible how it was in gaster , it is really big near queen

[gabranth]

yep these types of parasites can grow to huge sizes


example

The Broad Fish Tapeworm -- This worm is found in large marine fish. It usually finds its way into humans through raw or undercooked fish. This is the largest tapeworm in humans, averaging 10 m long! Infection from this worm is minor, such as megaloblastic anemia, due to the worm's consumption on vitamin B12.

[Surrealys]

I hate worms... They are so disgusting... *brrr*

[derameisige]

It’s a roundworm, Nematoda. For information see here:
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Ants are quite often parasitized by worms. For Lasius a genus Mermis is mentioned in the literature.
The German Ameisenwiki presents some information on ant-worms, including pictures:
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see “Nematoden” for such kind of worms. But there are others, and other groups of parasites and diseases, such as flatworms, tapeworms, fungi, bacteria, viruses, mites, ... too.

Ant parasites should not be distributed in foreign countries where they could infest and damage native ant species. Therefore foreign ants MUST NEVER be released into the open, their escaping MUST be thoroughly prevented.

derameisige

[Skippy]

Ohh big thanks it looks that same on ameisenwiki now I know what is it. There is written it can be 7 cm long , so bigger that my worm on photo.
There is to see , it come out from ant when ant die , but my worm stayed in gaster and died too ... but it is not beautiful - hate ant-worms

I had on ants also these mites , and it is really big problem too ...

[JimmyVe]

Worms are giving my the creeps, but it is really nice info.

[highered]

How does one prevent their own ants from eating something with a parasite in it? Does diping the insect in boiling water first do the trick?

[miszt]

Yep for 30s, or freeze them for 1hr+

[gabranth]

i would leave it in boiling water for a minuite or 2 just to be safe


and here somehting intresting


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[miszt]

i would leave it in boiling water for a minuite or 2 just to be safe


and here somehting intresting


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the reason I suggest 30s is you dont want to cook the insect, as this can make them tough for younger colonies to deal with, and allot of food will be waster, for older colonies this isnt an issue really tho

[gabranth]

true but its better safe than sorry

[miszt]

30s is more than enough time to kill off any living tissue in boiling water, obviuosly larger insects require more time

I freeze all my insects anyway, cant be bothered messing about with boiling them lol except for the locusts I buy for my pachycondyla, which are garanteed parasite and mite free

[ratgreen]

omg i hate worms so much its untrue, now that they can be found in ants has creeped me out even more, they make me feel so sick.