Saturday, December 31, 2011
Esme is in the family way too :-)
Last night Esme was very actively trying to hide her meal worm segment away and seemed very agitated. It was obvious why this morning. Two lovely eggs and a hidden meal worm = a happy, calmer Esme!
Charlene is considering a move.
Last night, Charlene decided to have a wander up the tube connecting her delightful specimen container to her outworld. She changed her mind before she got there though! I don't think she wants to move out yet.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Betsy's workers eat mealworms. Hoorah!
Put a small piece of mealworm into the container attached to the ant farm yesterday for Betsy and her family. I hadn't seen any of them since they disappeared yesterday when they moved in. That is until I spotted a worker sneaking a snack this afternoon. It went back into the farm and told the others apparently because then there were lots of mealworm visits over the next half an hour or so.
Things are changing...
I tried to get Charlene (aka The ant formerly known as C - still don't know what species she might be?) to move home yesterday, but she appears to be more than comfortable in her specimen jar.
Some photos of Charlene and her eggs and the outworld she could call home if she wanted...
Some photos of Charlene and her eggs and the outworld she could call home if she wanted...
Darlene is going to be a Mummy!
Darlene (aka The sugar ant formerly known as D) has 3 lovely looking eggs this afternoon! They weren't there this morning, so it looks like she got busy while we were out :-) They eggs are enormous compared to the other queens' eggs. Of course it's not really surprising considering how big she is!
I gave her some mealworm yesterday, but she seems to have been rather offended by it and hidden it behind her cotton wool ball!
Some pictures for you - ain't she pretty?
I gave her some mealworm yesterday, but she seems to have been rather offended by it and hidden it behind her cotton wool ball!
Some pictures for you - ain't she pretty?
Where did Aggie go?
29/12/2011
I had a look with a torch to see if I could see inside Aggie's (aka The ant formerly known as A) red test tube and found that she and her family had moved out! As I couldn't see them anywhere I had a small poke around and found them hiding out under the damp cotton ball in the outworld I'd made for them. The photos aren't much good, but it will give you an idea of where they are now. It looks like there are at least 5 or 6 workers with her now too :-)
I put a little bit of chopped up mealworm in there for them to eat. They didn't seem interested though, but I might have just missed seeing them eat..
The outworld.
The hidey hole.
I had a look with a torch to see if I could see inside Aggie's (aka The ant formerly known as A) red test tube and found that she and her family had moved out! As I couldn't see them anywhere I had a small poke around and found them hiding out under the damp cotton ball in the outworld I'd made for them. The photos aren't much good, but it will give you an idea of where they are now. It looks like there are at least 5 or 6 workers with her now too :-)
I put a little bit of chopped up mealworm in there for them to eat. They didn't seem interested though, but I might have just missed seeing them eat..
The outworld.
The hidey hole.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
My queen ants have been named.
So much more personal now!
A shall now be known as: Aggie
B shall now be known as: Betsy
C shall now be known as: Charlene
D shall now be known as: Darlene
E shall now be known as: Esme (when I get to R (!) she will just have to be Renesme...)
A shall now be known as: Aggie
B shall now be known as: Betsy
C shall now be known as: Charlene
D shall now be known as: Darlene
E shall now be known as: Esme (when I get to R (!) she will just have to be Renesme...)
It's moving day :-)
Seeing as though B has at least 10 very active workers I decided to let them out into a new home this morning. They were a little unsure at first, but within the hour had ventured into their new home. The most amazing thing was that once they were sure, they were very quick to move the eggs, larvae and pupae over to their new home! It was amazing to watch. The queen decided to move about 3/4 of the way through the move, so awesome :-)I hope the ant farm will be okay for them, it's filled with sand and dirt (washed and dried a few weeks ago) from our garden. I took heaps of photos with our little old camera - some are a bit rough because they moved so quickly!
This photo is of the first brave worker to venture near the opening of the ant farm!
This worker is carrying a bunch of eggs and larvae to their new home.
The same worker on the inside of the farm.
Another worker carrying a pupae.
The queen on the move!
The last of the larvae, about to be moved.
This photo is of the first brave worker to venture near the opening of the ant farm!
This worker is carrying a bunch of eggs and larvae to their new home.
The same worker on the inside of the farm.
Another worker carrying a pupae.
The queen on the move!
The last of the larvae, about to be moved.
Oh dear, 2 new queens!
24/12/2011
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. That is of course, except for me!
I was about to go to bed on Christmas Eve, and one of the blinds was caught on our Christmas lights so I climbed up to untangle it where I discovered a queen ant jackpot! On the window, seemingly attracted by my festive display were 15+ Queens (sugar ants I think?) all without wings. I caught 2 (they will be known as D & E until I think of more creative names for them), as I couldn't help myself, knowing very well that my hubby would be "thrilled" (sarcasm!) that I now had 5 queen ants!
First 2 photos are of D, last one is E. They are enormous!
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. That is of course, except for me!
I was about to go to bed on Christmas Eve, and one of the blinds was caught on our Christmas lights so I climbed up to untangle it where I discovered a queen ant jackpot! On the window, seemingly attracted by my festive display were 15+ Queens (sugar ants I think?) all without wings. I caught 2 (they will be known as D & E until I think of more creative names for them), as I couldn't help myself, knowing very well that my hubby would be "thrilled" (sarcasm!) that I now had 5 queen ants!
First 2 photos are of D, last one is E. They are enormous!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Exciting!
Two cool things today!
Firstly, A has a worker or two with her in her test tube! And secondly I picked up B in her jar, and the workers went nuts - I think they felt threatened? Anyway, when they go nuts they move larvae, eggs and pupae from where they normally are to they other side of the cotton ball, really quickly. I noticed they moved a pupae and sort of nibbled and pulled at it's cocoon and after about 20 minutes it was completely free and walking around! How awesome is that?! It would be much clearer with a better camera, but I tried to catch most of the action (missed the first couple of minutes though). Lots of photos :-)
Firstly, A has a worker or two with her in her test tube! And secondly I picked up B in her jar, and the workers went nuts - I think they felt threatened? Anyway, when they go nuts they move larvae, eggs and pupae from where they normally are to they other side of the cotton ball, really quickly. I noticed they moved a pupae and sort of nibbled and pulled at it's cocoon and after about 20 minutes it was completely free and walking around! How awesome is that?! It would be much clearer with a better camera, but I tried to catch most of the action (missed the first couple of minutes though). Lots of photos :-)
Monday, December 19, 2011
And then there were five.
2 new workers for B today (up to 5 now). They have all moved back out from under the cotton wool ball and I think they are no longer freaked out by the blowfly, perhaps even eating it.
A is still carrying her larvae around, but there don't appear to be any pupae or workers for her yet - I suppose B fed her larvae on the bugs I put in her container and they grew quicker? Seeing as though they both had eggs/larvae on the same day, this seems to be the logical explanation..
The new queen has been carrying around about 6 eggs today. She is still quite jumpy/timid and doesn't like me moving her at all.
A is still carrying her larvae around, but there don't appear to be any pupae or workers for her yet - I suppose B fed her larvae on the bugs I put in her container and they grew quicker? Seeing as though they both had eggs/larvae on the same day, this seems to be the logical explanation..
The new queen has been carrying around about 6 eggs today. She is still quite jumpy/timid and doesn't like me moving her at all.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Finally up to date!
Today I put a broken up blowfly into B's container for her and her 3 workers. I had to go out so couldn't see what happened, but 2 hours later we came home to they had all moved to behind the cotton wool ball - it seems they are scared or don't like blowflies! There are 2 more dark pupae so I think tomorrow there will be 5 :-)
Still think nothing much has changed for A and her larvae or the new queen.
Still think nothing much has changed for A and her larvae or the new queen.
Another worker for B
17/12/11
Title says it all really, we have another worker today :-)
Can't see much in A's test tube, but I'm pretty sure there are only still larvae in there.
The new queen has layed a couple of tiny eggs, but she seems quite timid and would prefer to hide under her cotton wool ball.
Title says it all really, we have another worker today :-)
Can't see much in A's test tube, but I'm pretty sure there are only still larvae in there.
The new queen has layed a couple of tiny eggs, but she seems quite timid and would prefer to hide under her cotton wool ball.
A congratulations is in order!!!!!
14/12/11
B has 2 workers today! I checked last night and she had 2 dark, ant-shaped pupae? I hoped today would be the day :-) One of the workers is lighter than the other, so am assuming that the lighter one is newer than the darker one. There is also another darker pupae today so hopefully over the next day or so there will be another worker. I had a look (easier said than done) at A in her test tube, but it looks like her larvae are all still larvae.
Now for lots of photos of the new editions! (Unfortunately I managed to put the date on the photos somehow?) It's cool how you can see larvae (and eggs too I think?) of different sizes and stages!
B has 2 workers today! I checked last night and she had 2 dark, ant-shaped pupae? I hoped today would be the day :-) One of the workers is lighter than the other, so am assuming that the lighter one is newer than the darker one. There is also another darker pupae today so hopefully over the next day or so there will be another worker. I had a look (easier said than done) at A in her test tube, but it looks like her larvae are all still larvae.
Now for lots of photos of the new editions! (Unfortunately I managed to put the date on the photos somehow?) It's cool how you can see larvae (and eggs too I think?) of different sizes and stages!
A new queen!
28/11/11
Caught a new winged queen today! Different species, not sure if mated but decided to keep her too and see what happens! She is a lot bigger than my other queens and darker in colour.
About the photos:
First is one of the new queens wings (which she removed pretty much straight away), second is the new queen, third is B and new queen for size comparison (note broken up grasshopper in B's home - not interested at all apparently).
Caught a new winged queen today! Different species, not sure if mated but decided to keep her too and see what happens! She is a lot bigger than my other queens and darker in colour.
About the photos:
First is one of the new queens wings (which she removed pretty much straight away), second is the new queen, third is B and new queen for size comparison (note broken up grasshopper in B's home - not interested at all apparently).
We have larvae!
17/11/11
Woohoo! Both A and B have larvae! It is hard to see A and her eggs/larvae as she is in the outworld now, but I manage by shining light in through the outworld and the cellophane covered test tube.
Some photos of B and her larvae :-)
I emailed a man from the CSIRO here in Canberra to see if they could help me identify my queens. He thinks they may be Nylanderia queens. This genus, which was recently split from Paratrechina, is rather common in the Canberra area. They are ground nesting, usually under rocks or logs. Colonies can be quite large and the workers are very active.
He suggested that I provide a protein source such as a broken up fly for the larvae and a sugary food for the queen such as diluted honey or a small piece of fruit. So being the good ant keeper I am, I set out on a hunt for a bug for the larvae. I caught a hoverfly and broke it up and gave it to B (no point in giving it to A as she has completely blocked herself and her larvae off in her test tube).
Woohoo! Both A and B have larvae! It is hard to see A and her eggs/larvae as she is in the outworld now, but I manage by shining light in through the outworld and the cellophane covered test tube.
Some photos of B and her larvae :-)
I emailed a man from the CSIRO here in Canberra to see if they could help me identify my queens. He thinks they may be Nylanderia queens. This genus, which was recently split from Paratrechina, is rather common in the Canberra area. They are ground nesting, usually under rocks or logs. Colonies can be quite large and the workers are very active.
He suggested that I provide a protein source such as a broken up fly for the larvae and a sugary food for the queen such as diluted honey or a small piece of fruit. So being the good ant keeper I am, I set out on a hunt for a bug for the larvae. I caught a hoverfly and broke it up and gave it to B (no point in giving it to A as she has completely blocked herself and her larvae off in her test tube).
Catching up on my ant adventures!
Seeing as though I'm beginning to have trouble remembering all of the dates, I figured it was blog time!
08/10/11
I went outside with the kids (lovely sunny and warm day, and had been raining a bit over the previous week or two) and was very excited to find ants on their nuptial flights(last year my daughter and I were looking for queens everywhere, but had no luck). I captured two queens, one with wings and was still attached to her mate (A), and another wingless queen (B), unsure if she has mated. I put both queens into a small plastic container with a tiny drop of honey and a damp cotton wool ball.
10/10/11
A: Moved to a test tube with damp cotton wool ball in the end. Queens wings gone, male (winged) still alive but not overly active.
B: Not much changed.
17/10/11
Excited! Both A and B have started to lay eggs!! Male still alive with A. No one seems to be remotely interested in eating honey droplets.
24/10/11
Photo time :-) First photo is of A, her eggs and her male which still has wings attached. Second photo is of B and her eggs.
12/11/11
A: Male died today. I'm surprised it took so long, as I'd heard they died pretty much straight away after mating. Eggs seem to be increasing in number.
B: More eggs still appearing :-)
Neither seem to be interested in eating still. I'm assuming they are a claustral species, which means that they seal themselves off with their first batch of eggs and don't eat, surviving only on energy stores and the breaking down of their flight muscles as after they remove their wings and no longer need muscles in that area.
13/11/11
I made an 'outworld' for one of my ants (A) today. It was a cheap plastic container with a lid, I melted small air holes with a hot needle in the lid and made a bigger hole for plastic tubing so I could join it to an upright ant farm. I filled the base of it with some sand, dirt, gravel, dried grass, a wet cotton wool ball and a couple of rocks. I covered A's test tube with red cellophane and removed the cotton wool from the end of A's test tube and put it in the outworld. She got very busy moving dirt etc from the outworld to block off the end of the test tube, which pretty much confirms she is from a claustral species.
I've left B and her eggs in the plastic container as I'm interested to see if there will be a difference in the rate of growth etc based on the environment.
14/11/11
More photos :-)
The first photo is of B and her eggs, second is of A filling her test tube with dirt and gravel from her outworld and the third is of what the outworld looks like and also B in her container.
08/10/11
I went outside with the kids (lovely sunny and warm day, and had been raining a bit over the previous week or two) and was very excited to find ants on their nuptial flights(last year my daughter and I were looking for queens everywhere, but had no luck). I captured two queens, one with wings and was still attached to her mate (A), and another wingless queen (B), unsure if she has mated. I put both queens into a small plastic container with a tiny drop of honey and a damp cotton wool ball.
10/10/11
A: Moved to a test tube with damp cotton wool ball in the end. Queens wings gone, male (winged) still alive but not overly active.
B: Not much changed.
17/10/11
Excited! Both A and B have started to lay eggs!! Male still alive with A. No one seems to be remotely interested in eating honey droplets.
24/10/11
Photo time :-) First photo is of A, her eggs and her male which still has wings attached. Second photo is of B and her eggs.
12/11/11
A: Male died today. I'm surprised it took so long, as I'd heard they died pretty much straight away after mating. Eggs seem to be increasing in number.
B: More eggs still appearing :-)
Neither seem to be interested in eating still. I'm assuming they are a claustral species, which means that they seal themselves off with their first batch of eggs and don't eat, surviving only on energy stores and the breaking down of their flight muscles as after they remove their wings and no longer need muscles in that area.
13/11/11
I made an 'outworld' for one of my ants (A) today. It was a cheap plastic container with a lid, I melted small air holes with a hot needle in the lid and made a bigger hole for plastic tubing so I could join it to an upright ant farm. I filled the base of it with some sand, dirt, gravel, dried grass, a wet cotton wool ball and a couple of rocks. I covered A's test tube with red cellophane and removed the cotton wool from the end of A's test tube and put it in the outworld. She got very busy moving dirt etc from the outworld to block off the end of the test tube, which pretty much confirms she is from a claustral species.
I've left B and her eggs in the plastic container as I'm interested to see if there will be a difference in the rate of growth etc based on the environment.
14/11/11
More photos :-)
The first photo is of B and her eggs, second is of A filling her test tube with dirt and gravel from her outworld and the third is of what the outworld looks like and also B in her container.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)