Worker as Big as Queen Ants? Camponotus EP

Summary

In this video, the narrator revisits a carpenter ant colony, 'D Colony,' after a nine-week lockdown due to COVID-19. The colony, which has grown to nine workers, is observed hunting prey and managing waste. The ants are noted for their unique behavior, using formic acid to immobilize crickets rather than direct combat. The main challenge is waste management, with the ants contaminating their test tube setups. The narrator plans to move the colony to a formicarium to address this issue and shares a sneak peek of the queen's enlarged gaster, hinting at a potential population boom. The video promises an upcoming tutorial on the colony's transition to the new habitat.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video revisits a carpenter ant colony caught in May during a community lockdown due to COVID-19.
• 🐜 The colony's name is revealed to be 'D Colony', and it has a newly found colony.
• 🥚 The narrator witnessed the colony's first batch of eggs and the emergence of its first nanitics.
• 🔍 The nanitics in this colony are unusually large, comparable in size to a fire ant queen.
• 👸 The queen of the colony is described as being over 20 millimeters in size, with her nanitics over 10 millimeters.
• 🤔 The narrator expresses curiosity about the size of the super majors in the colony.
• 🏡 The ants are living in a test tube setup, with the video showing the third iteration due to waste management issues.
• 📈 The colony has been growing slowly, with one new worker added per week, totaling nine workers after nine weeks.
• 🍽 The ants are fed live crickets, which they hunt by spraying formic acid instead of biting face-to-face.
• 👀 The queen makes an appearance, and her gaster (abdomen) is noticeably larger and has developed stripes, indicating a potential population increase.
• 🏠 The ants are moved to a formicarium, a DIY ant farm, with modifications to improve waste management and prevent food contamination.

Q & A

What was the reason for the community lockdown mentioned in the script?

The community lockdown was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What type of ants are being discussed in the video script?

The ants being discussed are carpenter ants, specifically a colony of Camponotus ants.

How many weeks had passed since the narrator last saw the ants?

More than nine weeks had passed since the narrator last saw the ants.

What is the size comparison between the ants' nanitics and a fire ant queen?

The nanitics of the discussed colony are as big as a fire ant queen.

What is the approximate size of the Camponotus queen mentioned in the script?

The Camponotus queen's size is more than 20 millimeters.

How many workers does the colony have after nine weeks?

The colony has a total of nine workers after nine weeks.

What feeding strategy is used for the ants in the video?

The ants are fed live feeders, such as crickets, and honey is offered for their housewarming in the formicarium.

How do the ants in the script differ in their hunting behavior compared to fire ants?

The ants in the script are less aggressive, using formic acid for long-range attacks instead of face-to-face biting.

What is the main issue the narrator is facing with the ant colony?

The main issue is waste management, as the ants are not properly disposing of their food waste.

What changes were made to the formicarium to address the ants' waste management issue?

A cover with mesh was added and later removed due to ventilation issues, a wall was added between the nest and the hydration media, and the artificial plant was moved to the back.

What is the narrator's plan if moving the ants to the formicarium doesn't solve the waste management issue?

The narrator's last resort is to build a bioactive setup to help clean the ants' leftovers and general waste.