This is the largest Camponotus pennsylvanicus major I’ve ever seen maybe because this colony is so well fed and old, they’re producing some kind of extra large gigantic majors.
-
This is the largest Camponotus pennsylvanicus major I’ve ever seen maybe because this colony is so well fed and old, they’re producing some kind of extra large gigantic majors.
it’s hard to convey in a photo, but she is humongous. That’s not a queen that’s just the worker. #ants
@futurebird Wow, that is large (compared to the one at the top of the photo). Do ants keep growing as they age? (I have no idea)
-
@futurebird Wow, that is large (compared to the one at the top of the photo). Do ants keep growing as they age? (I have no idea)
No, they only grow in size as larvae ... when they "eclose" (that is come out of metamorphosis ) they have the body they will have for the rest of their life.
Unlike other kinds of insects, those that undergo metamorphosis do not grow and molt as they age.
-
@futurebird Wow, that is large (compared to the one at the top of the photo). Do ants keep growing as they age? (I have no idea)
@WTL
The interesting thing is this means her older sisters *decided* that she needed to be this big for some reason.Colonies will produce different types of workers to meet varied conditions.
I suspect she is large so that she can store food. Camponotus pennsylvanicus are related to "honeypot ants" and the larger ants can hold a lot of food in their social stomach. She's like a living smoothie truck for her sisters.
-
F myrmepropagandist shared this topic
-
@WTL
The interesting thing is this means her older sisters *decided* that she needed to be this big for some reason.Colonies will produce different types of workers to meet varied conditions.
I suspect she is large so that she can store food. Camponotus pennsylvanicus are related to "honeypot ants" and the larger ants can hold a lot of food in their social stomach. She's like a living smoothie truck for her sisters.
You may resent your family for deciding that you had to be a dentist... but at least they didn't decide that you had to be a:
* Living water bag
* Door
* Circle Cutting Compass
* Glue Gun
* fungal filament surgeon.
* Professional egg producer
* Professional kidnapper -
You may resent your family for deciding that you had to be a dentist... but at least they didn't decide that you had to be a:
* Living water bag
* Door
* Circle Cutting Compass
* Glue Gun
* fungal filament surgeon.
* Professional egg producer
* Professional kidnapper@futurebird those soaps’ dialogs would be quite something
-
@futurebird those soaps’ dialogs would be quite something
"I never wanted to be the door! My head is always cold! No one ever asked me."
"but you have such a lovely door shaped head sweetie." -
This is the largest Camponotus pennsylvanicus major I’ve ever seen maybe because this colony is so well fed and old, they’re producing some kind of extra large gigantic majors.
it’s hard to convey in a photo, but she is humongous. That’s not a queen that’s just the worker. #ants
@futurebird get a penny in the picture?
-
@futurebird get a penny in the picture?
I try not to give them cash, who knows what they will spend it on.
-
I try not to give them cash, who knows what they will spend it on.
@futurebird oh, I forgot. Also it’ll make them targets for Pica to shake down
-
@futurebird oh, I forgot. Also it’ll make them targets for Pica to shake down
Her avarice is without limit.
-
"I never wanted to be the door! My head is always cold! No one ever asked me."
"but you have such a lovely door shaped head sweetie."@futurebird @wtrmt my mom always said I made a better door than a window
-
@futurebird @wtrmt my mom always said I made a better door than a window
@glasspusher @futurebird “she’s not your mother!”
[animated gif of a prairie dog turning to face the camera with a surprised look on its face, cue sound effect tan-Tan-TAAAN!]
-
@glasspusher @futurebird “she’s not your mother!”
[animated gif of a prairie dog turning to face the camera with a surprised look on its face, cue sound effect tan-Tan-TAAAN!]
The "she's not your real mom" thing is a very real source of anxiety for ants.
Your dear mother could be replaced with an imposter... then half of your sisters are imposters too!
Can you imagine? It's like IDK... some kind of royal family type scandal.
-
This is the largest Camponotus pennsylvanicus major I’ve ever seen maybe because this colony is so well fed and old, they’re producing some kind of extra large gigantic majors.
it’s hard to convey in a photo, but she is humongous. That’s not a queen that’s just the worker. #ants
@futurebird There are parasites that have this effect. No evidence to back that up here..,,
-
@futurebird There are parasites that have this effect. No evidence to back that up here..,,
Nah. She's not pathologically big. Just... very well fed when she was a larvae.
