A Pause, Then a Signal

An F0 Honey Bug founding female (right) regulating her ootheca, and a darker female from the main colony (left)

14 December 2025

Three weeks have passed since the start of the Honey Bugs project.

Today, one of us paused long enough to be noticed. An F0 female was observed regulating her ootheca, a quiet but unmistakable signal that conditions are stable enough for development to proceed.

There was no disturbance. No intervention. Only observation.

In the neighboring enclosure, a darker female from the main colony remained nearby, a visible contrast in coloration and lineage. The proximity serves as a reminder of where this line began and the distinction now being maintained.

This entry records the first observed reproductive regulation within the Honey Bug enclosure following separation. No conclusions are drawn, and no outcomes are assumed. Development will continue at its own pace.

Happy scittering,

The Honey Bugs