Ovulation?

[Mp432]

I took this photo yesterday. My bumblebee female is extremely swollen in her bottom 2/3rds. Since this our first go at breeding we are not sure if she is ovulating. We have been palpating and feel her folicals growing. It's not a great picture, but does it look like she may be ovulating?

[WmHrbst]

First off, great looking female.

I do not see an ovulation. The follicles will feel large and very soft right around ovulation and after ovulation. Keep checking her follicle growth and continue pairing :-)

Typically, an ovulating female will look as if she swallowed a large food item and her lower part by the tail will look sucked it. Ovulations usually last 24 hours and are not always seen, well unless you're checking frequently.

[Hannahshissyfix]

I vote no ovulation yet also. Maybe just building still. There's an obvious bulge starting about 1/3 of the way down when they ovulate. Is she still eating?

[Hannahshissyfix]

This was one of my phantoms ovulating a few months ago. I put an arrow to the obvious starting point of the swelling. You'll know for sure when it happens if you catch it and the next day they pretty much go back down to normal.

[Mp432]

I vote no ovulation yet also. Maybe just building still. There's an obvious bulge starting about 1/3 of the way down when they ovulate. Is she still eating?

Yes she is still eating. Over the past week I have seen her bowl wrapping, then noticed the swelling.

Thanks for all the info. This whole process is so exciting.

[ARBallMorphs]

oh yes it is so exciting, I am in my first breeding season too and every time the female looked bigger/more swollen i was like. "is this the ovulation?" but trust me when she ovulates you'll know it! I know everyone says that and you read it everywhere but it is true!!