The AntsCanada Ant Forum's

Recently caught 3 lasius umbratus queens and would just like to know how to care for them and start a colony.

If you haven't checked it out already: http://www.formiculture.com/topic/3252-much-ado-about-the-founding-of-lasius-temporary-social-parasites/

Lasius umbratus is one of the easy Lasius parasites to keep. Once they are adopted to host workers, their care is identical to other Lasius species.

Batspiderfish wrote: ↑

Tue May 16, 2017 10:10 pm

If you haven't checked it out already: http://www.formiculture.com/topic/3252-much-ado-about-the-founding-of-lasius-temporary-social-parasites/

Lasius umbratus is one of the easy Lasius parasites to keep. Once they are adopted to host workers, their care is identical to other Lasius species.

Ok thanks, but after reading the guild I think it would be best if I found some other non- parasitic queen to get more experience before I attempted them.

Don't feel bad. Two of the first Queen's I caught this year happened to be parasite Queens. Lasius interjectus. I have now seen 4 Queens of that species but as you said I want a little more experience under my belt before attempting a social parasite Queen. I want more experience in identifying Lasius sp. in general or have a lasius colony of my own before trying. If I had a better idea of what other Lasius sp. look like then I probably would have tried. It would have definitely been a fun challenge.