Formica lugubris
Moderator: ooper01
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Formica lugubris
Hey, so I'm new to ant keeping but I just caught a F. lugubris queen after the recent nuptials. She has no wings so I'm pretty sure she's fertilized. I wasn't sure whether she was claustral or not, so I left a test tube covered with black paper in her outworld and also a smaller water tube, a bit of cotton soaked in honey and some crushed up hazelnuts. But she hasn't settled down yet at all in the test tube, and she's running all around with no signs of stopping. Is this normal? When will she settle? I've only had her for a couple of days but I'm really nervous. Should I just leave her, or is she claustral and needs to be confined?
- Batspiderfish
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Re: Formica lugubris
Having a solid identification may be important, but all rufa, sanguinea, microgyna, and exsectioides-group Formica are social parasites that require a small number of Formica worker pupae to start a colony.
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.
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Re: Formica lugubris
OK, is F. lugubris a social parasite? I've heard it isn't.Batspiderfish wrote: ↑Wed Jun 20, 2018 11:26 amHaving a solid identification may be important, but all rufa, sanguinea, microgyna, and exsectioides-group Formica are social parasites that require a small number of Formica worker pupae to start a colony.
- Batspiderfish
- Posts: 3315
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
- Location: Maine
Re: Formica lugubris
They alternatively use colony budding, where a portion of the mother colony lives in a new nest with the newly mated queen, but queens on their own are looking for a host species to invade. If the identity is correct, they are from the rufa group. In captivity, they just need several Formica worker pupae.Megaraptor12345 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 22, 2018 8:06 amOK, is F. lugubris a social parasite? I've heard it isn't.Batspiderfish wrote: ↑Wed Jun 20, 2018 11:26 amHaving a solid identification may be important, but all rufa, sanguinea, microgyna, and exsectioides-group Formica are social parasites that require a small number of Formica worker pupae to start a colony.
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.
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- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2018 11:08 am
- Location: IDK
Re: Formica lugubris
Thanks for your advice! Got a few F. lemani workers and pupae and the workers are looking after the queen well!Batspiderfish wrote: ↑Fri Jun 22, 2018 2:58 pmThey alternatively use colony budding, where a portion of the mother colony lives in a new nest with the newly mated queen, but queens on their own are looking for a host species to invade. If the identity is correct, they are from the rufa group. In captivity, they just need several Formica worker pupae.Megaraptor12345 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 22, 2018 8:06 amOK, is F. lugubris a social parasite? I've heard it isn't.Batspiderfish wrote: ↑Wed Jun 20, 2018 11:26 amHaving a solid identification may be important, but all rufa, sanguinea, microgyna, and exsectioides-group Formica are social parasites that require a small number of Formica worker pupae to start a colony.
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