Queen ant

Discussions about the care and keeping of ants

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ethergear
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2018 1:07 am
Location: Tucson

Queen ant

Post: # 38609Post ethergear
Sat Jun 23, 2018 1:35 am

So last weekend I captured a pair of queen ants. They're about a centimeter in length and they were captured last weekend in Oracle Arizona, a few days after the remains of Hurricane bud passed over.

I recognize the species as I have seen them around and they have super majors that look just like the queen. These two I caught had different gasters and what I thought were flight muscles, but no wings. Supermajors would make them Camponotus, right? And hopefully fully claustral?

The good news is, I think they've already laid eggs.

The bad news is, I have no test tubes yet! I captured them in transparent plastic disposable portion child cups which they hated.

I ordered the test tubes and they're coming Monday, but I transferred them to the only thing I could find that I thought they'd like, translucent toothbrush holders with cotton blocking the holes from inside. I store them at a slight angle and moisten the lower cotton ball.

These are the best pictures I can take until I have them on clear test tubes.

How will I transfer them and their eggs safely to the new home?

AntsLuxembourg
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Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2018 7:17 am
Location: Luxembourg
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Re: Queen ant

Post: # 38702Post AntsLuxembourg
Sun Jun 24, 2018 8:39 am

I would sugguest that you force them carefully into their new homes. Perhaps shake them with care into the testtubes and make sure that you don't miss out with on any eggs. For the rest I would say everyone get's quite creative when it comes to store the queens when there are no testtubes. :D
I myself would have just taken a transparent tube and placed them in there. This way you can just connect them straight to a setup or a testtube. :D

Perhaps get a variety of tubes with perhaps 10mm inside, 12mm inside and 8mm inside so you can connect most things with your testtube straight away. Usually those tubes got a thickness of 1mm so they are 8mm on the inside and 10mm on the outside. had to get myself even a 14mm on the inside to plug in my ttesttube. I think 1m of each should do. So you can use most of the cables as adapters in case you buy something with a smaller opening.

Btw I can't see any piucture of the queen so far. :C
Doing some proper research is the best way to start an antcolony.

Need help or want to help? https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=18153#p70566

Currently not keeping any ants anymore.

ethergear
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2018 1:07 am
Location: Tucson

Re: Queen ant

Post: # 38710Post ethergear
Sun Jun 24, 2018 11:30 am

Maybe the files were too large? Let me try again.

ethergear
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2018 1:07 am
Location: Tucson

Re: Queen ant

Post: # 38711Post ethergear
Sun Jun 24, 2018 11:48 am

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qJ3PVKnHiz6r8hFh7

AntsLuxembourg
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Re: Queen ant

Post: # 38715Post AntsLuxembourg
Sun Jun 24, 2018 12:42 pm

Quite blurry ^^
But it did work at least with the picture
Doing some proper research is the best way to start an antcolony.

Need help or want to help? https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=18153#p70566

Currently not keeping any ants anymore.

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Batspiderfish
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Re: Queen ant

Post: # 38718Post Batspiderfish
Sun Jun 24, 2018 12:49 pm

A delicate paintbrush can be helpful for moving eggs and brood.
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.

ethergear
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2018 1:07 am
Location: Tucson

Re: Queen ant

Post: # 38727Post ethergear
Sun Jun 24, 2018 2:08 pm

AntsLuxembourg wrote:
Sun Jun 24, 2018 12:42 pm
Quite blurry ^^
But it did work at least with the picture
You're certainly right! But you can see her size and why I think there are eggs.

Thank you so much for reading and responding from Luxembourg!
Batspiderfish wrote:
Sun Jun 24, 2018 12:49 pm
A delicate paintbrush can be helpful for moving eggs and brood.
This is perfect! I even have a paintbrush like that.

I'll start by tapping out the queen and loose eggs into the test tube and use the brush to move any stray eggs.

Can't wait till Monday - I'll be able to get a better picture then!

AntsLuxembourg
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Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2018 7:17 am
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Re: Queen ant

Post: # 38734Post AntsLuxembourg
Sun Jun 24, 2018 3:44 pm

Perhaps you should try to get some tubes anyway so you can give the queen some space for at least some time. :D
This also makes it easier to give them food because the workers still need some time to get to the opening. Also have a nice pack of cotton ready. ;D
I also is way easier to connect the tubes later. I mean it helped me quite a bit in the past. :D
Doing some proper research is the best way to start an antcolony.

Need help or want to help? https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=18153#p70566

Currently not keeping any ants anymore.

ethergear
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2018 1:07 am
Location: Tucson

Re: Queen ant

Post: # 38899Post ethergear
Tue Jun 26, 2018 12:31 am

Done!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EAyQaMzQxCXjiSxR6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/dK76DhbPTLggHM5a8

AntsLuxembourg
Posts: 1578
Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2018 7:17 am
Location: Luxembourg
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Re: Queen ant

Post: # 38905Post AntsLuxembourg
Tue Jun 26, 2018 6:58 am

Wow D:
You are making me really jealous right now. :D

She looks so beautiful. Would love to know the exact name of this kind to look it up in case it's also available over here in Europe. :D
Doing some proper research is the best way to start an antcolony.

Need help or want to help? https://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=18153#p70566

Currently not keeping any ants anymore.

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