Formica queen

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AntsRomania1999
Posts: 52
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 5:05 pm
Location: Suceava

Formica queen

Post: # 28056Post AntsRomania1999
Sat Aug 05, 2017 11:31 am

Hello guys !
I have a formica queen, I captured a month ago.
He laid eggs and everything went well but now he has only three workers and two cocoons but he does not have an egg. :(
Do you have any idea why and what should be done ?
My colonies :
lasius niger x3
formica cunicularia
tetramorium sp x2
myrmica sp (founding)

My dream species -- Polyergus rufescens

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Batspiderfish
Posts: 3315
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
Location: Maine

Re: Formica queen

Post: # 28072Post Batspiderfish
Sat Aug 05, 2017 2:39 pm

Formica queens often stop laying eggs as autumn approaches, because members of this genus do not keep any brood over the winter. Five workers isn't bad for your queen's first year -- she may lay more, but she will be fine with those workers.
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.

xTNxANTMANx
Posts: 416
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2016 9:03 am
Location: Western Tennessee

Re: Formica queen

Post: # 28280Post xTNxANTMANx
Mon Aug 07, 2017 12:04 pm

Batspiderfish wrote:
Sat Aug 05, 2017 2:39 pm
Formica queens often stop laying eggs as autumn approaches, because members of this genus do not keep any brood over the winter. Five workers isn't bad for your queen's first year -- she may lay more, but she will be fine with those workers.
This is very nice to know as I have a few Formica subsericea and Formica pallidefulva queens. Mine are still laying I think. Only one of my Formica pallidefulva queens has workers though at the moment...5 nanitics to be exact.
Keeping:
Camponotus subbarbatus
Formica pallidefulva x2
Formica subsericea x4
Lasius sp
Tetramorium immigrans x2
Dorymyrmex bureni

Founding:
Formica pallidefulva
Unknown sp x2

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notmyidea
Posts: 60
Joined: Thu Jul 30, 2015 3:30 pm
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada

Re: Formica queen

Post: # 28508Post notmyidea
Wed Aug 09, 2017 3:02 am

I keep Formica podzolica and have successfully started colonies when the Queen hasn't laid any eggs till the following Spring.

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