A few weeks ago, I managed to run into some queen ants!
Temp was ~80 degress
Found between 2-5pm 11-17-2016 in Galloway, New Jersey
The large black lassies seem to be camponatus spp? However, the more spitfire ones are smaller, more yellow, and have darker wings than the others and also have a knack for chewing on the foam stoppers! [Images at end of post]
Now, I am a very novice ant keeper! I have read much about taking care of them, but I work best with experience. I know they will have to hibernate soon, and I have been storing them in my closet, which is much colder than the rest of my house, even with heating. About 40-50 F would be right for that, yes? And the vials I have seem to be running out of water (using my research vials, lol) and some stoppers are collecting black mold. Should I move the girls or ***** water as needed with syringe? And for the other females, I am worried they are not claustral like the hypothetical camps.
My main concern is they have not laid eggs yet, so infertility is an issue
I was excited to capture a hypothetical camponatus, as they and crazies are my goals to keep. Would they start laying in the spring?IMAGES:
http://imgur.com/a/P92eS
Forgive image quality, my iphone is a mess and I cannot, for the life of me, work my father's hi-tech Canon.
I have no nests to have her use to establish. And, which ones is which? I assume the Crematogaster would be the browner, Lasius the black.