The AntsCanada Ant Forum's

I did some more reading. Lasius Flavus colonies vary a lot depending on region and local environment. So long as the queens don't have to compete for space they can act polygynic and some wild colonies are polygyne. I think just the two queens will be fine. A friend of mine even kept 5 in a testtube...

Also try to get some pupae and add to the queen first as it helps.

Yet another day of Lasius Niger nuptial flights for S.England. Not even any Flavus to spice it up a little! Probably waiting for some rain, unlike the L.Niger which don't seem to stop! (much to the local Myrmica pleasure)

L.Flavus often found colonies with multiple queens. However as soon as the first workers start to emerge the queens turn on each other which continues until one queen is left. (And this queen can still be mortally injured which results in the whole colony being doomed!). So do seperate them if you h...

I've personally never kept L.Umbratus however I do know a little on how they work: The Queen will go looking for a L.Niger colony. It will then secretly kill a L.Niger worker to allow it to gain the colony scent (which will mean that the L.N workers will no longer attack it). It will then proceed in...

Myrmica queens tend to lay less eggs because of thier polygyne nature (many queens). Adding a new queen could prove useful but do be careful as the colony can still regect the extra queen (so be carefull and place the new queen away from the nest so she can enter naturally). Also have you thought of...

I've kept both before and for me they both can get to equal sized colonies. However L.Flavus grow at a slower rate and can seem lazy with thier slower movements.

I've kept both before and a good way to tell is to look at the legs. L.Flavus have orange legs. Whilst L.Niger are all black.

George can you post a link to a picture of the queen pls.