Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Questions from those who are just starting or considering getting into the ant keeping hobby. If you’re intimidated or confused by the in-depth posts of the other sections of this forum, feel free to post here, and we'll start from square one!

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Jetjones
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2019 12:50 pm
Location: Quebec

Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60378Post Jetjones
Sun Jul 07, 2019 1:01 pm

Hey everybody!

New user here. I have been watching the AntsCanada youtube channel for a while now and began to be interested to start a colony of my own.

I happenned to find a queen on a trip to Quebec city and was wondering if you could help me to identify its species and what to do next. I don’t have a test tube handy, can I used something else as substitute?

Thanks for your help!

https://ibb.co/pZdJY04

Jetjones
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2019 12:50 pm
Location: Quebec

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60380Post Jetjones
Sun Jul 07, 2019 1:28 pm

After a quick research, I assume it’s a carpenter queen?

Camponotus
Posts: 192
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2019 9:48 am

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60382Post Camponotus
Sun Jul 07, 2019 2:11 pm

It is

Jetjones
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2019 12:50 pm
Location: Quebec

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60388Post Jetjones
Sun Jul 07, 2019 5:10 pm

Camponotus wrote:
Sun Jul 07, 2019 2:11 pm
It is
Sweet! Thanks. I had contacted vendors thru AntsCanada and they were only selling smaller species. Glad I came across this queen by chance!

I guess I will watch informative videos on that species now. If you have any advices on how to process it would be much appreciated :)

Hawkeye
Posts: 1557
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2019 4:38 pm
Location: Almelo

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60393Post Hawkeye
Sun Jul 07, 2019 5:40 pm

Jetjones wrote:
Sun Jul 07, 2019 5:10 pm
Camponotus wrote:
Sun Jul 07, 2019 2:11 pm
It is
Sweet! Thanks. I had contacted vendors thru AntsCanada and they were only selling smaller species. Glad I came across this queen by chance!

I guess I will watch informative videos on that species now. If you have any advices on how to process it would be much appreciated :)
My best guess is Camponotus pennsylvanicus for more info see https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Camponotus_pennsylvanicus

Jetjones
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2019 12:50 pm
Location: Quebec

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60396Post Jetjones
Sun Jul 07, 2019 6:18 pm

Thanks, that’s what I thought.

Now, I want to give her a home as quick as possible because I know how long this specie takes to grow and do not have test tubes nor cotton balls at hand. Right now it’s sitting in a small pill bottle but what I do have handy is a 3inches (1inch diameter) plastic tube and some cotton pads. Would that be a good start for my queen?

I was thinking to shred the cotton pads to make them less thick. I would appreciate your input before doing anything!

If it is not a possibility, where do you suggest I keep her until I find a tube and cotton balls?

Thank you!

https://ibb.co/31cNhv3

Jetjones
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2019 12:50 pm
Location: Quebec

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60401Post Jetjones
Sun Jul 07, 2019 6:49 pm

Image

Hawkeye
Posts: 1557
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2019 4:38 pm
Location: Almelo

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60403Post Hawkeye
Sun Jul 07, 2019 6:54 pm

Jetjones wrote:
Sun Jul 07, 2019 6:18 pm
Thanks, that’s what I thought.

Now, I want to give her a home as quick as possible because I know how long this specie takes to grow and do not have test tubes nor cotton balls at hand. Right now it’s sitting in a small pill bottle but what I do have handy is a 3inches (1inch diameter) plastic tube and some cotton pads. Would that be a good start for my queen?

I was thinking to shred the cotton pads to make them less thick. I would appreciate your input before doing anything!

If it is not a possibility, where do you suggest I keep her until I find a tube and cotton balls?

Thank you!

https://ibb.co/31cNhv3

I think that will do just fine, as long as the cotton wil keep the water from flooding the entire tube. If she's indeed a carpenter queen she's fully claustral and won't need any sustenance until she feeds her first offspring. So I would recommend you keep her where she is, put her in the dark and then order a tube from the AntsCanada website...

Jetjones
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2019 12:50 pm
Location: Quebec

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60419Post Jetjones
Sun Jul 07, 2019 7:33 pm

Thanks! Will keep you guys posted ;)

Hawkeye
Posts: 1557
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2019 4:38 pm
Location: Almelo

Re: Need help identifying a queen and what to do

Post: # 60445Post Hawkeye
Mon Jul 08, 2019 12:42 am

Jetjones wrote:
Sun Jul 07, 2019 7:33 pm
Thanks! Will keep you guys posted ;)
I have 2 carpenter queens myself, would be good to exchange notes... Check out what I plan to build for them

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