The AntsCanada Ant Forum's

So I have a dilemma. I had 2 Myrmica sp. queens together in a test tube connected to an outworld setup. After one of them began laying eggs, they’ve both been fighting with each other, like full blown wrestling and dragging each other around kind of fighting. After I saw this, I ended up separating the two.

Should I keep put them together again and hope for the best and leave it to whatever happens, or should I merge them later with workers? I’m not really sure. If possible I’d like them to cooperate.Thanks.

To elaborate further on this: Q1 used to be the dominant female or so it appeared and would snip at Q2 here and but nothing really came out of it. But ever since Q2 laid a batch of eggs first, aggression levels between Q1 and Q2 skyrocketed within the last 36 hrs which made Q1 hide in their outworld. Earlier this morning I saw both Q1 and Q2 look like they were trying to kill each other before I broke it up with a BBQ skewer. Now I'm not sure if I should keep them separated, attempt to put them together again, or try introducing them to each other after workers get close to arriving.

they could be 2 different species of myrmica.

Honestly, if I were you I think I’d separate them. As mentioned above, it’s a possibility that they could be two different species of Myrmica. I’ve heard or read somewhere that accurately discerning between certain Myrmica ant species could potentially require the use of a microscope.

I would separate them, and once you realize which queen laid the first eggs, put her eggs in her container with her.

Also sounds a little like pleomatrophy...where more than one queen will cohabitate together and cooperate until the first batch of workers(or maybe eggs) arrives, afterwhich they become extremely aggressive and either kill or drive off any and all other queens that are not seen as the dominant one.
Maybe you could do some research and see if any pleometrophic Myrmica species exist in your area? (I’m not sure if they exist at all lol and might not be thoroughly studied... just throwing some ideas out there)


Any other updates on your observations or what you’ve done whether separating them or what? Has the aggressive queen ever seem to chew up or try to kill any of the eggs? Or does she seem to want to care for them as her own? Has she laid any eggs yet? Maybe allow her to interact with just one egg if you have a decent amount and see what she does with it. And while they are separated try your best at figuring out if they are the same species or not. What area are they native to? Myrmica is a dense and diverse group with a vast number of species.. I’m pretty sure you can look up polygynous and monogynous ants (maybe pleometrophic ants too?) by native region on antwiki. Maybe something like that could help give you an idea of at least where to start? Hope any info helps!!!

Separate them. I tried it with myrimca a couple times. The last time I tried I didnt separate, hopeing they could work it out. One died and all of the eggs for the other one were eaten. She hasnt laid anymore.

Separate! I dont know how the multiple queen set ups are supposed to work with myrmica, but i have doubts that most myrica species tolerate more than 1 queen

It would be much safer to separate them. After all, you don't want any queen deaths.

I think the multiple queen set-ups work with more than 2 queens. That way there could be more of a mediating force in the fights possibly?