So I have a colony now…

[LaniLyne0106]

Here’s the what happened. I’ve had this plant from when I moved from Florida, it was a gift, but it died which was expected since I live in a less humid area. Well I ended up dumping the dirt outside thinking nothing of it, only to find 10 mins later ants walking all over the dirt I just dumped! I quickly got down and started to gently go through the dirt to find the queen. I successfully captured the queen without her suffering any injuries, I put her in a glass vile and then properly placed her in a test tube set up. After the queen was secured I went back and gathered as many worker ants as I could, in total I have 10 minor workers, and 2 majors(soldiers) strangely no alates. Still trying to figure out how to put them with the queen. Any ideas? Also I’m not too sure on what kind of ant it is. It’s very small, it’s gaster and head are a darker red while it’s thorax is a slightly lighter red. They showed no aggression at first but I did get bit by one of the majors although it didn’t try to sting me. I thought they were some sort of Solenopsis but now I’m not sure. I’ll post pics on the ID forum as soon as I can figure out how.

[Antloverhuman]

They could be pheidoli. Try to attach a small ice cream or yogurt tub to the vile and put the workers in it.

[LaniLyne0106]

They could be pheidoli. Try to attach a small ice cream or yogurt tub to the vile and put the workers in it.

Okay I will try that, thanks!

[AntsLuxembourg]

They could be pheidoli. Try to attach a small ice cream or yogurt tub to the vile and put the workers in it.

Okay I will try that, thanks!

If you have a big enough tub / container then you can place the testtube inside. Also try to remove some of the dirt to reduce the chance of your queen moving into the dirt pile. ^^

Edit: Corrected tube into tub / container.

[LaniLyne0106]

Okay good idea I will be trying that out today

[SolenopsisKeeper]

Okay good idea I will be trying that out today

It does sound like solenopsis… make sure no queens escape, Becuase if it was from Florida, it could be S. Invicta all over again.(They have tried everything to get rid of them)

[AntsLuxembourg]

Okay good idea I will be trying that out today

It does sound like solenopsis… make sure no queens escape, Becuase if it was from Florida, it could be S. Invicta all over again.(They have tried everything to get rid of them)

Agreed. maybe place a lid on top of the tub / container so they cannot escape. Also I would like to correct myself. Earlier I said tube but I meaned to say tub. ^^'

[LaniLyne0106]

I don’t understand what I did wrong. I successfully put the workers with the queen and some how got them all in the tube. I gave them a small drop of honey, so they wouldn’t drown in it, but none wanted to eat it. The workers touched antenna with the queen and no one attacked the queen. So all was well I went to sleep and came back to all the workers dead?! I’m not sure what happened the queen looked uninjured and none of them ate the honey.

[LaniLyne0106]

Okay good idea I will be trying that out today

It does sound like solenopsis… make sure no queens escape, Becuase if it was from Florida, it could be S. Invicta all over again.(They have tried everything to get rid of them)

I will totally make sure she does not escape as that was the same idea I had hence me digging through dirt just to ensure her capture.

[LaniLyne0106]

Okay good idea I will be trying that out today

It does sound like solenopsis… make sure no queens escape, Becuase if it was from Florida, it could be S. Invicta all over again.(They have tried everything to get rid of them)

Agreed. maybe place a lid on top of the tub / container so they cannot escape. Also I would like to correct myself. Earlier I said tube but I meaned to say tub. ^^'

Yea, I thought u meant tub, all good thanks for your guys help