Caught a Queen, has a Mite
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Caught a Queen, has a Mite
I just caught two Camponotus Pennsylvanicus queens tonight, right after their nuptial flight. One of them has a red mite on her leg, and I'm not sure if it's a problem or not. How can I tell if mites are parasitic? Also, will the mites spread between test tubes if I keep them too close together?
Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite
Alright, I've looked up some remedies, and I need formic acid. Where can I find some of that?
- Antloverhuman
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- Joined: Wed May 19, 2021 3:38 am
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Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite
I don't think mites will be able to jump to another closed test tube but just to be safe, keep them good distance apart. Most of the times when the queen gets her nanitics, they kill the mites themselves to i would suggest nit doing anything until the workers arrive as it can stress her.
Ants I have-
camponotus compressus colony- the shadow warriors.
Pls just let me have a tetramorium colony
camponotus compressus colony- the shadow warriors.
Pls just let me have a tetramorium colony
Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite
She's a very large ant. It will probably take almost two months for her to get her nanitics. Can I wait that long? The method I found online involves putting the ant in a drinking cup and holding a cotton swab near her (but not touching), after dipping the cotton swab in a 70% formic acid/water mixture. The mite will detach from her, and then I can put her in a tube again.Antloverhuman wrote: ↑Wed Jun 15, 2022 1:37 amI don't think mites will be able to jump to another closed test tube but just to be safe, keep them good distance apart. Most of the times when the queen gets her nanitics, they kill the mites themselves to i would suggest nit doing anything until the workers arrive as it can stress her.
- Antloverhuman
- Posts: 1134
- Joined: Wed May 19, 2021 3:38 am
- Location: Delhi, India
Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite
As i said, that would probably stress the queen alot. One thing you can try is to put a very tiny piece of lemon in her test tube, i have heard that lemon works as a mite killer
Ants I have-
camponotus compressus colony- the shadow warriors.
Pls just let me have a tetramorium colony
camponotus compressus colony- the shadow warriors.
Pls just let me have a tetramorium colony
Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite
How small should the lemon slice be? Half the queen's size? Smaller?Antloverhuman wrote: ↑Wed Jun 15, 2022 3:32 amAs i said, that would probably stress the queen alot. One thing you can try is to put a very tiny piece of lemon in her test tube, i have heard that lemon works as a mite killer
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Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite
I found an ant colony with alates with red Mites, which turn out to be beneficial mites as I kept some workers who are still alive.Swirlby wrote: ↑Wed Jun 15, 2022 11:01 amHow small should the lemon slice be? Half the queen's size? Smaller?Antloverhuman wrote: ↑Wed Jun 15, 2022 3:32 amAs i said, that would probably stress the queen alot. One thing you can try is to put a very tiny piece of lemon in her test tube, i have heard that lemon works as a mite killer
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Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite
Eh, when I look at them closer, the mite on my ant is a more brownish color.SolenopsisKeeper wrote: ↑Wed Jun 15, 2022 7:23 pmI found an ant colony with alates with red Mites, which turn out to be beneficial mites as I kept some workers who are still alive.
- Antloverhuman
- Posts: 1134
- Joined: Wed May 19, 2021 3:38 am
- Location: Delhi, India
Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite
Half the size of the queen or a little bit smaller. Keep it in the middle of the claustral cell so that it can have the best effect
Ants I have-
camponotus compressus colony- the shadow warriors.
Pls just let me have a tetramorium colony
camponotus compressus colony- the shadow warriors.
Pls just let me have a tetramorium colony
Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite
When should I take the lemon piece out?
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