Caught a Queen, has a Mite

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Swirlby
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Joined: Sat May 21, 2022 11:24 pm

Caught a Queen, has a Mite

Post: # 93453Post Swirlby
Tue Jun 14, 2022 10:49 pm

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?

Swirlby
Posts: 43
Joined: Sat May 21, 2022 11:24 pm

Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite

Post: # 93454Post Swirlby
Tue Jun 14, 2022 11:55 pm

Alright, I've looked up some remedies, and I need formic acid. Where can I find some of that?

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Antloverhuman
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Location: Delhi, India

Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite

Post: # 93457Post Antloverhuman
Wed Jun 15, 2022 1:37 am

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

Swirlby
Posts: 43
Joined: Sat May 21, 2022 11:24 pm

Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite

Post: # 93463Post Swirlby
Wed Jun 15, 2022 2:57 am

Antloverhuman wrote:
Wed Jun 15, 2022 1:37 am
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.
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.

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Antloverhuman
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Location: Delhi, India

Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite

Post: # 93464Post Antloverhuman
Wed Jun 15, 2022 3:32 am

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

Swirlby
Posts: 43
Joined: Sat May 21, 2022 11:24 pm

Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite

Post: # 93490Post Swirlby
Wed Jun 15, 2022 11:01 am

Antloverhuman wrote:
Wed Jun 15, 2022 3:32 am
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
How small should the lemon slice be? Half the queen's size? Smaller?

SolenopsisKeeper
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Location: United States, Florida

Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite

Post: # 93505Post SolenopsisKeeper
Wed Jun 15, 2022 7:23 pm

Swirlby wrote:
Wed Jun 15, 2022 11:01 am
Antloverhuman wrote:
Wed Jun 15, 2022 3:32 am
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
How small should the lemon slice be? Half the queen's size? Smaller?
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.
When you accidentally reply to yourself…

Swirlby
Posts: 43
Joined: Sat May 21, 2022 11:24 pm

Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite

Post: # 93510Post Swirlby
Wed Jun 15, 2022 9:20 pm

SolenopsisKeeper wrote:
Wed Jun 15, 2022 7:23 pm
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.
Eh, when I look at them closer, the mite on my ant is a more brownish color.

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Antloverhuman
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Location: Delhi, India

Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite

Post: # 93514Post Antloverhuman
Thu Jun 16, 2022 12:30 am

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

Swirlby
Posts: 43
Joined: Sat May 21, 2022 11:24 pm

Re: Caught a Queen, has a Mite

Post: # 93518Post Swirlby
Thu Jun 16, 2022 3:15 am

When should I take the lemon piece out?

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