New Ant Queen Introduction
Moderator: ooper01
- WiseHollow
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2015 6:40 pm
New Ant Queen Introduction
I have three Solenopsis Invicta and one of them died shortly after her first few workers enclosed. Is it possible for them to get along with one of my other queens that are also Solenopsis Invicta? Or should I release the workers outside?
- Aquaexploder
- Posts: 226
- Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2016 5:55 am
- Location: Rhode Island
Re: New Ant Queen Introduction
It is possible that they will join the other queens colony. However their is always the risk they won't and will fight. If you don't plan on taking this risk you can at least save the brood with a moist q-tip and put them with the other colony.
Founding:
Crematogaster (2X)
Lasius Neoniger (2X)
Crematogaster (2X)
Lasius Neoniger (2X)
- WiseHollow
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2015 6:40 pm
Re: New Ant Queen Introduction
Are there any warning-signs other than pure fighting? I took a single worker and put her with the queen. They both seem to interact in most expected ways. There is one thing that has me puzzled, the worker will often climb on top of the queen and start doing "something". It's hard to tell since the worker is so small. I've seen the worker checking out her legs quite often too.Aquaexploder wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2017 9:43 amIt is possible that they will join the other queens colony. However their is always the risk they won't and will fight. If you don't plan on taking this risk you can at least save the brood with a moist q-tip and put them with the other colony.
- WiseHollow
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2015 6:40 pm
Re: New Ant Queen Introduction
It looks like the single worker may be warming up to this new queen. The worker found a small drop of honey that I put in the tube a couple weeks ago. She drank it and went to the queen and started sharing the honey with her. Now I'm deciding between putting the other workers in, or just calling it quits and just transferring the remaining eggs over.
- Aquaexploder
- Posts: 226
- Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2016 5:55 am
- Location: Rhode Island
Re: New Ant Queen Introduction
He may have been grooming her. Since they interacted pretty well I would continue the same process of adding one worker at a time. Assuming everything goes well, when their is just one worker left I would tape the tubes together (leave a little gap so they can breathe) so it gives them a chance to move the brood over.WiseHollow wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2017 9:56 amAre there any warning-signs other than pure fighting? I took a single worker and put her with the queen. They both seem to interact in most expected ways. There is one thing that has me puzzled, the worker will often climb on top of the queen and start doing "something". It's hard to tell since the worker is so small. I've seen the worker checking out her legs quite often too.Aquaexploder wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2017 9:43 amIt is possible that they will join the other queens colony. However their is always the risk they won't and will fight. If you don't plan on taking this risk you can at least save the brood with a moist q-tip and put them with the other colony.
Founding:
Crematogaster (2X)
Lasius Neoniger (2X)
Crematogaster (2X)
Lasius Neoniger (2X)
- WiseHollow
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2015 6:40 pm
Re: New Ant Queen Introduction
Is it more risky the longer I wait? It's been several days and I only moved one worker. However I did manage to grab their remaining brood, so I don't believe there would be a significant benefit at this point.Aquaexploder wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2017 9:25 pmHe may have been grooming her. Since they interacted pretty well I would continue the same process of adding one worker at a time. Assuming everything goes well, when their is just one worker left I would tape the tubes together (leave a little gap so they can breathe) so it gives them a chance to move the brood over.WiseHollow wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2017 9:56 amAre there any warning-signs other than pure fighting? I took a single worker and put her with the queen. They both seem to interact in most expected ways. There is one thing that has me puzzled, the worker will often climb on top of the queen and start doing "something". It's hard to tell since the worker is so small. I've seen the worker checking out her legs quite often too.Aquaexploder wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2017 9:43 amIt is possible that they will join the other queens colony. However their is always the risk they won't and will fight. If you don't plan on taking this risk you can at least save the brood with a moist q-tip and put them with the other colony.
- Aquaexploder
- Posts: 226
- Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2016 5:55 am
- Location: Rhode Island
Re: New Ant Queen Introduction
Its up to you if you want to move them. Personally at this point I would not risk it since you have been very successful so far.
Founding:
Crematogaster (2X)
Lasius Neoniger (2X)
Crematogaster (2X)
Lasius Neoniger (2X)
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests