A colony restored (AntsDakota's Brachymyrmex queen continued)
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A colony restored (AntsDakota's Brachymyrmex queen continued)
Hi, so if you have no idea what's going on here, please read my previous journal. So, my queens killed each other after they had a few workers, leaving the colony orphaned. The workers grew their colony to about 10 workers or so. Then yesterday I acquired 2 Lasius americanus queens from a friend, and they had about 50 eggs. I introduced the workers into the queens' test tube and they are not fighting. I plan to separate the queens today so they don't kill each other also.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25
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Re: A colony restored (AntsDakota's Brachymyrmex queen continued)
They accepted them! They just looked so peaceful that I was tempted to just let them be, but then I started to have flashbacks. So I separated them and put a queen in a new test tube and left another with the workers. I didn't get any eggs to go with the queen I removed, since it was hard enough to get the queen herself out, and I didn't want to risk crushing any of the eggs or workers in the process.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25
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Re: A colony restored (AntsDakota's Brachymyrmex queen continued)
I fed them some honey and the workers immediately started drinking from it. Even the queen came over to drink. (She still hasn't completely figured out that the workers are supposed to do all the work. )
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25
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Re: A colony restored (AntsDakota's Brachymyrmex queen continued)
I figured out that they are actually Lasius neoniger, sorry for changing this for the 3rd time now. But I figured out that Lasius neoniger workers can look almost black at times, and my queens are too skinny to be Lasius americanus. I now know how to distinguish Lasius neoniger from americanus, but still not sure on brevicornis.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25
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Re: A colony restored (AntsDakota's Brachymyrmex queen continued)
I doubt it's Lasius Neoniger as there flights run through September and October. Unless you caught it last year of course. But to be sure, you should get an ID confirmation.
An ants' strength can be rivaled by few animals compared to relative body size.
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Re: A colony restored (AntsDakota's Brachymyrmex queen continued)
I decided to reintroduce the queen into the colony. She was groomed instantly. I will keep the colony exposed to the light for a week. (Just in case)
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25
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Re: A colony restored (AntsDakota's Brachymyrmex queen continued)
Perhaps pallitarsis?TheRealAntMan wrote: ↑Wed Aug 15, 2018 4:25 pmI doubt it's Lasius Neoniger as there flights run through September and October. Unless you caught it last year of course. But to be sure, you should get an ID confirmation.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25
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Re: A colony restored (AntsDakota's Brachymyrmex queen continued)
They're still not fighting..........
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25
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Re: A colony restored (AntsDakota's Brachymyrmex queen continued)
In two days I will cover them up if they have not fought yet. At that time they would have won my complete trust of being one of the only polygynous colony of it's species in existence.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25
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