Merging Solenopsis molesta colonies
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Merging Solenopsis molesta colonies
I've successfully merged Solenopsis molesta many times with no problems, and this is how I will continue to perpetuate the Royal Legion, my S. molesta colony. I will merge them with newly mated queens and maybe mature colonies every year.
"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
Re: Merging Solenopsis molesta colonies
I though the Solenopsis group only had single queen supspecies??
Research is important before during and even after you have established a colony. There is always time to learn and to listen to others experiences. Live by this and your ants will thrive. Fail to do so and your experience may be brief.
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Re: Merging Solenopsis molesta colonies
Solenopsis molesta is commonly known as the grease ant or thief ant. They are not fire ants, and are only one or two mm long. Their queens are 5 millimeters. They are highly polygynous like their cousin Solenopsis invicta. They are a golden color and look sort of like tiny Tetramorium workers. They steal from other ant colonies and can slip around larger ants without them noticing due to their small size. They even eat the brood of other ants. They don't like sweet foods, but prefer grease. Queens only live 1-2 years since they are so small. But they can grow colonies to a few thousand workers in that short period of time.
"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
Re: Merging Solenopsis molesta colonies
See this is why I hate Ireland I am missing out on so many ants
Do you have a journal on this colony of yours I can read?
Do you have a journal on this colony of yours I can read?
Research is important before during and even after you have established a colony. There is always time to learn and to listen to others experiences. Live by this and your ants will thrive. Fail to do so and your experience may be brief.
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Re: Merging Solenopsis molesta colonies
My Solenopsis molesta colony
"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: Merging Solenopsis molesta colonies
Actually, no one in Europe has even seen Solenopsis molesta before. (unless they traveled to North America, that is.)
"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: Merging Solenopsis molesta colonies
And by the way, I'd much rather keep Lasius niger and flavus than neoniger and americanus.
"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: Merging Solenopsis molesta colonies
Europe might not have Solenopsis Molesta, but they do have Solenopsis Fugax a close relative of Solenopsis Molesta. And although they are rare, they have been recorded in Northern Ireland but have probably spread down to the rest of the country.AntsDakota wrote: ↑Fri Sep 07, 2018 4:53 pmActually, no one in Europe has even seen Solenopsis molesta before. (unless they traveled to North America, that is.)
An ants' strength can be rivaled by few animals compared to relative body size.
Re: Merging Solenopsis molesta colonies
Yeah since this is my first year I have not gone out of Dublin just yet to see what ants are about. I thought I was going to get at least one queen of tetramorium but I ended up with two different Myrmica species.TheRealAntMan wrote: ↑Fri Sep 07, 2018 5:58 pmEurope might not have Solenopsis Molesta, but they do have Solenopsis Fugax a close relative of Solenopsis Molesta. And although they are rare, they have been recorded in Northern Ireland but have probably spread down to the rest of the country.AntsDakota wrote: ↑Fri Sep 07, 2018 4:53 pmActually, no one in Europe has even seen Solenopsis molesta before. (unless they traveled to North America, that is.)
Why would you prefer Niger's and Flavus? Do they differ in traits the stand out over the other?
Research is important before during and even after you have established a colony. There is always time to learn and to listen to others experiences. Live by this and your ants will thrive. Fail to do so and your experience may be brief.
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- Posts: 1283
- Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:22 pm
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Re: Merging Solenopsis molesta colonies
Lasius niger and flavus colonies are explosive in growth. Lasius neoniger and americanus....... not so much.Hunter36o wrote: ↑Sat Sep 08, 2018 8:20 amYeah since this is my first year I have not gone out of Dublin just yet to see what ants are about. I thought I was going to get at least one queen of tetramorium but I ended up with two different Myrmica species.TheRealAntMan wrote: ↑Fri Sep 07, 2018 5:58 pmEurope might not have Solenopsis Molesta, but they do have Solenopsis Fugax a close relative of Solenopsis Molesta. And although they are rare, they have been recorded in Northern Ireland but have probably spread down to the rest of the country.AntsDakota wrote: ↑Fri Sep 07, 2018 4:53 pm
Actually, no one in Europe has even seen Solenopsis molesta before. (unless they traveled to North America, that is.)
Why would you prefer Niger's and Flavus? Do they differ in traits the stand out over the other?
"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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