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Pharaoh Ant Queen captured

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 1:59 am
by Manakahi
I recently got lucky in spotting a queen and brood out relocating after we fixed our irrigation. I captured her and 7 brood they all appear to be workers 1 pupe stage. Had them in two separate containers that i placed inside a lunch box, with two holes drilled into it. Also have a winged ant that is worker sized so Male? I am also not sure if this queen is mated she still has one wing.

I am completely new to ant keeping, is starting with Pharaoh ants too much for a beginner?

Re: Pharaoh Ant Queen captured

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 3:02 pm
by Manakahi
After some work I turned a Small lunchbox into a formicarium. Glued an semi-transparent bottle down in one side to create, a [( Shaped tunnel, its about 3 times the queen size down to slightly smaller than the queen, the entrance to the tub was widened to allow the queen to fit, 1.3 times her size, should I make this bigger?

For water I have a tube made out of silicone tubing and paper towel. The box has Two 1/4 entrances drilled into the top, I am working on an outworld to be placed above it, but right now I have a 3 ft length of tubing going to a empty rubbermaid container.

For air I have one end of tubing covered with netting placed in one entrance. The rubbermaid container has 2 1/4 holes in it that are covered with the netting. Do i need to add more air holes, would a fan blowing past the top vent create enough air flow to pull in fresh air?

Current thoughts, after placing them into the chamber they moved the queen and brood to conor with the plastic tube, not one ant has attempted to use either tube exit. I had placed a small dab of honey in one corner before placing them in.

https://imgur.com/a/r5hSiUd

Re: Pharaoh Ant Queen captured

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 3:15 pm
by Batspiderfish
I don't know what your location is, but these are definitely not pharaoh ants (Monomorium). Looks more like Anoplolepis gracilipes, but ID's require a location and measurement.

Re: Pharaoh Ant Queen captured

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 3:24 pm
by Manakahi
Location is Oahu, Hi.

Re: Pharaoh Ant Queen captured

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 3:27 pm
by Batspiderfish
Ah! Definitely A. gracilipes.

Re: Pharaoh Ant Queen captured

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 3:35 pm
by Manakahi
Thank you, added two more photos. wish i had something better than a smartphone.

Re: Pharaoh Ant Queen captured

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 8:44 am
by Ltislander
If a queen has wings it didn’t necessary mean that she is not fertile. The same goes for ants who shedded her wings.