Ant Identification: New Jersey, USA

[AntsNewJersey]

I found 6 queens in my backyard this week, in New Jersey.
I will try to attach a photo, but for now here is a description.


About 1cm in size.
Black in color, with light brown under their gasters.
Eggs look to be less then 1/10 of a cm.

ANY guesses are appreciated.

[bugging3out]

I don’t see a photo but from you description it seems you have found a pavement queen ant. Also known as tetramorium sp. E.

Best of luck, Bugging3out

[AntsNewJersey]

Thank you! I did some research briefly and it seems to fit pretty well! If you have any tips for keeping them? This is my first colony ever.

[MartinDejanovic]

Here is a very helpful tutorial on how to keep pavement ants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kng0lrxgvr4 I wish you best of luck, my friend!

[AntsNewJersey]

Thank you, very helpful!

[bugging3out]

Well I wouldn’t just give you a video I would give you more information since videos don’t cover everything.
Here is somethings you need to know about keeping pavement ants.
1. Don’t keep more then one colony after the 100 worker point since pavement ants can get to 10,000 worker ants.
2. Test tube all the queens separately since once they hit the 200 worker point the 2 or more queens will kill each other over the one and only queen fight. Leaving 1 injured queen or leaving no queens.
3. These ants can sting, when AntsCanada said their stinger doesn’t hurt humans think again. When I go looking for a an already established colony and they bite me it’s like fire ant stings.
4. Queens will have their nuptial flights from 1am to 7am with the bulk of them being around 5am and 6am. I look for mated queens around 11am-1pm.
5. Your queens will lay a batch of eggs between 2-14 days. But do not check on her till the 14 days are over!
6. It will take 6 weeks for tetramorium eggs to turn into tetramorium nanitics with out heat. With heat, 4 weeks for tetramorium eggs to turn into tetramorium nanitics.
7. Feed sugary food and protein once a week for 1-50 workers. Feed sugary food and protein twice a week for 50-100 workers. Feed sugary food and protein 3 times a week for 100-200 workers. For 200-10,000 feed 4 and more times a week.
8. Queens do not need to be fed during founding the colony!
9. Queens will live 10 years in GOOD care.

Best, Bugging3out