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Re: my ant project
Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 5:10 pm
by Rovvov99
K3v1n8 wrote:
i wanted to test out want would happen if i put 2 queen ants in the same formicarium separated by a room and some water in the formicarium.
I spent a week away from them and by the time i came back.
one escaped
i did check my formicarium (which i created) and i found a whole which the queen had escaped
i am left with one queen. Though i would like to know if anyone has tried this not saying you should but i would like to know what would happen.
Two things could happen:
1: The most likely of the two, they would be living in rivalry and attack each other at any utility.
2: The most interesting one, they would still be in rivalry, but eventually they would develop the same scent because they are living so close together. If that happened the two colonies would see each other as the same and wouldn't attack each other.
Re: my ant project
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 9:24 pm
by Delmonte
I had an interesting find with some of my ants I collected outside. I decided to flip a few rocks and stones over to try to find any queens and new ant colonies for my collection. Well I flipped over one large stone and I found two new queens working together raising the same eggs. They were the same kind of ants and probably from the same colony from the same flight but I was just amazed that I saw this cause I've never seen this before. I of coursed got my large spoon and managed to get them both and all the eggs in one scoop without disturbing them or the little home they made. They are still working together and I'm hoping the first workers will emerge in the next few weeks.
Re: my ant project
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 8:43 pm
by Delmonte
Well that's weird. Why would they raise eggs together then try to kill each other after they hatch? One of them wanted to be the dominant one? Or did they get hungry? Cause I know there are some ant colonies that have multiple queens.
Re: my ant project
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 10:45 pm
by ooper01
I could be wrong, but I believe that most of the time it is the workers who select the queen who will survive. They slowly get rid of the queens until the strongest, most fertile, etc., is the last surviving queen. Not sure how the can determine that?? Having said that, there are also many species that have multiple queens for the entire life of the colony, so it is definitely a species-specific thing.
Re: my ant project
Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 10:53 am
by Delmonte
I'll keep you posted on what happens. Unfortunately they buried themselves so right now I cannot see what is exactly going on with them. I'm also in the process of moving so it might be a few weeks before I get back with you guys. I'm going to try move so of the dirt around so I can see them again and watch what they are doing.
Re: my ant project
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 7:42 am
by Delmonte
I still haven't seen the two queens. I decided to leave them alone until the colony gets bigger and healthier. Right now I have about 4 workers walking around their enclosure. I gave them some organic agave nectar and I also dropped in a house fly that I caught and killed for them. They looked like they were searching frantically for food. Which I figured having 2 queens they would be. Once there's more workers and I know the colony takes off I will try to find the queens. I'm going to feed them often in hopes the queens don't kill each other
Re: my ant project
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2015 1:39 pm
by Delmonte
Well bad news people. I looked at m colony today and found one of the queens dead and pushed outside the nest. I couldn't tell if she was killed by the other queen or the workers. I'm not sure how the other Queen is doing. Still haven't dug her up yet. But from my findings I wouldn't put two queens together. I still see workers going in and out the nest so I'm hoping the other queen is OK.
Re: my ant project
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 2:23 pm
by idahoantgirl
K3v1n8 wrote: i wanted to test out want would happen if i put 2 queen ants in the same formicarium separated by a room and some water in the formicarium.
I spent a week away from them and by the time i came back.
one escaped
i did check my formicarium (which i created) and i found a whole which the queen had escaped
i am left with one queen. Though i would like to know if anyone has tried this not saying you should but i would like to know what would happen.
What did you make the formicarium out of? I'm planning on making one for my lasius neoniger queen
Re: my ant project
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2015 8:40 pm
by deadl0v3
idahoantgirl wrote:K3v1n8 wrote: i wanted to test out want would happen if i put 2 queen ants in the same formicarium separated by a room and some water in the formicarium.
I spent a week away from them and by the time i came back.
one escaped
i did check my formicarium (which i created) and i found a whole which the queen had escaped
i am left with one queen. Though i would like to know if anyone has tried this not saying you should but i would like to know what would happen.
What did you make the formicarium out of? I'm planning on making one for my lasius neoniger queen
sorry i forgot my password just made a new account.
it was an office tray to hold small objects made out of hard plastic i fixed it up a little and covered the top and made holes.
that is really about it but now i have a new setup for them its a 50 gallon fish tank with sand.
Re: my ant project
Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2019 4:41 am
by MaxP00
Delmonte wrote: ↑Mon Aug 17, 2015 9:24 pm
I had an interesting find with some of my ants I collected outside. I decided to flip a few rocks and stones over to try to find any queens and new ant colonies for my collection. Well I flipped over one large stone and I found two new queens working together raising the same eggs. They were the same kind of ants and probably from the same colony from the same flight but I was just amazed that I saw this cause I've never seen this before. I of coursed got my large spoon and managed to get them both and all the eggs in one scoop without disturbing them or the little home they made. They are still working together and I'm hoping the first workers will emerge in the next few weeks.
That's a very interesting observation. Thanks for sharing.