What the heck

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AntsInMB
Posts: 86
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2021 4:15 pm
Location: Winnipeg

What the heck

Post: # 94463Post AntsInMB
Sun Jul 10, 2022 12:00 pm

What the heck. Those are my only words.

Last night the Formica subsericea colonies in my yard had a nuptial flight as it had been very humid the past couple of days. I already have two founding queens of Formica subsericea each with 5-6 workers, but I thought what the heck, catching queens is fun! So I went to a ant colony that had 4 queens walking around and about 8 males. Then all of a sudden, catching my attention, was one of the males mating with one of the queens. What the heck! It was like in nest breeding! I am sure they were from the same colony! I doesn’t even make sense. The only ant species I know of that can do this in nest breeding are black crazy ants. Does anyone know why this would happen?



Now, there are also some explanations for what I saw,

1- the area where the colony was, is also just a breeding ground that the male and soon to be queens and they go there every year to mate. (Probably not)

2- the queens were giving off a sent attracting males from different colonies. They then mated and headed back into there birth nest where they layer eggs with there mother for the rest of there life. (makes more sense)

To back number two up, I have read multiple times that in Formica subsericea, they will sometimes allow mated females back into the nest.

What I’m really asking is, what do you guys think was happening? Do you think it was number 1, number 2, “in nest breeding” or something completely different? I greatly appreciate any response

Thanks In advance!👍🏻😃🐜♥️🐜

SolenopsisKeeper
Posts: 2402
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2021 11:41 am
Location: United States, Florida

Re: What the heck

Post: # 94467Post SolenopsisKeeper
Sun Jul 10, 2022 1:50 pm

Formica subsericea are polygynos. It is not uncommon for polygynos ants to mate near or in the nest.
When you accidentally reply to yourself…

AntsInMB
Posts: 86
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2021 4:15 pm
Location: Winnipeg

Re: What the heck

Post: # 94468Post AntsInMB
Sun Jul 10, 2022 3:20 pm

Oh ok cool! That makes a lot of sense, like what I said in number two kind of?

SolenopsisKeeper
Posts: 2402
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2021 11:41 am
Location: United States, Florida

Re: What the heck

Post: # 94481Post SolenopsisKeeper
Sun Jul 10, 2022 10:25 pm

AntsInMB wrote:
Sun Jul 10, 2022 3:20 pm
Oh ok cool! That makes a lot of sense, like what I said in number two kind of?
Either could work, they would probably be pulled to the nest, and infertile ones be killed.
When you accidentally reply to yourself…

AntsInMB
Posts: 86
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2021 4:15 pm
Location: Winnipeg

Re: What the heck

Post: # 94538Post AntsInMB
Mon Jul 11, 2022 1:56 pm

Wow

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