26 Queen Ants Caught

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ScottishAnt
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2021 12:28 pm
Location: UK

26 Queen Ants Caught

Post: # 94999Post ScottishAnt
Sun Jul 24, 2022 1:55 pm

So it was nuptial flight day here last week and I ended up catching 27 Queens (I believe all Lasius Niger).

One sadly died the next day (part of it's gaster was missing before it went into the tube) which has left me with 26.

21 are setup in their own test tube each.
2 are sharing a tube.
The final 3 are sharing a tube.

I have read previous comments about not allowing Queen's to share as it will cause problems down the line but I was intrigued to see how this will pan out. So far all ants seem happy and several have laid eggs already but none (from what I can see) in the tubes with more than one ant.

I am considering removing one of the ants in the tube of 3 but given that I have so many perhaps I just leave things as they are and see how it goes?

All comments / thoughts appreciated. Last year I caught 5 Ants and 4 had died by the end of January, the last made it through to April but sadly also died. I believe I checked on them too often and didn't keep them warm enough in the winter so will try and learn from those mistakes this year.

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

Re: 26 Queen Ants Caught

Post: # 95000Post SolenopsisKeeper
Sun Jul 24, 2022 1:57 pm

ScottishAnt wrote:
Sun Jul 24, 2022 1:55 pm
So it was nuptial flight day here last week and I ended up catching 27 Queens (I believe all Lasius Niger).

One sadly died the next day (part of it's gaster was missing before it went into the tube) which has left me with 26.

21 are setup in their own test tube each.
2 are sharing a tube.
The final 3 are sharing a tube.

I have read previous comments about not allowing Queen's to share as it will cause problems down the line but I was intrigued to see how this will pan out. So far all ants seem happy and several have laid eggs already but none (from what I can see) in the tubes with more than one ant.

I am considering removing one of the ants in the tube of 3 but given that I have so many perhaps I just leave things as they are and see how it goes?

All comments / thoughts appreciated. Last year I caught 5 Ants and 4 had died by the end of January, the last made it through to April but sadly also died. I believe I checked on them too often and didn't keep them warm enough in the winter so will try and learn from those mistakes this year.
I made similar mistakes with my first queens.

I would say two per tube max, and a few one per tubes. This way, it isn’t a 3 way fight and one won’t end up without legs and the rest dead.
When you accidentally reply to yourself…

ScottishAnt
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2021 12:28 pm
Location: UK

Re: 26 Queen Ants Caught

Post: # 95001Post ScottishAnt
Sun Jul 24, 2022 2:15 pm

SolenopsisKeeper wrote:
Sun Jul 24, 2022 1:57 pm
ScottishAnt wrote:
Sun Jul 24, 2022 1:55 pm
So it was nuptial flight day here last week and I ended up catching 27 Queens (I believe all Lasius Niger).

One sadly died the next day (part of it's gaster was missing before it went into the tube) which has left me with 26.

21 are setup in their own test tube each.
2 are sharing a tube.
The final 3 are sharing a tube.

I have read previous comments about not allowing Queen's to share as it will cause problems down the line but I was intrigued to see how this will pan out. So far all ants seem happy and several have laid eggs already but none (from what I can see) in the tubes with more than one ant.

I am considering removing one of the ants in the tube of 3 but given that I have so many perhaps I just leave things as they are and see how it goes?

All comments / thoughts appreciated. Last year I caught 5 Ants and 4 had died by the end of January, the last made it through to April but sadly also died. I believe I checked on them too often and didn't keep them warm enough in the winter so will try and learn from those mistakes this year.
I made similar mistakes with my first queens.

I would say two per tube max, and a few one per tubes. This way, it isn’t a 3 way fight and one won’t end up without legs and the rest dead.
Thanks. May transfer one of the three to another tube.

RespectforAnts
Posts: 76
Joined: Sun Feb 13, 2022 12:56 pm
Location: wisconsin

Re: 26 Queen Ants Caught

Post: # 95024Post RespectforAnts
Mon Jul 25, 2022 5:54 pm

I dont have nearly that many test tubes :lol:
C. Novaeboracensis (my favorite ant
C. Pennsylvannicus x2
Tetramorium Immigrans x2

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

Re: 26 Queen Ants Caught

Post: # 95029Post SolenopsisKeeper
Mon Jul 25, 2022 6:06 pm

RespectforAnts wrote:
Mon Jul 25, 2022 5:54 pm
I dont have nearly that many test tubes :lol:
Oh. It’s fine then :lol:
When you accidentally reply to yourself…

ScottishAnt
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2021 12:28 pm
Location: UK

Re: 26 Queen Ants Caught

Post: # 95111Post ScottishAnt
Wed Jul 27, 2022 11:12 am

RespectforAnts wrote:
Mon Jul 25, 2022 5:54 pm
I dont have nearly that many test tubes :lol:
I had bought 20 last year so quickly ordered more. Caught another queen today but this one still has her wings on so may just let her go.

DUCKANT
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Jul 28, 2021 6:19 pm
Location: CANADA

Re: 26 Queen Ants Caught

Post: # 95114Post DUCKANT
Wed Jul 27, 2022 1:42 pm

I don't think that is a very good idea for putting 3 queen ants in one tube as they may attack each other. I belive that that species is monogynous.
Keeping 1 colony unknown species determining :D :D :D :D :D

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

Re: 26 Queen Ants Caught

Post: # 95121Post SolenopsisKeeper
Wed Jul 27, 2022 1:57 pm

DUCKANT wrote:
Wed Jul 27, 2022 1:42 pm
I don't think that is a very good idea for putting 3 queen ants in one tube as they may attack each other. I belive that that species is monogynous.
They use plemeostrisis, aka founding peacefully until workers. In some scenarios, workers kill the queen in a later stage of the colony, but in Lasius, the queens kill each other at the start of workers.
When you accidentally reply to yourself…

ScottishAnt
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2021 12:28 pm
Location: UK

Re: 26 Queen Ants Caught

Post: # 95969Post ScottishAnt
Mon Aug 22, 2022 12:28 pm

Have had my first casualty unfortunately. Found one ant furiously tugging at the Cotton and trying to get out of the tube. I was considering letting it go but thought it may just need a new tube. It seemed happy for a couple of days but I just found it lying motionless on it's back. Perhaps it used up all it's energy trying to get out.

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

Re: 26 Queen Ants Caught

Post: # 96004Post SolenopsisKeeper
Tue Aug 23, 2022 10:40 pm

ScottishAnt wrote:
Mon Aug 22, 2022 12:28 pm
Have had my first casualty unfortunately. Found one ant furiously tugging at the Cotton and trying to get out of the tube. I was considering letting it go but thought it may just need a new tube. It seemed happy for a couple of days but I just found it lying motionless on it's back. Perhaps it used up all it's energy trying to get out.
Infertile queens do this or parasitic queens. What species?
When you accidentally reply to yourself…

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