Help identifying a queen from Calgary

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Aparlia
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 5:27 pm
Location: Calgary

Help identifying a queen from Calgary

Post: # 36091Post Aparlia
Fri May 18, 2018 9:01 pm

My daughter really wants to start an ant colony and she thinks she caught a queen this afternoon!! We would love some help identifying her!

I have tried to attach the photo but I'm not sure it worked. I will try uploading again if it didn't work.

Aparlia
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 5:27 pm
Location: Calgary

Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary

Post: # 36092Post Aparlia
Fri May 18, 2018 9:17 pm

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1efQm-WW5S960tlTysmmitHVKzHmnu9t9/view?usp=drivesdk

She found the ant in our backyard near our lawn. There is a Grove of poplars nearby. We live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

MaxGen
Posts: 75
Joined: Mon May 29, 2017 9:26 am
Location: Toronto

Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary

Post: # 36093Post MaxGen
Fri May 18, 2018 9:20 pm

It's a queen - Camponotus possibly

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Batspiderfish
Posts: 3315
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
Location: Maine

Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary

Post: # 36094Post Batspiderfish
Fri May 18, 2018 9:28 pm

The picture is pretty blurry. I'd say Camponotus herculeanus, based on the modest shininess.
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.

Aparlia
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 5:27 pm
Location: Calgary

Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary

Post: # 36115Post Aparlia
Sat May 19, 2018 9:45 pm

Thanks for your help identifying her! Would this be a good species for us to start with? At what point should I order a formicarium? When she says eggs or when the eggs become larva or other?

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Batspiderfish
Posts: 3315
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
Location: Maine

Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary

Post: # 36117Post Batspiderfish
Sat May 19, 2018 10:10 pm

They can comfortably live in a test tube or two for at least a year.
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.

Aparlia
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 5:27 pm
Location: Calgary

Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary

Post: # 36141Post Aparlia
Sun May 20, 2018 10:07 am

Oh wow! I didn't realize they could live in the test tube for so long. Thank you.

Is this a good species to keep as a colony (if all goes well)?

CamponotusKing
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 7:09 pm
Location: Alberta

Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary

Post: # 36147Post CamponotusKing
Sun May 20, 2018 11:58 am

Camponotus is a very good beginner species to keep from what I have heard. It take a long time for the colony to become a good size. You have to be careful though once your colony has a foraging area or outworld because if the colony escapes it can do serious damage to your house. Make you put some escape prevention medium along the top of the outworld if it is not sealed.
5x Myrmica incompleta
Formica Podzolica colony with 17 queens (currently)
5x Wood Ant queens

Aparlia
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 5:27 pm
Location: Calgary

Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary

Post: # 36466Post Aparlia
Mon May 28, 2018 8:15 pm

We are trying not to interrupt the queen we caught while she lays eggs but of course we are very curious about how the process is going. We have her in a test tube in a dark drawer in our spare room.

How often can we check on her without stressing her?

Is there a way to check on her that will be the least invasive?

Thank you so much for answering all these questions while we try to figure this out!

Consonotibrinos
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon May 14, 2018 8:11 am
Location: Australia

Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary

Post: # 36587Post Consonotibrinos
Wed May 30, 2018 10:35 pm

There is one way (I think) is to put the Camponotus Queen in red light, or a red see through test tube holder, I’ve heard that Red light disturbs Ants much less :)

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