Help identifying a queen from Calgary
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Help identifying a queen from Calgary
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.
I have tried to attach the photo but I'm not sure it worked. I will try uploading again if it didn't work.
Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary
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.
She found the ant in our backyard near our lawn. There is a Grove of poplars nearby. We live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary
It's a queen - Camponotus possibly
- Batspiderfish
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- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
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Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary
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.
Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary
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?
- Batspiderfish
- Posts: 3315
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
- Location: Maine
Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary
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.
Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary
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)?
Is this a good species to keep as a colony (if all goes well)?
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- Posts: 8
- Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 7:09 pm
- Location: Alberta
Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary
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
Formica Podzolica colony with 17 queens (currently)
5x Wood Ant queens
Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary
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!
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!
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- Joined: Mon May 14, 2018 8:11 am
- Location: Australia
Re: Help identifying a queen from Calgary
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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