Whitney, NB - 1st time keeper

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LeFawnDah
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2018 11:33 pm
Location: New Brunswick

Whitney, NB - 1st time keeper

Post: # 51708Post LeFawnDah
Mon Oct 01, 2018 4:44 pm

Hey everyone ! First timer here, and I live in New Brunswick.

No queens yet because I decided to start a colony recently. I am waiting until spring to catch my first one. Now I've been looking at species in New Brunswick, and I'm wondering what your thoughts are on ants for a beginner! I've read we have fire ants in my city, and pharaoh ants in my province, and I've taken an interest in them.

Look forward to your input!

AntsDakota
Posts: 1283
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:22 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Whitney, NB - 1st time keeper

Post: # 51932Post AntsDakota
Fri Oct 05, 2018 3:43 pm

LeFawnDah wrote:
Mon Oct 01, 2018 4:44 pm
Hey everyone ! First timer here, and I live in New Brunswick.

No queens yet because I decided to start a colony recently. I am waiting until spring to catch my first one. Now I've been looking at species in New Brunswick, and I'm wondering what your thoughts are on ants for a beginner! I've read we have fire ants in my city, and pharaoh ants in my province, and I've taken an interest in them.

Look forward to your input!
The best starter species in temperate North America are from the genera-
Lasius
Formica
Camponotus
Tetramorium
Solenopsis (molesta, definately not invicta or geminata)
Temnothorax
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

AntsDakota
Posts: 1283
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:22 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Whitney, NB - 1st time keeper

Post: # 51933Post AntsDakota
Fri Oct 05, 2018 3:45 pm

Also, I wouldn't be too certain that fire ants, from the genus Solenopsis, and pharaoh ants, Monomorium pharaonis, are very common in temperate regions. They are strictly tropical species, and survive up north by living in heated buildings. Both species are also not beginners.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

AntsDakota
Posts: 1283
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:22 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Whitney, NB - 1st time keeper

Post: # 51934Post AntsDakota
Fri Oct 05, 2018 3:46 pm

Solenopsis molesta, although from the same genus as fire ants, are called grease ants, and are easy to keep, unlike their fire ant relatives. They are also very tiny, and hard to see. I have a medium sized colony of about 1,000 or so.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

LeFawnDah
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2018 11:33 pm
Location: New Brunswick

Re: Whitney, NB - 1st time keeper

Post: # 52788Post LeFawnDah
Sun Oct 21, 2018 6:01 pm

AntsDakota wrote:
Fri Oct 05, 2018 3:43 pm
The best starter species in temperate North America are from the genera-
Lasius
Formica
Camponotus
Tetramorium
Solenopsis (molesta, definately not invicta or geminata)
Temnothorax
Thanks for the input, I'll look into those !

As for the fire ants, I did some reading and there have sightings in my city, but the question is,are they still here?

But I'll stick to the beginner species :D

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

Re: Whitney, NB - 1st time keeper

Post: # 52800Post MaxGen
Mon Oct 22, 2018 9:20 am

The fire ants sightings in your area are most probably Myrmica rubra

AntsDakota
Posts: 1283
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:22 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Whitney, NB - 1st time keeper

Post: # 52803Post AntsDakota
Mon Oct 22, 2018 4:24 pm

Yes, Myrmica rubra are easily mistaken for Solenopsis invicta, especially to people who don't care about ants and/or think every red ant is a fire ant.

Here are some examples of red ants that are not fire ants

Myrmica sp.
Pogonomyrmex sp.
Acromyrmex/Atta sp.
some Pheidole sp.
Aphhaenogaster sp.
some Camponotus sp.
Xenomyrmex
some Formica are half red
Myrmecia sp.
some Myrmecina sp.
"God made every kind of wild beasts and every kind of livestock and every kind of creeping things;" (including ants) "and God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25

LeFawnDah
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2018 11:33 pm
Location: New Brunswick

Re: Whitney, NB - 1st time keeper

Post: # 57060Post LeFawnDah
Mon Apr 08, 2019 8:55 am

AntsDakota wrote:
Mon Oct 22, 2018 4:24 pm
Yes, Myrmica rubra are easily mistaken for Solenopsis invicta, especially to people who don't care about ants and/or think every red ant is a fire ant.

Here are some examples of red ants that are not fire ants

Myrmica sp.
Pogonomyrmex sp.
Acromyrmex/Atta sp.
some Pheidole sp.
Aphhaenogaster sp.
some Camponotus sp.
Xenomyrmex
some Formica are half red
Myrmecia sp.
some Myrmecina sp.
Sorry for the delay, I was hibernating. I appreciate your input, I'm looking forward to the coming summer months to find my first Queen. :)

LeFawnDah
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2018 11:33 pm
Location: New Brunswick

Re: Whitney, NB - 1st time keeper

Post: # 64409Post LeFawnDah
Wed Sep 25, 2019 5:17 pm

I saw my first queen last month, and unfortunately I was not ready to catch her. Going to try my luck in the forrest this week while temperatures are still good.

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