13 replies to this topic

[Acutus]

Got my Honey Bees today and was getting my hive boxes and all ready to set out and when I open them in the garage a Winged Queen C.  pennsylvanicus dropped out with some workers. 

So then I switch from Bee mode to Ant mode capture the Queen and about 50-75 workers (No brood at all????) then when trying to switch back to Bee mode I find another Winged Queen same species with some workers. In the same bee equipment stuff!!

 

WTF????

 

What should I do?

 

Will post pics as soon as I can but I'm still trying to setup the bees!!! LOL!!!

[TennesseeAnts]

There must be a mature colony in there. Those winged queens are not fertile. Find the real queen, get as many workers as possible and put them in a container lined with baby powder + rubbing alcohol mixture. You will have a really active colony!

Good luck!

[Acutus]

Well the only other place to look is the stack of bee stuff next to the stack I opened so I'll go check it. Cross your fingers!

[TennesseeAnts]

There're crossed!

[Acutus]

Nope Nada!! Nothing in the other stack at all. I've got everything in there. Here's pics.

 

 

Queen #1

 

 

Queen #2

 

 

All Workers

Edited by Acutus, May 11 2019 - 1:23 PM.

[Acutus]

The only other workers I have are like 5 I caught with the second Queen. I actually had six but I dropped one in the large container with the other workers and they didn't fight.

 

??????? Now what???????

[TennesseeAnts]

They must be in the bee boxes.

[rbarreto]

The queens are definitely fertile, just probably not mated.

[TennesseeAnts]

Not fertilized. That's what I meant.

[Acutus]

This is my spare bee equipment. I was setting up 2 brand new colonies. There is nothing in any of the boxes except the ones I just moved and put bees in.

 

I guess all I can do is put everything together and see what happens.

 

Is it possible a colony got displaced and was seeking temporary shelter there? this equipment was used last year so they couldn't have been there except maybe since last fall.

[AntsBC]

You've found part of a C. pennsylvanicus satellite nest. The queens you've found haven't mated yet and were preparing for their nuptial flights.

 

In the wild, large colonies like this set up extra, secondary nests once they outgrow their original nest. Since your portion of the colony will be unable to reproduce, you could feed them until they all eventually die out or just put them down humanely. 

Edited by AntsBC, May 11 2019 - 2:48 PM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Satellite nests are annoying. When you think you find a colony, you get disappointed.

[Acutus]

You've found part of a C. pennsylvanicus satellite nest. The queens you've found haven't mated yet and were preparing for their nuptial flights.

In the wild, large colonies like this set up extra, secondary nests once they outgrow their original nest. Since your portion of the colony will be unable to reproduce, you could feed them until they all eventually die out or just put them down humanely.

Thanks! That totally makes sense. Sucks. But makes sense. Lol

[Acutus]

So all ants were put into a makeshift formicarium. We'll see what happens. I'm sure it was a satellite but just in case. 😁 Good news is that somewhere close by is a big colony full of Queens just waiting to fly, mate, and get caught! 👍👍

Thanks Everyone for your help!

Edited by Acutus, May 11 2019 - 4:53 PM.