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Nuptial Flight: No Gaster?

Started By teek , Jun 26 2019 9:26 AM

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9 replies to this topic

#1 Offline teek - Posted June 26 2019 - 9:26 AM

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I am curious if anybody has experienced this...

This morning (around Phoenix, AZ) I was walking and saw about a dozen, or two, queen skates walking around.... And NONE of them had their gasters

Any ideas?

#2 Offline VoidElecent - Posted June 26 2019 - 10:18 AM

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I've seen this with Solenopsis molesta. If I'm not mistaken, when nuptial flight conditions occur and colonies are not completely prepared, gasters of queens can get caught in the inadequately excavated nest entrances and the rest of the queen will just fly off.


Edited by VoidElecent, June 26 2019 - 10:23 AM.

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#3 Offline Manitobant - Posted June 26 2019 - 10:21 AM

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I’ve seen this before with Formica subsericea so it can’t just be solenopsis. I am really curious as to why this happens.
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Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#4 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted June 26 2019 - 11:41 AM

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I've noticed that sometimes the males don't detach and when he tries to fly away, he takes her abdomen with him....

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#5 Offline smares - Posted June 26 2019 - 10:41 PM

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Wow! Dang

#6 Offline Herdo - Posted June 27 2019 - 1:40 AM

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I am curious if anybody has experienced this...
This morning (around Phoenix, AZ) I was walking and saw about a dozen, or two, queen skates walking around.... And NONE of them had their gasters
Any ideas?


I've seen this occasionally, but not in the manner you're describing with ALL the alates missing their gaster. That's really puzzling.

I've noticed that sometimes the males don't detach and when he tries to fly away, he takes her abdomen with him....


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#7 Offline Barristan - Posted June 27 2019 - 1:58 AM

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My guess would be that a bird or another animal just bit off the most nutritious part of the ant queens, the gaster and dropped the rest. The ant queen might still live for some time even without a gaster.


Edited by Barristan, June 27 2019 - 2:51 AM.

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#8 Offline enflamingo - Posted June 27 2019 - 6:48 AM

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My guess would be that a bird or another animal just bit off the most nutritious part of the ant queens, the gaster and dropped the rest. The ant queen might still live for some time even without a gaster.

someone told me it was a dragonfly. i went on a camping trip and saw 2 C. Novaeboracensis queens and 1 male without gasters and saw a bit of dragonflies around.


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x1 Tetramorium Immigrans Queen(s)

x1 Tetramorium Immigrans Colony

x1 Tapinoma Sessile Colony

#9 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted June 29 2019 - 1:16 PM

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I've seen this as well. I would assume they wouldn't be able to survive too long without a heart or a stomach. :blink:


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Tetramorium immigrans

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Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

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Myrmica sp.

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#10 Offline DJoseph98 - Posted July 1 2019 - 5:46 AM

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'Tis only a flesh wound 😂
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Current Colonies

1 x Camponotus nearcticus (Monogynous), 1 x Crematogaster cerasi (Monogynous), 1 x Formica cf. subsericea (Polygynous Two-Queen), 1 x Formica cf. pallidefulva (Monogynous, single worker),

1 x Lasius cf. americanus (Pleometrotic Founding, now Monogynous), 1 x Tetramorium immigrans (Monogynous)

 

Current Founding Units

1 x Formica cf. subsericea (Monogynous)

 

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