27 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

I just found a crap ton of Crematogaster queens! I could have caught as much as I wanted, but I stopped at five.

[Kaelwizard]

I think I found a ton of males in my friends pool today.

Edited by Kaelwizard, September 2 2019 - 11:24 AM.

[RushmoreAnts]

Lucky! Yesterday Lasius neoniger had their flights, and I caught eleven queens. One was even still mating at capture....  

 

Anyways, I hope I find Crematogaster this year. 

[Amazant]

So do lasius neonigers fly all at the same time or do I still have a chance to find some?

[Amazant]

Queen 1 is doing great with her first workers 12 or more with more coming in the next week which seems like a huge amount for a founding queen, I can’t tell but a few minutes ago it looked like she laid an egg. Her workers have also began foraging and I can see a pretty noticeable size difference in some of the workers probably because some more food than others.
Queen 2 is doing good to with a nice pile of pupae that will also come in the next few days to a week, she had a smaller brood pile than the first queen and she has a deformed or damaged gaster which doesn’t seem to hinder her at all.
Queen 3 the blackish silver queen with a lot more hairs is alive and she hasn’t laid any eggs, I’m guessing for now she doesn’t feel comfortable enough to lay eggs or she is waiting for hibernation to be over.

[Amazant]

The first crematogaster queen has moved into a new nest after several workers managed to escape and they are now with the colony as well and the queen has laid many more eggs which have already developed into larvae. The second queen has around 6 nanitics so far with a nice pile of pupae, the third queen is not doing anything yet, would it be possible to put her in hibernation early so that when she comes out and possible lays her first eggs she might have a colony to look at during winter and would it be safe?

[ANTdrew]

Last year, people told me not to hibernate my Crematogaster early because it could get them off cycle. Honestly, though, I don’t think putting them in the fridge a few weeks early would harm them in any way. It’s kind of a pain in the a** trying to keep queens warm in the winter though.

[Amazant]

Okay, I’ll wait until I stop seeing their Wild colonies foraging. I caught another queen she is like the 3rd queen and will probably wait till next year to lay eggs and they are in the drawer. My second queen is doing good I put together a more naturalistic formicarium terrarium looking thing. My first queen is doing really good and has a nice pile of brood.

Here is some pictures of the formicarium,