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Queen?

Started By Jimmydave937911 , Jun 14 2020 10:36 AM

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10 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Jimmydave937911 - Posted June 14 2020 - 10:36 AM

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Hi all,

Pretty sure that if this one is a queen it’s a Lasius Niger but as this is actually the first flying ant I’ve ever caught I don’t actually know if it’s a queen? Not the best pics either

Thanks in advance

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#2 Offline Broncos - Posted June 14 2020 - 10:38 AM

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It is a queen for sure. But I am not 100% sure on the species. Although I do think it is lasius niger

Currently Keeping:

Pogonomyrmex Californicus Bicolor & Concolor

Pogonomyrmex Subnitidius

Camponotus Sansabeanus

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#3 Offline Jimmydave937911 - Posted June 14 2020 - 10:46 AM

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Don’t know if she’s mated just found her wandering in the grass

Edited by Jimmydave937911, June 14 2020 - 10:47 AM.

#4 Offline TechAnt - Posted June 14 2020 - 10:54 AM

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That is a queen, Lasius sp. for sure. Looks like niger though. If she sheds wings, it is a good sing she is fertile, but not guaranteed. If she lays eggs in a pile and cares for them, then it’s also a good chance she is fertile.
My Ants:
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen

#5 Offline Jimmydave937911 - Posted June 14 2020 - 11:41 AM

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We had a bit of a disaster in the test tube... there was a large droplet of water near the cotton wool. Her wings actually got stuck to the test tube itself!

#6 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted June 14 2020 - 11:58 AM

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Unfortunately, that happens a lot with queens with wings.


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#7 Offline Jimmydave937911 - Posted June 14 2020 - 12:34 PM

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I’ve had to swap her into another test tube and everything! I bet it turns out she hasn’t even mated!
I know occasionally queens don’t pull their wings off even if they have mated, but is there an average kind of time it takes a queen to pull them off if they have?

#8 Offline BitT - Posted June 14 2020 - 2:05 PM

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I think it just depends on the personality of the queen. I had 30 something fire ant queens and several still had their wings. Each one was fertile and ended up with workers. Some queens chewed their wings off after eggs, some after workers. One kept her wings even after she had several workers. I have other species that are keeping their wings and they have eggs and/or larva at the moment. Best way to know is to just stick her in a test tube and wait.


Edited by BitT, June 14 2020 - 2:07 PM.

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#9 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted June 14 2020 - 6:00 PM

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There is someone on here with a Camponotus colony where the queen has wings even though there are probably 20-30 workers (I don't remember the exact amount, or if it was even stated). Some queens just keep them.


#10 Offline TechAnt - Posted June 14 2020 - 6:10 PM

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Edited by TechAnt, June 14 2020 - 6:12 PM.

My Ants:
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen

#11 Offline ANTdrew - Posted June 14 2020 - 6:26 PM

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There is someone on here with a Camponotus colony where the queen has wings even though there are probably 20-30 workers (I don't remember the exact amount, or if it was even stated). Some queens just keep them.

I am one of these people. Many mated queens don’t shed their wings. You’ll just need to wait and see.
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