23 replies to this topic

[DatGaster1306]

So I have a Lasius claviger queen and she won't take over any of the colonies I've offered.

They're both Tapinoma sessile and one colony has a queen, the other one hasn't for about a few days.

[Anhzor]

lasius can only take over host lasius species.

[DatGaster1306]

Source?

[wook]

Parasites can only take over with other species in same genus. Only exception here (as far as I know) is Polyergus.

This is in most cases because communication, appearance, behavior...

[Crystals]

If you can find a Lasius nest and steal some pupae or newly eclosed workers that will also work.

Almost any Lasius species will work, although some are better for different parasitic Lasius species. 

 

Like wook said, communication and scent are the main barriers.

[Mercutia]

Parasitic queens prefer specific host species colonies. You can check books like A Field Guide to the Ants of New England if you need sources of this.
 

In the wild, they need specific host colonies however in captivity it has be done introducing non preferred species with some success however all these instances were with colonies within the same genera at least.

[DatGaster1306]

Dang, I have yet to find Lasius where I live.

[wook]

That shouldn't be very hard as they're very common everywhere.

[DatGaster1306]

Where should I look?

[Anhzor]

if you found a parasite queen then there are host species around.

[Mercutia]

I had the same problem looking for Lasius species when I caught my own parasitic queen a while back. Most of the ones in my area are completely subterranean.

 

I did catch a few queens a couple weeks ago, but they're going to hibernate before starting a colony.

[wook]

In front of you, watch your step...They're everywhere

[Crystals]

I have had immense success in turning over bits of wood, especially old firewood.  I have also seen them under rocks.

[DatGaster1306]

Okay so I went out to some woods and found a Lasius colony, grabbed some workers and brood.

Should I hibernate the ants and my queen separately over winter and then introduce them in the spring OR just do it right now?

[Mercutia]

I'm not sure about whether to overwinter them or not, but here is a common way that ant keepers introduce host colonies to parasitic queens: http://landofants.wo...cial-parasites/

 

Maybe you could hibernate them while putting them together. The cold should make them much more docile and more inclined to accept one another without attacking.

[Crystals]

If you have pupae, those are the best.

If you add too many workers at once, they will likely attack the queen.

 

With Formica, I never succeeded in adding workers without them attacking the queen.  In the end I just added pupae that were ready to eclose and waited.

[DatGaster1306]

How about larvae?

[Crystals]

Larvae and eggs are accepted, but it takes the resources from the queen to raise them.

 

At this time of year, most species are getting ready to hibernate.  In my location, Lasius overwinter the larvae until spring.

 

You may want to research Lasius claviger and how they take over colonies.  I am not sure if they accept workers, if they kill a couple of workers to gain their scent first or how they act.

[Crystals]

From a bit of my research.

You can introduce workers, but it has to be done carefully.

 

Put the workers and queen into seperate vials and put them in the fridge for 3-5 hours.  Then move the workers into the queens vial and place them in the fridge for 2 weeks.

[wook]

From my experience, it's enough just to calm them down (less than 5 minutes in my case) and introduce one by one to the waken queen.

If she feels threaten by any, she will kill it. That's how you can be sure she is safe.