10 replies to this topic

[LiMike]

Heyi Guys, I believe this little one to be a Lasius Umbratus but not sure. I found her and added some Lasius niger workers. She excepted the workers (I only put in 4) From what I could tell she killed one and used her pheromone to trick the others.  I have about 5 other lasius parasitic queens and they have done the same thing. All excepting the workers but no eggs. This little lady decided to lay some eggs even before I had a chance to add more workers. This is why I am questioning this queen being umbratus? (she produced eggs to easy) She is also very protective of her eggs. She doesn't want to walk away from them for anything

Thank you in advance 

 

Please excuse the first pic from the side view as my test tube seems to have some scratches from being carried around in my pocket until I found a queen for it.
 

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Edited by LiMike, August 6 2020 - 5:20 PM.

[Kaelwizard]

Lasius aphidicola. Lasius umbratus is European. They look identical though.

[LiMike]

Lasius aphidicola. Lasius umbratus is European. They look identical though.

Thank you very much Kaelwizard, I appreciate you identifying this queen for me!! So she is Lasius! She took to the lasius niger so fast and before I knew it she had eggs. I didn't want to introduce any more workers. I was afraid they would attack or at the very least stress her out. 

I have other parasitic Lasius that have excepted workers but no eggs yet. 

Thanks again 

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[Kaelwizard]

I believe they normally don’t lay eggs until they are with hosts for a year, or at least until after they hibernate once with hosts, but I may be wrong.

[RushmoreAnts]

I believe they normally don’t lay eggs until they are with hosts for a year, or at least until after they hibernate once with hosts, but I may be wrong.

Not for a whole year, no. They usually lay in a few weeks of accepting hosts.

[LiMike]

Thank you very much guys I appreciate you getting back to me on this. I have been feeding them as if they were a colony 2-3 times a week. From what I understand the queen does not have any fat storage to live off. how often should I feed them or should I leave them alone for two weeks
Thanks again!!

[AnthonyP163]

Thank you very much guys I appreciate you getting back to me on this. I have been feeding them as if they were a colony 2-3 times a week. From what I understand the queen does not have any fat storage to live off. how often should I feed them or should I leave them alone for two weeks
Thanks again!!

I feed my parasitic Lasius colonies twice a week. 

[LiMike]

Thank you Anthony, I appreciate your response. Do you do one feeding protein and the other sugar carbs? I usually try and do 2 protein 1 sugar carb.

[AnthonyP163]

I typically do both twice a week, at the same time.

[LiMike]

Thank you very much Anthony. How long did it take your parasitic lasius to start laying eggs after excepting workers?

[AnthonyP163]

Thank you very much Anthony. How long did it take your parasitic lasius to start laying eggs after excepting workers?

I think it was 3-5weeks. You can see my Parasitic Lasius journal that should be linked in my signature below.