13 replies to this topic

[manik]

hi everyone! i was just watching an ants Canada video, where he is talking about his ants nuptial flights, I'm not there yet, i mean I'm still waiting on my first queen ever but i though it would be something important to know, thanks for all the help!

[manik]

sorry for the double post, i just posted it once but it lagged, could be that the forum system is pulling more thant the server can handle this is also why some times you get an error when trying to access the forums some times,  i haven use this exact system in a long time but i think it comes by default with a cache system, if you turn it on it will pre load save data from the site and it should fix that issue

[gs5248]

I am not really sure what exactly you mean by, "how to deal with nuptial flights". However, I will say that having test tubes or containers on you at all time can help a TON. There have been a lot of times when I saw a queen and did not have a container. Also, looking on trails where a body of water is near would not a be a bad idea either. I hope you catch some queens this season! 

Edited by gs5248, February 26 2021 - 5:17 PM.

[antsandmore]

I am not really sure what exactly you mean by, "how to deal with nuptial flights". However, I will say that having test tubes or containers on you at all time can help a TON. There have been a lot of times when I saw a queen and did not have a container. Also, looking on trails where a body of water is near would not a be a bad idea either. I hope you catch some queens this season! 

getting in contact with local anters is also a good idea.

[gs5248]

I agree.

[ANTdrew]

I think he is asking about how to deal with if your colony tries to have a flight.
My general answer is not to worry about it because almost nobody gets to that point. Read through the journals on here, and you’ll see how few colonies get to producing alates, much less having a flight.

[gs5248]

Ohhhh. That is what he meant. Well in that case, you don't really need to worry about it. While they will eventually produce alates, ants in captivity almost never have actual flights, since the conditions usually are not correct. Though if you have a natural set-up I think it could happen.

[AntaholicAnonymous]

I had a (badly built) natural setup for lasius niger and they didn't produce alates in the 3 years I had them.
My Manica Rubida setup even tho it doesn't look very natural to us, does have the perfect conditions to mimic their natural environment. They are also next to an open window so they may need to smell the love in the air (pheromones from other colonies) to even think about producing them. Not sure how they decide.

I'll come back to this thread if anything like that ever happens

[DDD101DDD]

If you're afraid of a flight you can just put a lid on the setup.

[Chickalo]

I'm pretty sure most people never get alates, even from huge colonies.  Even if they do, I doubt they'll get the enviormental ques to release them.  If you really wanted to, you could try to either A.  connect an outworld to the outside via tubes or B.  Bring the entire setup outside, and take off the lid (make sure there's still barrier aplied to the sides so workers don't escape!), so they can fly out and mate with outside colonies.

[gs5248]

I had a (badly built) natural setup for lasius niger and they didn't produce alates in the 3 years I had them.
My Manica Rubida setup even tho it doesn't look very natural to us, does have the perfect conditions to mimic their natural environment. They are also next to an open window so they may need to smell the love in the air (pheromones from other colonies) to even think about producing them. Not sure how they decide.

I'll come back to this thread if anything like that ever happens

How many workers are there? It is possible the colony is not big enough. 

[AntaholicAnonymous]

I had a (badly built) natural setup for lasius niger and they didn't produce alates in the 3 years I had them.
My Manica Rubida setup even tho it doesn't look very natural to us, does have the perfect conditions to mimic their natural environment. They are also next to an open window so they may need to smell the love in the air (pheromones from other colonies) to even think about producing them. Not sure how they decide.

I'll come back to this thread if anything like that ever happens

How many workers are there? It is possible the colony is not big enough.

The lasius colony was well into the thousands and in year 4 when I had to release them. I couldn't keep them from breaking out with the baby powder mixture I used back then.

The manica rubida are (I have to guess because they live in soil) anywhere from 200 to 250 workers judging by nest size and above ground activity so I don't expect alates until next year if they should ever decide to make some.
I'd probably attempt to do a release of their alates in the wild if I could match it with wild colonies nuptial flights.

[ANTdrew]

I envision putting a stick standing up some how and poking up above the rim of the formicarium when the lid is off, so the alates could climb up and launch off. You'd have to carry the setup outdoors at the right time probably over multiple days to time it right. It would be pretty awe inspiring if you could get it to work.

[Kaelwizard]

I envision putting a stick standing up some how and poking up above the rim of the formicarium when the lid is off, so the alates could climb up and launch off. You'd have to carry the setup outdoors at the right time probably over multiple days to time it right. It would be pretty awe inspiring if you could get it to work.

Just make sure it doesn't lean against the sides lol. Would be a shame to come back to an empty nest and outworld.