11 replies to this topic

[steelplant]

I've a 4 queen Myrmica (most likely rubra) founding colony that now has several workers. Two of the queens still had a wing attached and may be unmated. They're the ones that foraged for food during founding. They seemed really happy and had chosen to be together from a group of 6 queens (the other two opted for solo founding). This morning I noticed two queens with locked mandibles fighting in the outworld. The one with a wing was trying to get away and out of the enclosure. After several hours of this, in a gap in the fighting, I managed to suck the bullied one out and put her in a new tube.

Did I do the right thing? Is she being chased off now there are workers? Any advice gratefully accepted thanks.

[Manitobant]

Some myrmica found through pleometrosis, and aren’t truly polygynous. This is probably the case here.

[steelplant]

Thanks Manitobant. Should I keep her alone and give her a chance to found herself in case she is mated, or let her go where I found her in a nuptial flight last August? My heart really goes out to the poor lady as she worked so hard for that colony.

Edit: just thought of a couple more options. Try her with a solo queen colony (have got one with workers, two still at larvae/pupae). Or if she isn't mated, raid her a few pupae from a wild colony? I can do this in a non invasive way. Well, as non invasive as possible.

Edited by steelplant, May 11 2021 - 7:04 AM.

[Kaelwizard]

Thanks Manitobant. Should I keep her alone and give her a chance to found herself in case she is mated, or let her go where I found her in a nuptial flight last August? My heart really goes out to the poor lady as she worked so hard for that colony.

If you want to try to found her go ahead. If you think the colony can spare some feel free to brood boost her.

[Manitobant]

Thanks Manitobant. Should I keep her alone and give her a chance to found herself in case she is mated, or let her go where I found her in a nuptial flight last August? My heart really goes out to the poor lady as she worked so hard for that colony.

I would give her a few of the workers from the old colony, as they should still accept her. If you can’t give her that or brood, it will be very hard for her to re-found.

Edited by Manitobant, May 11 2021 - 7:07 AM.

[steelplant]

Thanks guys. You replied so quickly I was editing my reply. I can't really get at the new workers as they aren't foraging yet, but could grab some wild pupae for sure.

[Manitobant]

Also, keep an eye on the three remaining queens. During pleometrosis, the weaker queens will gradually be eliminated until only one is left.

[steelplant]

Thanks Manitobant - will keep a close eye.

[Chickalo]

Some myrmica found through pleometrosis, and aren’t truly polygynous. This is probably the case here.

What's the difference?  Google was just giving the definition of polygynous.

edit:  nevermind just remembered its polygynous until workers choose one queen

Edited by Chickalo, May 11 2021 - 7:24 AM.

[steelplant]

Quick update on this plucky lady - she already has eggs! I'm almost hoping she's unmated and produces a male, as another Myrmica founding colony (1 queen, a few workers) has already produced a queen! First i even knew she existed, she was trying to fly in the outworld. Is she just practising, or does she think it's August already? I live on a boat, so it's always humid and comparatively warm. I didn't light a fire last night, so it went down to fridge temperature, in the hope that might stop her trying to fly, but i was out today so don't know if it worked. So anyway, the plan is to get a drone and try mating her in captivity. Any thoughts or advice gratefully received.

Edited by steelplant, May 14 2021 - 12:03 PM.

[ZTYguy]

Well if you get a male and female elate then just stick um together and wait.

[steelplant]

Yup that's the idea ztyguy. I did the same with her mother as she never had larvae after several months, though this could have been poor antkeeping as she was my first queen. I found a wild Myrmica drone harassing workers and grabbed him.