13 replies to this topic

[Tpro4]

Will a group of queenless worker p. rugosus accept a queen?

[James C. Trager]

This is really a keeping ants question, so you might get more response in that forum.

 

Anyway - Maybe it will work, but best to try it at a lower temperature, as in chill them down in the refrigerator, and then keep them inthere for a few days after placing together. 

[dspdrew]

I've done this with other species including other Pogonomyrmex species before, and it worked. Sometimes it doesn't work though. I'm not sure what makes it work sometimes, and not other times. Also, when I did this, the group of workers were nanitics and it was a relatively small group. I can't recall if I've ever done it with more mature workers.

 

A lot  of times when I do things like this, they fight for up to three days usually, and whoever is left alive all become friends after that, so sometimes it's kind of a matter of luck. I've done it with honeypot ants quite a bit. Usually the nanitics are too small to hurt the queen, and the queen is too slow and clumsy to ever get any good bites in on the workers, so they end up lasting a few days until they all except each other. I'm sure if there were a lot of workers, they would have been able to destroy the queen.

 

Like Dr. Trager suggested, I do cool them down a lot of the time as well.

[drtrmiller]

From everything I've read (unfortunately I can't recall where, as to cite), colony-scent association is formed within a few days of eclosing.

 

After this learning period, it generally can not be reprogrammed, in many species.

[dspdrew]

Yeah, in my experience it seems after about three days they all have the same scent, because I rarely see them continue to fight after that. The only time I do, is when I'm trying to put different species together; sometimes those just never accept each other.

[Ants4fun]

From everything I've read (unfortunately I can't recall where, as to cite), colony-scent association is formed within a few days of eclosing.
 
After this learning period, it generally can not be reprogrammed, in many species.

There are so many exceptions to this rule... A lot of us have gotten even older workers to accept a new queen.

[Tpro4]

okay thanks i'm gonna risk it

[AntsNY]

This has recently been done successfully by placing the queen in a water plugged tube with screen over one end into the foraging area of the workers.

 

After a few days they started hanging around outside the screen of the tube with her. Then the screen was removed and they took her in as a new queen.

[dspdrew]

This has recently been done successfully by placing the queen in a water plugged tube with screen over one end into the foraging area of the workers.

 

After a few days they started hanging around outside the screen of the tube with her. Then the screen was removed and they took her in as a new queen.

 

I've always wanted to try that with colonies that were less likely to get along, like really large ones. I was even thinking of designing a utility just for that if it worked well.

[dermy]

Drew like the queen clip things they use for beekeeping but make one specially for ants?

[William. T]

That's like with beekeeping; when the queen dies, the beekeeper buys a new queen in a screened container with attendants and food. At first, they is confusion within the colony, but gradually the workers accept her. There is a small sugary plug, which is eaten slowly by the workers, and when it is done, the colony has a new queen.

[Crystals]

I have done this with Camponotus several times now.  After about 3-4 months away from their queen, they will accept any queen they find.  The workers with the live queen usually are more of a problem than the queen herself.

Occasionally, with workers that may be a bit aggressive, I seperate them with organza mesh or steel mesh.

 

I plan to try with Formica when the queens fly in August, as I have a bunch of workers that lost their queen in hibernation.

[LC3]

I have done this with Camponotus several times now.  After about 3-4 months away from their queen, they will accept any queen they find.  The workers with the live queen usually are more of a problem than the queen herself.

Occasionally, with workers that may be a bit aggressive, I seperate them with organza mesh or steel mesh.

 

I plan to try with Formica when the queens fly in August, as I have a bunch of workers that lost their queen in hibernation.

Camponotus seem to be more social. Found this article a few months ago about an experiment conducted on C.fellah really needs more light shined on to it.What Happens to a Lonely Ant? - The New Yorker best article I can find. dunno what happened to the original.

[Tpro4]

i got one of those uncle milton ant farns and was gonna try those with the queen i have, i placed the crematogaster i have left in there and they moved in niceley and are excavating the dirt.