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Introducing a new queen to a colony

Started By KadinB , Aug 12 2021 2:45 PM

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14 replies to this topic

#1 Offline KadinB - Posted August 12 2021 - 2:45 PM

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So I have this Pogonomyrmex rugosus colony with no queen (she died). Small colony with first workers. Would I be able to put another Pogonomyrmex rugosus queen with them and will they accept it? The colony has2-3 workers atm and will soon have their 4th. Thanks you!

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Edited by KadinB, August 12 2021 - 3:15 PM.

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#2 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted August 12 2021 - 3:14 PM

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Accept* (sorry, had to), but to answer your question, probably. If I were you I would chill them first so they are a bit lethargic. The fact that she is being introduced to nanitics rather than a larger colony with full sized workers may make it easier as well. If things start getting ugly, you can always just give her the brood and let the workers die off (or feed them to other ants/pets).

Edited by Kaelwizard, August 12 2021 - 3:15 PM.

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#3 Offline KadinB - Posted August 12 2021 - 3:16 PM

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Accept* (sorry, had to), but to answer your question, probably. If I were you I would chill them first so they are a bit lethargic. The fact that she is being introduced to nanitics rather than a larger colony with full sized workers may make it easier as well. If things start getting ugly, you can always just give her the brood and let the workers die off (or feed them to other ants/pets).

smh I do that sometimes. I fixed it. Thank you how long could I freeze them for?

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#4 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted August 12 2021 - 3:18 PM

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Accept* (sorry, had to), but to answer your question, probably. If I were you I would chill them first so they are a bit lethargic. The fact that she is being introduced to nanitics rather than a larger colony with full sized workers may make it easier as well. If things start getting ugly, you can always just give her the brood and let the workers die off (or feed them to other ants/pets).

smh I do that sometimes. I fixed it. Thank you how long could I freeze them for?

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In a similar thread (exact same situation, but Camponotus) someone said 5 minutes I believe. I'm not sure if Pogonomyrmex would be as tolerant of the cold, however. I would say no more than 5 minutes because of that.

#5 Offline KadinB - Posted August 12 2021 - 3:19 PM

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Ok I’ll try 3 minutes. Thank you a lot!!

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#6 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted August 12 2021 - 3:20 PM

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Ok I’ll try 3 minutes. Thank you a lot!!

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Sorry, they said 10 minutes, not 5. You can probably do longer than that.

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#7 Offline KadinB - Posted August 12 2021 - 3:21 PM

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Ok I’ll try 3 minutes. Thank you a lot!!

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Sorry, they said 10 minutes, not 5. You can probably do longer than that.

alright thank you!

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#8 Offline strawnkayden1 - Posted August 12 2021 - 3:27 PM

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Ok I’ll try 3 minutes. Thank you a lot!!

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Sorry, they said 10 minutes, not 5. You can probably do longer than that.
alright thank you!

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In the uncle milton ant farm they give you workers and i had them froze for 20 minutes and they were fine. I think they were in some sort of container though and I would probably only go for 10 minutes because I usually leave ants in the fridge for 30 minutes if I need a specimen.

#9 Offline KadinB - Posted August 12 2021 - 3:27 PM

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Ok I’ll try 3 minutes. Thank you a lot!!

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Sorry, they said 10 minutes, not 5. You can probably do longer than that.
alright thank you!

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In the uncle milton ant farm they give you workers and i had them froze for 20 minutes and they were fine. I think they were in some sort of container though and I would probably only go for 10 minutes because I usually leave ants in the fridge for 30 minutes if I need a specimen.

oh that’s useful I’ll do that. Thanks

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#10 Offline KadinB - Posted August 12 2021 - 4:42 PM

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I did it wish them luck. I put them in there for 5min and I think 1 worker out of 2 may have died or is still stunned. I’ll check on them later tonight to make sure they accepted the queen.

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#11 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted August 12 2021 - 4:59 PM

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Keep fridge temps in mind when doing this. Forgot to mention that.

#12 Offline KadinB - Posted August 12 2021 - 4:59 PM

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Keep fridge temps in mind when doing this. Forgot to mention that.

lol to late it’s fine

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#13 Offline aznphenom - Posted May 19 2022 - 7:11 AM

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So what happened to the queen in this?

I am looking to introduce a Camponotus queen to a queenless colony.

Keeps: Camponotus, Tetra

Wants (Please reach out if you have them for sale if you’re in the US): Acromyrmex Sp., Atta Sp., Cephalotes Sp., Myrmecocystus Sp (Prefer Mexicanus), Odontomachus Sp. (Prefer Desertorum), Pachycondyla Sp., Pheidole Sp (Prefer Rhea. The bigger the better. Not the tiny bicarinata), Pogonomyrmex Sp (Prefer Badius)., Pseudomyrmex Sp. (Prefer the cute yellow ones)

#14 Offline OiledOlives - Posted May 19 2022 - 9:28 AM

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So what happened to the queen in this?

I am looking to introduce a Camponotus queen to a queenless colony.

I dropped a C. pennsylvanicus queen into a group of 25 C. pennsylvanicus workers and she was accepted, though unfortunately infertile. Camponotus combination is still being experimented with (mostly by me, it seems) but as long as there aren't too many workers and you introduce it into the outworld rather than the nest it should work.

Youtube: Atlantic Ants - YouTube
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