21 replies to this topic

[Antkeeper01]

So yesterday I ordered a 15-30 worker colony of Lasius americanus, a Stick nest small, and a 4 pack of OhioAnts Liquid feeders from Buckeye Myrmecology and the grand total was $60.17 USD and there's free shipping!  And I have been wanting Lasius for so long and my only queen died a few months ago. Sooooo YAY!

Edited by Antkeeper01, November 9 2021 - 6:28 AM.

[Antkeeper01]

OK it's been along time single I've updated this journal and I have some news... not bad news but good news I FINLLY MANAGED TO GET A PARASITIC LASIUS QUEEN! After search for month I finally found one she is Lasius cf. claviger I put her in the fridge when I got home from CO Springs. Oh and the L. Americans colony is doing well and they arrived safe and sound. They have a massive larva pile with 1 pupa so into the fridge for them when the last pupa encloses. That's all I have to say for now.

[Antkeeper01]

Feel free to count the workers.in this crappy pic:

Attached Images

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[ANTdrew]

It’s not that bad.

[futurebird]

I like the photo. Also do you think my mystery queen is the same species as your queen? https://www.formicul...us/#entry202362

[Antkeeper01]

I like the photo. Also do you think my mystery queen is the same species as your queen? https://www.formicul...us/#entry202362

I have no idea i'm pretty bad at ID but maybe

[Antkeeper01]

Ok update. So the parasite might be Lasius claviger x latipes but it's not confirmed. And the colony will not stop growing even though they need to.

[NicholasP]

Post a pic pls. I'll try to ID. I have some experience IDing ants. 

Great journal by the way!

Edited by NicholasP, November 9 2021 - 7:15 PM.

[Antkeeper01]

My Lasius americanus colony has had a good run but I am sad to say that when I took them out of diapause this morning the queen was on her back and her legs were crossed and her antennae were barely moving and her legs were twitching. Now only her antennae move. And this was my second favorite colony so... welp that sucks

[Antkeeper01]

These ants are dumb. The queen is alive, even though the workers had moved her to the trash pile

[Antkeeper01]

oh and the parasitic queen is still alive

[Antkeeper01]

Parasite is still alive her gaster was getting dangerously small so I gave her a drop of sugar water(I'm beginning to lose hope I will be able to obtain hosts for her) she is still in the fridge which is not something I'm very happy with. Lasius americanus has had a pretty good die off dropping them to 13 workers but they finally have like 5 pupae! I am scared that I won't be able to get then any insects as food for a while though because the snow is still like 6 inches to a foot deep. So they are currently running on sugar water. Any Wings Of Fire name suggestions? Also I forgot to mention that they have a nice sized egg pile.

[NicholasP]

Here's a tip for parasites that overwinter. What you want to do is feed them lots of sugar before hibernation and put them at the average hibernation temperature which I believe to be 45 degrees? If needed keep feeding sugars throughout hibernation. If you live in Michigan (Which I have a slight feeling you do because of the ants you keep) lasius should start coming out of hibernation after the last frost which for sure isn't now because the temps are dipping near 0 sometimes in Michigan still. If you have any questions let me know.

[Antkeeper01]

Here's a tip for parasites that overwinter. What you want to do is feed them lots of sugar before hibernation and put them at the average hibernation temperature which I believe to be 45 degrees? If needed keep feeding sugars throughout hibernation. If you live in Michigan (Which I have a slight feeling you do because of the ants you keep) lasius should start coming out of hibernation after the last frost which for sure isn't now because the temps are dipping near 0 sometimes in Michigan still. If you have any questions let me know.

Actually I live in Colorado and I found her overwintering under a rock so I wasn't able to give her sugars except for when I woke her up when I captured her

[NicholasP]

Oh. Ok. I'd say just keep feeding her sugars. And there should start being some Lasius that will emerge from the depths of their nest to heat up under rocks by now since in Denver it's in the 50s right now.

[Antkeeper01]

ok thanks for advice, it seems that it will snow(again) soon so that is both  good and bad

[Antkeeper01]

Parasite died from me not being able to get her hosts and americanus is alive but not thriving

Edited by Antkeeper01, April 18 2022 - 5:49 PM.

[Antkeeper01]

Today I ordered a 2 queen 5-50 worker colony of Lasius brevicornis from statesideants.com

[NicholasP]

I wish you good luck with your soon to be brevicornis! And I also wish you good luck finding more Lasius claviger as they're a very fun species to keep.

[Antkeeper01]

Thanks! If I am going to ger parasites I will try to buy them with hosts. I have learned from my mistakes