16 replies to this topic

[futurebird]

I found her on a NYC sidewalk, and at first thought she was a social parasite, due to what some people told me on reddit. 

 

 

 

But then some of you set me right. And she's settling in nicely. 

 

 

 

 

This journal will be her story and the story of her colony. 

 

 

 

 

Most recently she has sealed her nest

 

Edited by futurebird, August 12 2021 - 11:42 AM.

[futurebird]

I checked on her this morning and she has laid several eggs next to the pupae I gave her (out of guilt for thinking she was a parasite)
 
I'm always amazed how the pupae is such a strong cue for queens. She sees this test tube as "home" because "her" babies are there. She is always busy cleaning them and fussing over how they are arranged. 
 
I'm still not certain of her species. But I'm getting a new camera soon so I will have much better photos...

[futurebird]

Got some nice video of her with the eggs. 

 

[GreekAnts]

Maybe she is Lasius americanus? 

[futurebird]

I think the suggestion of Lasius emarginatus is probably correct. At some point I will do some close up photography of her ... and if she gets workers it should be pretty clear. 

 

Also...

 

New video! Every ant queen has the same nest building skills as a typical worker. I’m glad I was able to document some of the complexities of this task. For example to seal a nest from the inside you must first bring the materials inside. Still I couldn’t resist helping her.

 

 

[ANTdrew]

Nicely done.

[futurebird]

She is totally eating the pupae I gave her for brood boosting. But it looks like they are a nice and healthy snack given the growing egg pile. There are also a few larvae. 

 

[futurebird]

Guess who has her first natural worker!!!

 

[futurebird]

 

She has five daughters now. I think I'll wait a bit more before putting her in diapause. 

[futurebird]

She is the most spunky and cute queen ant of them all.

 

Always active and curious. 

 

 

I still don't know if she is lasius emarginatus or americanus... I do know she is NOT niger, neoniger, flavus.

[futurebird]

The orphans are still very active. 

 

They are still taking good care of the eggs and larva. 

 

 

And collecting food and feeding each other. 

 

 

I never did figure out what kind of lasius they are... thoughts now that you can see the workers?

 

Also, do lasius ever manage to make male alates after the queen is dead? That would be nice. 

 

 

I'm giving them the best food and letting them be a little cool, but not putting them in the fridge. 

[ANTdrew]

Wait, it was the emarginatus queen that died?

[futurebird]

yeah. That's why I was so bummed. She was doing so well. 

[ANTdrew]

Ah, crap.

[futurebird]

I'm getting over it. It will be that much more exciting when I find another queen ... someday. 

 

And I cheered myself up by making a tiktok 

 

 

Jay Z never imagined this I'd bet. 

[NicholasP]

I think the suggestion of Lasius emarginatus is probably correct. At some point I will do some close up photography of her ... and if she gets workers it should be pretty clear. 

 

Also...

 

New video! Every ant queen has the same nest building skills as a typical worker. I’m glad I was able to document some of the complexities of this task. For example to seal a nest from the inside you must first bring the materials inside. Still I couldn’t resist helping her.

 

 

Personally I think it's Lasius Aphidicola. On vacations to Michigan I've seen Aphidicola queens and they look like that because Aphidicola don't have clubbed antennae.

[NicholasP]

Oh shoot. Forget what I said. I'm sick right now so I completley mis ID'd it. Sorry about that.