8 replies to this topic

[Deanmontague]

Hi guys

As title suggests - one of my 3 colonies (c. Herculeanus, L Niger and L flavus) the flavus queen randomly died about a week ago. I saw she wasn’t moving when stuck to the cotton wool - when I poked her she fell on her back like a stiff spider. I left her a week while I was away in case she was playing dead (lol I know) and she was still the same. I wasn’t surprised as she was doing really badly - only managed 5 workers of which 2 I accidentally drowned in honey but she never recovered or hatched more workers since.

I think it’ll be my last flavus queen I keep as it’s the third that’s died randomly now. The first two didn’t even get a worker. My niger queen which I caught in July has 20-30 workers already and my herculeanus is up to 8 but probably about to hibernate.

Question is I feel bad for these 3 remaining flavus workers, what are the chances I can introduce them (and the remaining brood) to the Niger colony and they’ll be accepted?

The alternative is to introduce them to the large colony in my garden which I can access under a solar light touching the entrance to the nest when I move it.

Are either options likely to be successful? Or do I need to kill them ethically?

[azzaaazzzz00]

You could probably introduce the workers and brood to another colony. I don't think a wild colony would be as good as one you have in captivity, but i don't know for sure

[Deanmontague]

I should have noted the wild large colony in my garden is another flavus colony so same species, and my captivity colony is lasius Niger

[azzaaazzzz00]

Oh then the wild colony might just be the better option in that case

[Deanmontague]

Anyone have any other thoughts on this ?

[ANTdrew]

My opinion may be a bit harsh, but I don’t think it’s worth bothering with at this point. I’d euthanize the workers and chalk it up to experience.

[Triggerhippy888]

The Lasius Niger would definitely just kill those workers the wild colony might accept them but it's a real long shot, they'd probably attack them but also your workers would probably avoid the wild colony and not even try to enter.

[Deanmontague]

Damn that’s a shame. I feel bad for them I might try to introduce the workers to the flavus colony in the garden and the brood to the lasius Niger test tube…

[ANTdrew]

I guess you’ve got nothing to lose.