3 replies to this topic

[NewAgeRetroHippie]

Hi guys, I'm new here and I have a question about starting my first colony.

I found a male in between my front door and the storm door and I put it with some new queens that I got from a local colony (they hadn't flown yet).  Will they mate?  Did I have to wait for the new queens to fly before they can mate?

Thanks,
-Nolan

[LC3]

Most ants will not mate when you put a male and a female together and large mature colonies in captivity may attempt a nuptial flight but it's not likely they will mate with each other even breaching a nest to get the alates out won't get them to mate either. Ants mate en mass during certain periods during the year and conditions must be just right for them to come out not to mention most ants mate in the air or find partners in the air. Even though it's highly unlikely they would mate its not unheard. Some species like Myrmica and Argentine ants are said to mate within the nest or at the entrance, these species are also polygynous.

 

(reply from another thread you asked the question on)

[NightsWebs]

I tried something similar between April and June 2015.  I captured three females from a nest and two weeks later a nuptial flight occurred and I captured seven males , I have no idea what nests the males came from, and introduced them with the female alates whom I also had twenty or so workers.  I ensured plenty of food and water  and nothing happened except within another month all the males had died and not a single egg was in sight! 

[William. T]

Sorry, most ants need to be stimulated before flying. They need high air currents to mate in the air, and it seems the queen fly very fast in the air so the most athletically gened male can mate.