26 replies to this topic

[Aramantir]

Hello everyone, I just found a queen outside. I bring her home and want to be sure that I'm doing everything right. I put her in container, added some flakes and paper towels, I made one towel wet and formed a ball from it, rest of towels I put at the right side of container. I will attach pictures for better understanding.
I want to hear your opinions and tips on this.
Also I made 2 little holes, so she won't suffocate, keep in mind that I'm just a beginner but wish to grow a colony.
I'm opened to any suggestions or conversation,
I am from Prince Albert, SK Canada

[ANTdrew]

Read this guide: https://www.formicul...view=getnewpost
I recommend getting her into a standard test tube setup.

[Virginian_ants]

Looks like a Camponotus queen. She won't eat while founding. I think the set up is good but too big. I agree with ANTdrew put her into a test tube set up.

[Aramantir]

Read this guide: https://www.formicul...view=getnewpost
I recommend getting her into a standard test tube setup.

yeah thanks, I just got her in this box as temporaly solution. I don`t have any test tubes etc but yeah will get for sure! Thanks

[Aramantir]

Looks like a Camponotus queen. She won't eat while founding. I think the set up is good but too big. I agree with ANTdrew put her into a test tube set up.

she won't eat?? I hope she won't die, I am really excited for having my own colony. I will order some test tube and will wait for it to come^^ 

[Antlover24]

Yeah alot of species queens don't eat till they get workers because they have it saved up/digest their muscles. Once the queen gets workers she then starts eating once her workers bring her food. (Not sure exactly if I worded why they don't eat correctly, correct me if I am wrong please.) GL on the queen.

[Aramantir]

Okay I did a some sort of test tube with dark space around it. Also I saw her carrying something with her mouth. I'm not sure that that's eggs, also she was biting towels a lot, I removed them , I hope she will discover test tube and move there. Now I guess I have this outer world and test tube thing. I don't want to remove these flakes, should I?

[Formiga]

 

she won't eat?? I hope she won't die, I am really excited for having my own colony. I will order some test tube and will wait for it to come^^ 

No idea about that particular species but I caught some queens back in last September (Messor species) and most of them are still alive today without having eaten.

 

In fact, only yesterday the 1st nanitic (the 1st ants to come out, smaller than normal due to the need to have ants fast to help the queen) came out.

 

During all this time they feed from their reserves, usually the wing muscles since they won't be flying any longer.

 

Ants are a fascinating bug indeed! I'm still a noobie doobie doo and I'm still learning, but it is an amazing hobby with so much to learn and this is an excellent place for it, people here are very kind to reply and guide us.

 

Good luck with your queen, may her and her colony be prosperous!

[antsinvirgina]

don't forget to give her water(water down cotton ball will work.)

[Formiga]

That's a beautiful queen you've got there!

 

Your "test tube", does it have around half filled up with water and a cotton ball to stop it from spilling, leaving around the other half of the tube as a chamber for her?

 

That way she can have water to sip from the cotton and a good moist environment for her eggs.

 

Far from being an expert, and others with more experience please do chime in with more experienced advice, but if she doesn't want to go into the tube probably you could just gently force her in. A mild stress yes, easy to recover from, and once in just close the tube's entrance with a bit of cotton so there's air exchange and she can't get out. (but once she starts laying eggs and feel at home she will refuse to abandon them and go out).

 

Regarding the outside box, put some of that green thick paste on its bottom corners to absorb vibrations and also give it some stability against sliding at the minimal touch. The queen will appreciate this very much as they freak out easily with vibrations.

 

Also I recommend you to ask here, on it's proper subforum, for an identification of the species of your queen, so you can be aware of what you've got there and what her actual needs and no-nos are. There's a template to easily guide you and give experienced folks the information they need for an ID.

 

(edited for clarity and grammar)

Edited by Formiga, May 15 2023 - 11:36 AM.

[Virginian_ants]

 

That's a beautiful queen you've got there!

 

Your "test tube", does it have around half filled up with water and a cotton ball to stop it from spilling, leaving around the other half of the tube as a chamber for her?

 

That way she can have water to sip from the cotton and a good moist environment for her eggs.

 

Far from being an expert, and others with more experience please do chime in with more experienced advice, but if she doesn't want to go into the tube probably you could just gently force her in. A mild stress yes, easy to recover from, and once in just close the tube's entrance with a bit of cotton so there's air exchange and she can't get out. (but once she starts laying eggs and feel at home she will refuse to abandon them and go out).

 

Regarding the outside box, put some of that green thick paste on its bottom corners to absorb vibrations and also give it some stability against sliding at the minimal touch. The queen will appreciate this very much as they freak out easily with vibrations.

 

Also I recommend you to ask here, on it's proper subforum, for an identification of the species of your queen, so you can be aware of what you've got there and what her actual needs and no-nos are. There's a template to easily guide you and give experienced folks the information they need for an ID.

 

(edited for clarity and grammar)

 

Don't force her too much I just gently nudge them in the right direction.

[Aramantir]

Thanks for all your tips, I guess she layed 1 egg in that test tube but I saw her being outside. I gently forced her in, about water, tube has 2 holes from each side so it's will be hard to do this water/cotton way. I will just replace watered cotton every 2-3 days.

[Aramantir]

Also about identifying. I guess that is messor structor, she looks the same as on pictures in internet.

[ANTdrew]

The photos above show a Camponotus queen.

[LowQualityAnts]

Camponotus ligniperda is likely.

Also, you probably want to seal the test tube with cotton once you have a stable/long lasting water supply. The queen feels more comfortable when there is little to no air current.

Edited by LowQualityAnts, May 17 2023 - 4:29 AM.

[OiledOlives]

Obviously not ligniperda and it's on the completely wrong continent as well.

The queen is either herculeanus or modoc.

Sent from my IN2015 using Tapatalk

[Virginian_ants]

camponotus vicinus

[Aramantir]

Thanks for identifying, I will try to seal tube or get a new glass one. I can't find any, shipping costs 42$ ..I'm not going to spend so much on 3$ tube.

[LowQualityAnts]

camponotus vicinus

My bad. For some reason I looked at formiga's location and thought it was his.

[Manitobant]

Thanks for identifying, I will try to seal tube or get a new glass one. I can't find any, shipping costs 42$ ..I'm not going to spend so much on 3$ tube.

look on amazon, you can get a bunch for cheap