13 replies to this topic

[MrLunk]

Just now an hour ago many Queens landed all over the backyard...
I caught 4 in Test-tube setups.
I am pretty sure they are Lasius Niger, please confirm
Thank you,
PL.

 

 

[Barristan]

The problem is you can't confirm for sure by these pictures, but it is probably Lasius niger, today there have been mass flights all over western Europe.

[Ernteameise]

Yeah, I also collected one queen on the company car park today (without even looking), with several others (with wings) still running around.

The nuptial flights have started!!!!

[MrLunk]

The problem is you can't confirm for sure by these pictures, but it is probably Lasius niger, today there have been mass flights all over western Europe.

I'm 99% sure they are all Lasius Niger
Now lets hope they are all fertilized, there were hundreds of drones so I am very hopefull they all are

[MrLunk]

Yeah, I also collected one queen on the company car park today (without even looking), with several others (with wings) still running around.

The nuptial flights have started!!!!

Awesome CongrAntulations !!

[MrLunk]

Day 2 of Lasius Niger nuptial flights today here...
Caught another 5 Gynes
 

 

[ANTdrew]

Pace yourself my friend!

[MrLunk]

Pace yourself my friend!

There were literally hundreds landing yesterday and today, I don't think I even dented the numbers that found a good place to hide.

And... I'll be sharing them to interested people once they have established a little nanitics group , No commercial intentions whatsoever

Anyone really interested in raising a colony and living near me (Velsen Netherlands) can come pick them up by then.

PL.

[Ernteameise]

Cool idea to share young colonies with like-minded people!

I wish I had any interest in my family / social environment... it is pretty much the opposite, sadly.

 

Have yours laid any eggs yet?

The queen I collected 2 days ago did not waste any time and has already laid a few eggs!

[MrLunk]

Cool idea to share young colonies with like-minded people!

I wish I had any interest in my family / social environment... it is pretty much the opposite, sadly.

 

Have yours laid any eggs yet?

The queen I collected 2 days ago did not waste any time and has already laid a few eggs!

I wouldn't know since I will not be looking for a couple of weeks after they were caugh they get absolute rest here

PL.

[MrLunk]

I just had a little look at the nine recently caught Lasius Niger Gynes.
They are all calm an on the moist side of the tube and did not get wild when I looked at them under dimm lighting.
4 out of 9 allready have an egg bunch
This is so cool to see happening.
PL.

[MrLunk]

A quick 5 second look at all the Gynes today...
8 out of 9 have layed a bunch of eggs. YAY
They still don't seem to get very stressed when I look at them for only a few seconds.
PL.

[Ernteameise]

Sounds like a good catch you made, and maybe the one queen that did not lay eggs has a parasitoid wasp larva inside.

I know in my youth I caught Lasius niger queens and for some strange reasons, they all had a parasitoid wasp larva inside.

This was also exciting to watch, but not what I had been going for.

 

In any case, if it is the case with your one queen, I hope you take some nice pictures!

 

My own Lasius niger queen which I caught last week also has produced a large egg packet.

[MrLunk]

Sounds like a good catch you made, and maybe the one queen that did not lay eggs has a parasitoid wasp larva inside.

I know in my youth I caught Lasius niger queens and for some strange reasons, they all had a parasitoid wasp larva inside.

This was also exciting to watch, but not what I had been going for.

 

In any case, if it is the case with your one queen, I hope you take some nice pictures!

 

My own Lasius niger queen which I caught last week also has produced a large egg packet.

Sometimes they take up to 2 weeks to produce the 1st egg bunch so I will keep her safe.
Her gaster does not seem larger then all the other gynes gasters so I do not think she's been invaded by any parasitic creatures or their larvae

Pictures...
Tja I have a Glaxy A23 but the photo quality of that sux.
I don't have a good digital reflex cam sadly...


PL