19 replies to this topic

[Penumbra]

So... I'm excited to finally start my first antfarm. I've been doing lots of research on the interwebs but I'm not certain when the best time to catch my queen during noctual flight is.
As I'm writing this I'm sitting by an ants nest with 1000s of winged queens looking at me... Problem is that I'm not sure if I'm suppose to catch one of them now or look for one tomorrow... How great of a risk is there that the queen I catch from the ants nest will be unfertilized if I get one now ... Thank you for your assistance ant keepers

[Jonathan5608]

They sound like they’re about to fly. If it’s night use a black light to catch queens. Look for dealates(queens without wings)

[Penumbra]

Thank you good sir! I've just caught 4 dealates with ease. They are everywhere on the ground in the garden. Black Lightning is effortless here in Sweden and Norway since we have no sundown during summer.

[Virginian_ants]

Do you know what species they are? Good luck!

[Penumbra]

Is there any good homepages where I can get help identifying the species?

[antsriondel]

Is there any good homepages where I can get help identifying the species?

Post the pictures here along with some information where you caught and its size https://www.formicul...nt-id-requests/.

[Ernteameise]

Is there any good homepages where I can get help identifying the species?

Take some pictures, and also take some pictures of the nest where you saw them swarming from.

There are several Europeans on this forum (including me) and we could take a stab at helping you identifying the species.

Just make sure you take some clear non-blurry pictures.

[Penumbra]

Challenge accepted! I'm getting my macro lense 😊 Thanks a lot guys

[Penumbra]

The queens are about 10mm. Worker ants are around 6-8 mm. Caught in southern Sweden. Garden habitat around trees.

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[Virginian_ants]

Looks like lasius niger group sp.

Edited by Virginian_ants, July 9 2023 - 11:32 AM.

[Penumbra]

What setup would you recommend? After testtube

[antsriondel]

What setup would you recommend? After testtube

That would depend. Do you have a large or small budget? Are you focused on aesthetically pleasing setups, or on setups that are proven to be great for ants?

[Penumbra]

Thank you... I'll do more research on this sp. and come up with something great

[Ernteameise]

Well, seeing these ants coming out of the tree...

and them being VERY shiny....

I actually think that the black shiny ants are Lasius fuliginosus- they are a species that lives in wood!

They are also rely on social parasitism in founding a colony- the fuliginosus queen will attack and kill the host queen of a different Lasius species and take over.

They will not found a state by themselves.

Also, if you are living in a wooden house or have a lot of wood in your flat, you have to have good escape proofing, since Lasius fuliginosus has been known to escape and destroy wood in houses. 

 

However.

The queen you got there on the last picture is not very shiny and I also suspect that what you got there is a Lasius niger.

But the queen on the first picture, that queen actually looks shiny!

 

So actually, yes, you caught queens, but I think they are of two different species (Lasius niger, which nests in the ground and Lasius fuliginosus which nests in wood and is a social parasite).

 

You just have to see- if she lays eggs, then you will have Lasius niger (the Lasius niger queen I caught 2 days ago has already laid eggs, so you do not have long to wait!).

If it does not work and she does not lay eggs, you have Lasius fuliginosus and they need to kill the queen and take over the nest of a different species and they won't create a state by themselves.

[Virginian_ants]

Well, seeing these ants coming out of the tree...
and them being VERY shiny....
I actually think that the black shiny ants are Lasius fuliginosus- they are a species that lives in wood!
They are also rely on social parasitism in founding a colony- the fuliginosus queen will attack and kill the host queen of a different Lasius species and take over.
They will not found a state by themselves.
Also, if you are living in a wooden house or have a lot of wood in your flat, you have to have good escape proofing, since Lasius fuliginosus has been known to escape and destroy wood in houses.

However.
The queen you got there on the last picture is not very shiny and I also suspect that what you got there is a Lasius niger.
But the queen on the first picture, that queen actually looks shiny!

So actually, yes, you caught queens, but I think they are of two different species (Lasius niger, which nests in the ground and Lasius fuliginosus which nests in wood and is a social parasite).

You just have to see- if she lays eggs, then you will have Lasius niger (the Lasius niger queen I caught 2 days ago has already laid eggs, so you do not have long to wait!).
If it does not work and she does not lay eggs, you have Lasius fuliginosus and they need to kill the queen and take over the nest of a different species and they won't create a state by themselves.

The gaster is too large to be parasitic. Many ants get shiny in the light but those workers are definitely fuliginosus.

Edited by Virginian_ants, July 9 2023 - 2:34 PM.

[Manitobant]

The queens in the tubes are all lasius niger. The ones in the photo with the workers on wood are fuliginosus.

[Virginian_ants]

Oh okay. Sorry for the misunderstand.

[Penumbra]

Thanks for all the input! I presumed that the queens that I found on the ground only a couple of meters away from the colony making 1000s of alates, in the pear tree, were of the same species. I might be wrong though.
I really hope that all 6 of my newly cough queens are Niger sp. And not parasitic ants.. I don't want my first colonies to be a hassle and lots of drama

[Penumbra]

Update!!! 

 

From all the caught queens (6 of them); 2 died. One of the dead queen had a small brood pile    I guess its part of the game.

Good news is that the other 4 Niger queens seem to be doing well; and at least 3 of them have a small brood pile I think.

 

I was tending to my garden just an hour ago and stumbled upon a colony of what I believe is a Lasius flavus colony.  Inside the nest was lots of alates. Would you guys recommend trying to keep this sp? What is your experience. 

They seem a bit small if you ask me... but i love their color. 

[Virginian_ants]

Their close relative Lasius Brevicornis is my favorite ant to keep. I would recommend.